The most important situation in which the suit preference signal operates is when you are leading a suit for partner to ruff
Dummy ♦ K Q J |
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West ♦ 3 |
----------- ♥ trumps |
East (you) ♦ A 10 8 5 4 2 plus (i) ♠ A, (ii) ♣ A |
That’s the point. Partner doesn’t know what to return and is guessing between spades and clubs. Here’s where the suit preference signal comes into play. If you want the higher-ranking of the other two suits led back, you lead back ♦ 10; if you want the lower-ranking suit returned, you lead back ♦ 2. In (i), you lead back ♦ 10; in (ii), ♦ 2. In either case, partner leads back to your ♠ A/♣ A and you give partner a second diamond ruff.
It can get quite subtle, especially in expert circles. If you’re not sure what you want partner to return, lead back ♦ 5, the middle card. If you think you want a spade but you’re not sure, lead back ♦ 8; if you think you want a club but are not sure, lead back ♦ 4
Dummy ♥ K Q J |
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West ♥ 4 |
----------- ♠ Trumps |
East (you) ♥ A 9 7 6 3 2 plus (i) ♣ A |
South Deals None Vul |
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West | North | East | South |
1 ♠ | |||
Pass | 2 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♥1 |
Pass | 3 ♠ | Pass | 4 ♠ |
All pass |
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West was listening to the bidding. North-South had advertised eight hearts between them, leaving just one for East. At trick one, he led ♥ A, knowing he was voiding his partner. At trick two, he led ♥ 10, a suit preference signal for the higher-ranking diamonds (over clubs).
East ruffed and resisted the temptation to switch to ♣ K, rather leading a dutiful ♦ 2. West won ♦ A and led a third heart, East ruffing again. Down one.