Practice Hand 6 · Defense · Deal 5 from Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide, Ch. 24, Group 5
Partner leads a King. What does your spot card tell them?
North · Dummy
11 HCP
East · You (Defender)
5 HCP
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | 1NT |
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | — | — | — |
Solution
An attitude signal answers one question for partner: do you want this suit continued? A high spot card says yes; a low one says no, try something else. Your ♥Q84 has real value here — the queen will score a trick if West keeps hearts going.
West can't see your hand — only the spot card you choose. Playing the highest card you can spare (here, the 8) makes the encouraging signal unambiguous. West continues with a low heart, you win the queen, and the suit is now under your side's control.
Hold ♥72 instead — no honour, no reason to keep the suit going — and you'd play the 2: as low as possible, discouraging, asking West to find something else.
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