#1 Neither Vulnerable
South West   North  East
Pass    Pass   Pass    1♦
1♥        1♠       2♥        AP
 
West (you) leads the ♦A
Dummy plays the ♦8.
East plays the ♦5.
South plays the ♦2.
 
Playing standard signals, what does East’s ♦5 mean?
                                               
                                                North (dummy)
                                                ♠ A Q 7 3
                                                ♥ Q 9 2
                                                ♦ 10 9 8
                                                ♣ 10 9 2
                        West (you)                                     East
                        ♠ 10 8 5 4 2                                       ♠
                        ♥ 8 5 3                                                ♥
                        ♦ A 6                                                   ♦ 5
                        ♣ K 8 3                                                ♣
                                                South (declarer)
                                                ♠
                                                ♥ 
                                                ♦ 2
                                                ♣
 
Playing standard signals, East signals with the ♦5 ~ Encouraging. When there are two or more cards lower than the one partner played not visible, assume partner is encouraging. If there is only one lower card not visible, it’s not clear whether partner is encouraging or not. From West’s ♦3 and ♦4 are missing so West should assume the ♦5 is an encouraging card.
 
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