💸 To release funds 🚰 To remove blockage 🃏 To free cards

to unblock

7.9

Play low cards to let a partner win with higher cards

verb
/ʌnˈblɑk/

Jargon

: desbloquear

In the last round, she expertly unblocked the diamond suit to help her partner win.

Examples

You should unblock your suit now to avoid trapping your partner's high cards.
Before leading the ace, remember to unblock any lower cards first.
You can unblock a lower card to help your partner.
He unblocked the five of hearts to win the trick.
Before leading the ace, remember to unblock any lower cards in your hand to facilitate your partner's win.
In the last round, she expertly unblocked the diamond suit, allowing her partner to play the queen.
You should unblock your lower cards now so your partner can win with their higher cards.

Synonyms

to deblock

vsto unblock

6.8

To remove a blockage from a pipe or drain

applies the same clearing action only in card play to free partner's winning cards

Surface Forms

unblock infinitive

unblocked past

unblocked past participle

unblocking present participle

unblocks third person singular

Morphology

unblock = block (semi-transparent) = un + block

The card-game sense is still built on the idea of removing a block, but the specialized technical usage is less immediately guessable for learners.

Etymology

Unblock comes from the parts un- meaning 'not' and block meaning 'a stop'. In card play it means to remove the small cards that 'block' your partner, so their high cards can win.