A decision feedback structure for recovering a bit stream out of received signals is disclosed, wherein the sampling instant may be tuned in dependence of the sequence or pattern of the preceding bits so as to follow the bit sequence dependent instant of the maximum eye opening. The decision-feedback equalizer structure includes decision means for making a bit value decision at a sampling instant, a feedback path to feed back bit values to said decision means and means for adapting the sampling instant for a bit value decision made by said decision means with respect to the sampling phase depending on the bit values of preceding bits, in particular depending on the bit value of the previous bit.