The club lead and double are both clear today but suppose West had 3 small clubs and decides to defend e.g. with 2-4-4-3 shape. should he still lead a club, prefer a heart or is it a judgement call? The 4C clearly shows values there but to what extent should it be seen as strongly preferring a club to a heart lead? I can imagine contrasting post mortems (if East is a grumpy results merchant – we all know people like that) based on whatever West chooses if the alternative would have worked better.
regards,
Iain
Bobby WolffFebruary 23rd, 2023 at 3:41 pm
Hi Iain,
And yes, while this hand is a good example of first, a good reason for East’s rebid to be 4 clubs, rather than just hearts, that choice sometimes also alerts opponents to be closer to making the right decision because of that knowledge, both in the bidding as well as the defense, if applicable.
Many aspects of succeeding (as well as the other non-mentionable possibility) await all bridge players, both great and not so, which, in turn, tends to eventually make that player a better one, if, in fact, he is flexible enough to admit that experience to be helpful, though oft times, costly.
Perhaps, South, with his 3 baby clubs. should think twice before deciding not to bid over it. True, declarer would have scored up his vulnerable game, but let’s not allow results to always being the measuring stick.
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Hi Bobby,
The club lead and double are both clear today but suppose West had 3 small clubs and decides to defend e.g. with 2-4-4-3 shape. should he still lead a club, prefer a heart or is it a judgement call? The 4C clearly shows values there but to what extent should it be seen as strongly preferring a club to a heart lead? I can imagine contrasting post mortems (if East is a grumpy results merchant – we all know people like that) based on whatever West chooses if the alternative would have worked better.
regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
And yes, while this hand is a good example of first, a good reason for East’s rebid to be 4 clubs, rather than just hearts, that choice sometimes also alerts opponents to be closer to making the right decision because of that knowledge, both in the bidding as well as the defense, if applicable.
Many aspects of succeeding (as well as the other non-mentionable possibility) await all bridge players, both great and not so, which, in turn, tends to eventually make that player a better one, if, in fact, he is flexible enough to admit that experience to be helpful, though oft times, costly.
Perhaps, South, with his 3 baby clubs. should think twice before deciding not to bid over it. True, declarer would have scored up his vulnerable game, but let’s not allow results to always being the measuring stick.