On LWTA, most players now play Stayman opposite a 1N overcall so there is a fair likelihood that LHO hasn’t got a 4 card major. Having said that, the day you lead the CQ, declarer has KJx or AJx while if you don’t he has A8xx and partner has KJ9xx.
Today’s comment is apt but depressingly accurate not just to bridge players but life in general. I remember a Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy asks CB how he would feel if he could have his whole life over again. He asks if everything would be exactly the same, she says Yes and he runs away screaming. Oh dear!
Regards,
Iain
jim2July 18th, 2022 at 7:03 pm
I would like to pile on to Iain’s comment. Specifically, RHO is certain NOT to have TWO 4-card majors, or else would have Doubled. Indeed, the odds are probably fair-to-good that West has NO 4-card majors.
So, the xH is less likely to cost a trick, but the lack of entries does make the JS (IMHO) a solid alternative as it appears likely that pard has four of them. (In fact, some favor a 1C opening with weaker 5-5 black 2-suiters.)
bobbywolffJuly 18th, 2022 at 11:20 pm
Hi Iain,
While the Charlie Brown comparison is lifelike,
Lucie’s reply is to the point, but then Charlie’s reaction is perhaps at least a mild overbid.
Could it be similar to the bridge experience of better remembering of bad and thus costly results rather than the other way around?
If so, we should learn to better appreciate good play and favorable luck, and let the devil dwell on the downside. At least to me, being a cockeyed optimist seems to work better than the other way around.
bobbywolffJuly 18th, 2022 at 11:29 pm
Hi Jim2,
Thanks for the sophisticated bridge answer.
And since partner is more likely to have a later entry, the spade Jack (intended to set up his winners) may be the better percentage since partner will probably need to hold 4 hearts for the alternative heart lead to win the day.
Oh well! I guess to let the winner of the hand lead the later discussion, has to almost always
be right.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
Hi Bobby,
On LWTA, most players now play Stayman opposite a 1N overcall so there is a fair likelihood that LHO hasn’t got a 4 card major. Having said that, the day you lead the CQ, declarer has KJx or AJx while if you don’t he has A8xx and partner has KJ9xx.
Today’s comment is apt but depressingly accurate not just to bridge players but life in general. I remember a Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy asks CB how he would feel if he could have his whole life over again. He asks if everything would be exactly the same, she says Yes and he runs away screaming. Oh dear!
Regards,
Iain
I would like to pile on to Iain’s comment. Specifically, RHO is certain NOT to have TWO 4-card majors, or else would have Doubled. Indeed, the odds are probably fair-to-good that West has NO 4-card majors.
So, the xH is less likely to cost a trick, but the lack of entries does make the JS (IMHO) a solid alternative as it appears likely that pard has four of them. (In fact, some favor a 1C opening with weaker 5-5 black 2-suiters.)
Hi Iain,
While the Charlie Brown comparison is lifelike,
Lucie’s reply is to the point, but then Charlie’s reaction is perhaps at least a mild overbid.
Could it be similar to the bridge experience of better remembering of bad and thus costly results rather than the other way around?
If so, we should learn to better appreciate good play and favorable luck, and let the devil dwell on the downside. At least to me, being a cockeyed optimist seems to work better than the other way around.
Hi Jim2,
Thanks for the sophisticated bridge answer.
And since partner is more likely to have a later entry, the spade Jack (intended to set up his winners) may be the better percentage since partner will probably need to hold 4 hearts for the alternative heart lead to win the day.
Oh well! I guess to let the winner of the hand lead the later discussion, has to almost always
be right.