Thiros

I'm not so sure that's the issue here. I think the issue is our choice of what to hope for. Whatever we lead has to hit substantial length and strength with partner if we are to get a plus score on this hand (alternatively we can lead a spade, and take the position that either it will turn out to be a slow hand, or only overtrick IMPs will be at stake). A diamond lead would have to hit, I would say at the very least, ♦KQ10xx (or ♦KJ109x or ♦KJ10xxx, with queen and one in dummy) plus a side entry (without which declarer could freeze partner's suit out by ducking once). A club lead would have to hit ♣QJxxx plus a side entry (on a few rare layouts ♣Qxxxx may be enough). A heart lead would have to hit at least ♥KQ9x plus a side ace and necessitate that declarer has to force out our ♣K for his nine tricks. I lead club because it requires of partner the fewest HCP.

I made ♣10 my choice. We have a balanced hand with 4 HCP and so hitting partner's strength looks like our best hope (it isn't like we will set up and run the spades). The ♣10 lead will be money if partner can turn up with ♣QJxxx and a side entry, which is possible even if dummy has extras. We could hardly expect partner to double 3♣ with that (what if opener had ♣AK10x?). Yes the club lead will often hand declarer the ♣Q, but some of the time the gift will only be an overtrick (I would lead a low ♠ at matchpoints). The ♦8 lead is indeed the likeliest to find partner with a five-card suit but in order to produce a set it would have to be very strong. More frequently it will simply give declarer a beacon while slicing through partner's broken holding. I know that if it were me at the table and I led a diamond with this hand, dummy would put down ♦1092 and declarer would have ♦AQ64. A heart lead has the same issues. It does hit the occasional ♥KQ9x with a side ace, but with dummy known to have four hearts, more likely to give declarer a pickup that he wouldn't make on his own.

Dire Straits - So Far Away

OT:

I think we're only seeing this because in the recent Canadian general election, a new face has defeated incumbent Stephen Harper. Getting out has become worthwhile in Canada again. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

When I hear "Old bridge," it makes me think of . . . - 4 card majors - 16-18 opening range of 1NT (and no Jacoby transfers) - Strong opening two-bids - Preempts consistently on 7-card or longer suits headed by at least three honors etc. If you ever venture over to pogo, you'll no doubt find most of the inhabitants playing this "old bridge". "New bridge," on the other hand, as I understand it, features things like Gazzilli, Bart, Kaplan inversion, Walsh........ none of which I even play. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif My bidding preferences have tended to land right around the middle in between these.

Yogi Berra takes the final fork in the road

This can be tracked by following their trajectory of commercials. When I was a recent arrival in the San Diego area TWC marketed themselves as the efficient alternative to mammoths like Comcast and AT&T U-verse, even putting out a spot which contained a chain of choplogic ending with the assertion that "AT&T U-verse hates puppies" (because the money you saved with Time Warner Cable would allow you to buy bags of dog food, and puppies love dog food). Since the start of the "Enjoy Better" era, they simply appear to have become the establishment that they once tried to dislodge, and don't shy away from marketing themselves that way.

And we haven't even gotten started on Arnold Schwarzenegger

I led ♠4. E-W have not bid as though their hands can make 4NT. It is unlikely that declarer's play plan will involve drawing trumps early. Note that this is not a domineering consideration but tips the balance only in light of the fact that leading from the other holdings is relatively unappealing. Change the hearts to ♥QJ10 and I am a heart leader (I think). Leading the ♠10 would be easier on partner but I see tangible benefit in retaining the ♠10 here. Suppose there is four of a red suit in dummy and two of that suit in declarer's hand; if he tries for two ruffs of that suit in his hand, our ♠10 may create a complication for the offense when dummy leads the fourth round.

Those guys who are on campus on weekday university holidays (like this one) looking for people to get into a discussion with about religion. They ask for a minute of your time, and if you give it to them they will take 10. Or however long until you put your foot down and say that you really have to get going. Whatever they're trying to accomplish, they might be more successful at it if they didn't take so long to get to their point.

I'll say for the purposes of the thread that 3NT is my choice, but my action at the table might depend on whatever information I happen to have about West's impression of our partnership's caliber. (i.e. I could be more inclined to pass if I got the feeling that his third-seat preempt was an attempt to run us.)

I watched that just last night. How funny. Claire Danes was terrific, as was the whole story about how Temple Grandin found her niche and excelled in it.

If you want rubber bridge scoring go to pogo. In fact it's the only form of scoring they have http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

This week, Florida State is #1, and there are three SEC teams in the top 3. I know this sounds like it cannot be possible. For the resolution to this paradox, look up the AP poll.

Finally got caught up completely. Was very surprised by those last two deaths. Would have been nice for this to steal an Emmy but a deserving Breaking Bad took over.

Two seconds is nothing. I can't even count the number of times when I was at a red light and everybody in view was stopped for what seemed like almost a minute, and I had to wonder who on earth we were all waiting for.

I am no fan of this administration, but the case for impeaching Clinton was better.

Jack-FM cutting good songs off early.

Happy to hear that Ben is recovering!

Great site for chess puzzles. Updated weekly. http://www.theproblemist.org/

Don't forget a masochist, or for that matter, an ascetic....

Florida State, Auburn, Michigan State, Alabama. I can't put Stanford in there with two losses.