What would you do ...

[silvr bull]

[hv=pc=n&s=s5h984dqt54caj983&w=sat73hkjt7dj92c76&n=sj64ha532dak7cq54&e=skq982hq6d863ckt2&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=ppp1c1s2c2s3cpp3sppp]399|300[/hv]

 

My apologies for the subterfuge question about bidding. Both the 2C (self defense from CHO! in an Individual!! on BBO!!!!) and final pass (happy that the opps had not bid 4S) seem so obviously correct to me that I would not have wasted readers' time with posting that question alone. Fortunately, the diverse comments here make that portion of my OP worth the time to read. FYI, 3S was down one for an average score because many other pairs were allowed to play in 3C (making 3), or they doubled 3S (down 1).

 

I really did want opinions about the opening lead, but if I posted only that part, more responses might have been "altered" than were already. The CA is such an obvious lead, after CHO bid Cs twice, that posters could guess that the winning lottery ticket would have a different number. The reason I posted that question is after the hand, CHO almost shouted into the chat box that I was an idiot because everyone knows that his C rebid told me specifically to NOT lead Cs. Normally, I would dismiss that chatter as the ravings of a double dummy resulter, but this time could have been a little different. This CHO self identified as an Expert, and he had a substantial accumulation of BBO masterpoints to back that up. I wanted to see if his clear and unambiguous statement (that his C rebid told me to NOT lead Cs) could be something I had not heard before but should know about. No offense intended to that CHO, or to any of the posters here.

 

An additional comment on the opening lead question. If I had reason to worry that leading the CA might lose a trick for us (if RHO bid NT, for example), then the H9 would have been my 2nd choice. But absent any additional information, the question is whether the CA or H9 is more likely to win or lose. The risks of leading a C are obvious, but a H is not risk free either. Imagine CHO's reaction if one opp had HKTxx and the other had HAJx with a stiff C. Then the H lead would not only give away the HQ guess, but it would also make the C trick disappear. My guess now is the same as it was at the table, that both round suit leads have approximately similar risks. If that is true, then I fall back to an old axiom. If I lead the suit CHO bid (TWICE in this case), and it turns out to be not best, then we share the blame. If I guess a different suit, then I better be right or the blame is all on me. Thanks for all the input.

[ggwhiz]

This CHO self identified as an Expert,

 

YUGE overbid.

 

3♣ is either a rookie - intermediate error or indy masterminding and the comment about not leading a club points clearly to the former.

 

Further, not doubling 3♠ after you pushed 2 passed hands there (RED no less) is cowardly in the extreme.

[Phil]

Leading the cA is poor and perhaps should be the focus of the discussion. Not so terrible after the rebid 3C. But hopefully its clearer to bid 3C now.

[GrahamJson]

Can't say that I'm impressed with north's bidding. Having opened 1C on a three card suit and 4333 he doesn't have any more to say. Certainly competing with 3C should guarantee at least a four card suit. But then I normally play 12-14 NT so never have to open three card suits so what do I know.

[mycroft]

CHO is used to partners who don't think (but as you say, this is an Indy). 3♣ on that hand is criminal, and is only reasonable if he plays with partners who think balance is something to do with duct tape and the Force (but, as you say, this is an Indy).

 

On the auction - "once you have made your bed, lie in it." Whether it's 2♣ (book bid) or 3♣ (overstrength preempt, hope partner doesn't miss 3NT; but probably right anyway), you've shown your hand. Note to IGo - it is highly likely that 2♣ is single raise, 3♣ is preemptive raise, and 2♠ is limit (-or-better, but we're a passed hand).

 

But "Rule 10: don't underlead aces." "Rule 9: don't lead aces." applies here. If partner *does* have the 3♣ immediate, the chance that the clubs are 2-1 or 2-2 is quite high, and Kx in declarer is a very likely combination. We should get in (well, partner should get in) sometime, and can lead clubs. If I pitched the club trick, oh well.

 

"3♣ says you shouldn't lead clubs." So, with Kxxx instead of Qxx she would have passed? Maybe what she's saying is "you should realize that after I raise again, the danger of giving away a club trick with that suit is high."

 

But anyone who yells at their partner in an Indy has already lost.