[neilkaz]

I am happy to see some good players agreeing with my choice to try to attack with a ♣ lead.

[jmcw]

dburn, on Mar 13 2009, 10:54 PM, said:

mikeh, on Mar 13 2009, 09:05 PM, said:

what's with the obsession about beating the contract?

Oh, I'm not obsessive about it. It's just that I tend to find that minus 400 scores fewer match points on balance than plus 50. It's a bit of a fallacy to say that you should spend your life trying not to give away overtricks at matchpoints - if some of the field might not be in game, you should put some effort into trying to beat the contract even at the risk of blowing a trick. Would lead a major against one notrump for sure, but not three notrump.

As to "surely RHO has clubs" - no, he does not. What would you respond to a 1♦ opening at matchpoints (or even at marbles) with such as ♠Kxx ♥Kxx ♦Qxxx ♣xxx?

No doubt I will end up with a face covered in egg when the full deal is revealed by the original poster. But it's all right. That egg-covered face rests on a broad pair of shoulders.

Save the eggs for breakfast. A ♣ LEAD holds declarer to 9 tricks, 10 on any other lead. Incredibly P holds ♣AQxx. P points out that he only needs the A or Q to make this a good lead
Interestingly, if the 3Nt includes long ♦ then surely an attacking lead is called for.
On the balance, I think the arguements for a ♣ lead have won the day, but I admit to having some strong reservations.

[Codo]

I would lead a desparate club at imps, but why shoud I at mps?

What do you expect your opps to have? Did the opener show some values and a running minor with his 3 NT bid? I did not read it. So, I will play him for around 19 balanced. Declarer has 6-10. That gives them 25-29 HCPs, leaving partner with 5-9.
There is a big possibility that partner despite a five (even a six) card major did not bid. He was too weak. So I would try not to burn a trick and lead a major.

[peachy]

Codo, on Mar 14 2009, 03:23 PM, said:

I would lead a desparate club at imps, but why shoud I at mps?

What do you expect your opps to have? Did the opener show some values and a running minor with his 3 NT bid? I did not read it. So, I will play him for around 19 balanced. Declarer has 6-10. That gives them 25-29 HCPs, leaving partner with 5-9.
There is a big possibility that partner despite a five (even a six) card major did not bid. He was too weak. So I would try not to burn a trick and lead a major.

If opener has 18-19 balanced, he would have jumped to 2NT, not 3NT. Since 2NT shows 18-19 balanced, 3NT obviously shows a different hand.