What is a short club in bridge?

In bridge, a short club is a bidding system where the opening bid of one club indicates a hand that is weaker than the traditional opening hand. Typically, it is used to describe an opening bid with fewer than 12 high card points, often in conjunction with a specific distribution or hand shape. This allows players to communicate more effectively about their hand strength and potential for support or competition in the bidding process. Short club systems can vary among different partnerships and may include specific conventions for interpreting bids.