fourdad

100% agree!! Complications are not always better. Could 3C mean something else?

Are the opps 2 passed hands? 4S without a thought.

The only thing I would add to the above is: I avoid NT openers when there are 2 doubletons, and, adding 1 point for the fifth heart makes a 2C bid easy!

You already fully described your hand and partner is in charge of the auction. Unless you have previously agreed to something different, you pass. Was 2H down and by how much?

Find another club!! Seriously, the guy missed game because he screwed up!

learn to work the mouse...sheesh

change bidding systems should be one of the options. :)

100% agree

Just use 3NT as 25-27 HCP. Perfectly descriptive of your hand with one simple opening and your partner runs the auction.

I agree with this logic and would unabashedly lead the 4th best diamond. The 2NT bid means dummy does not have a 4 card major, true? It also implies some minor suit strength. SO...not a major as the strength is odds on with declarer, not a club....not only may it give a trick, it may also take away a hard choice for declarer. If pd has as little as Txx in diamonds the lead costs nothing.

and why is 5C not an option over 4H?

the lack of the ability to accurately self-analyze and assess is rampant through humanity. Why should it surprise anyone that it is proven at the bridge table? Do we really think that debating solutions to a problem that is unsolvable because it is in the natural order of things is not a waste of time? Better you adjust your attitude to accept reality.

The most underused bid in bridge is pass.

I really enjoyed the above response. IMNTBHO, the question is totally about where you draw the line on what is an opening hand. Admittedly I am old school, I have drawn the line as follows with more than my share of success. The issue with this hand is that 2C cannot be bid as a weak 2. 1. The parameters I use for a weak 2 are 5-11 HCP points with 2 of the top 4 honors. (last part flexible in 3rd seat) 2. Parameters for a opening hand are 12 hcp and at least a 5 card suit OR 11 HCP, a 6 card suit and 2.5 Quick Tricks. This hand does not qualify as an opener, but does as a weak 2. Hence, as regular partners and I discuss this is some detail, I would open 3C 1&2 seats, 1C 3rd seat and pass 4th seat. Seems to me that reducing the gray areas in bidding and having a disciplined consistent approach works well across the board.

Having passed at #1 (which I would not do...bid 1H). Did you consider a Neg X at #2?

AGREE!! And...IMO, the hand is strong enough for a X, then rebid as opposed to bidding hearts.

I am hard pressed not to balance x w/ either the AH or the KH, or better.

preempting a preempt is generally a bad idea

why 3NT? If the bid is 1D rather than 1H, N bids 2D and u do not end in a silly game.

S=6 spades and a near opener...perhaps up to 15 pts. w/ the wrong shape for an initial TOX. N concern is a misfit. 3c is looking for NT and strongly denying spades and a heart stop. 10+ pts. We play 3C as forcing and w/o a heart stop N should be very cautious.

As W, playing SAYC, I would pass, when E then opens 1D and gets the 2C overcall, the W hand revalues to a solid 5D bid and that would end it.

first second fourth seat...12HCP and a 5 card suit. UNLESS 11 HCP 2.5 QT and a rebiddable suit....period.

the clearest and most accurate description of your hand is just to open 4S. Counting distributional points and the like, as an opener..before any fit is established, rarely works out well. I consider that you are short of a 1S opening hand.

unless you and pd play weak opening bids of 11 HCP, I would be a strong fan of "the one who knows, GOES" on this type of hand. I value the S hand at 20 total points. Any weaker action might allow opps to interfere and 6C is the most descriptive bid, IMNTBHO.