stev1998

Neither North or South want to be in this auction. The best result would be to stay quiet an hope east west get out of their depth. The reason I say this is both North and South have values in the short suits and missing honours in their long suits despite the fit i clubs. Imagine against 3 clubs by North east leads top of a doubleton spade. You let it go and loose to queen now a diamond back and you can see what will happen. North must loose 2 top trumps and will suffer a ruff or two en route He can try 3 rounds of hearts and pitch a spade but now is open to a trump promotion. So best way to get a plus is stay quiet I think

I evaluate this hand like this 12 HCP so far so good No aces that is a minus deduct a point touching honours in the red suits thats a plus back to 12 again. 2 3 4 4 shape is poor but the points are in the long suits and no wasteage in spades so we break even again. So we have bare opening and the quetion now is what happens if you open 1D and partner says 1H ? You are asking for trouble bidding 1NT with a doubleton spade and 2C sound 5 4 in the minors. If you have an agreement with partner that you can raise hearts with 3 then you can open. But you cannot spring a 3 card raise on him without prior agreement If you don't then I think pass is best and wait developments Of course if it goes 1D 1S then you have a easy 1NT and everyone will wonder why if you pass in the first place