Another natural auction?

[jdonn]

So, why would either hand fear 3NT in the auction?

 

I agree that there is a greater problem for Responder after a 1♣ opening.  But, so what?

You answered your own question, then for some reason decided the answer wasn't important :)

[kenrexford]

All I know is that bidding and making a club partial or a club game for a great score because 3NT fails, on a seven-card fit mind you, is much less common in my memory than bidding 4♣ or 5♣ with an eight-card or even nine-card fit because of a stiff and getting a terrible score because 3NT would have made anyway.

[Winstonm]

P-P-1H-P

2N-P-3N

[skjaeran]

All I know is that bidding and making a club partial or a club game for a great score because 3NT fails, on a seven-card fit mind you, is much less common in my memory than bidding 4♣ or 5♣ with an eight-card or even nine-card fit because of a stiff and getting a terrible score because 3NT would have made anyway.

Well, nobody here gave a sequence ending in anything but 3NT or 4♥ as far as I can tell... Where did the 4or 5♣ enter? I agree that those opening 1♦ won't as easily get the feard diamond lead. Those of us opening this 1♣ will almost certainly receive that lead though.