salient feature.

[matmat]

IMPs, W/W

 

2nd seat

 

♠J87

♥QT3

♦A3

♣KT743

 

[P] - P - [1♥] - X

[P] - ?

[jillybean]

2nt looks tempting

[CSGibson]

I'd probably bid 1N.

 

edit: The reason I would bid 1N is that it shows approximately my values, and because, at imps with this hand, 3N is a likely game if partner can move over this. Also, my partners (1) double lighter when I'm a passed hand, meaning 9 tricks could be a stretch in 3♣, and (2) often make off-shape doubles (something like 4-3-4-2 shape would not be unheard of), so I try not to bid minor suits if there are other alternatives.

[aguahombre]

3C is fine. If Partner wants to know about my lonely heart stopper, there must be a way to ask me.

[the hog]

1NT. Not good enough for 2NT and Cs not good enough for 3C.

[jjbrr]

I bid 3♣ but opposite myself I would expect a much more classical dbl than perhaps most would. It was pointed out to me that the failure of RHO to raise ♥ suggests a less-than-classic double, which probably means 1NT is better, particularly if the scoring was MP. I think either 1N or 3♣ are fine, and anything else is pretty crazy. Flip a coin.

[Siegmund]

I would be fine with 1NT. Second choice a maximum 2C. At IMPs I could easily be persuaded that 2C is the better bid. 3C looks like almost as gross of an overbid as 2NT does. No guarantee we have more than 8-card fit or more than half the deck here.

[655321]

I think either 1N or 3♣ are fine, and anything else is pretty crazy.

Yes, agree with this.

[Free]

1NT, although I can accept 3♣.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

1NT.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[gwnn]

What Uwe said (except the 'kind regards' part).

[pooltuna]

2nt looks tempting

since you are a passed hand I think this (2NT) is the most descriptive call otherwise I would go for 3♣

[Little Kid]

3♣ may not work out too great if partner makes a lot of off-shape doubles (which I do). I can live with 3♣ but would choose 1NT myself.

[Codo]

I would try 3 ♣. I have too much for 2 ♣ and I would worry to play NT with QTx opps x against a 5-3 fit.

 

Why should I use such a risky bid if I do not need to? IF we belong in NT, we will still go there.

[gwnn]

risky? what? risk of going down? 3c is 100%? i dont understand

[kfay]

2nt looks tempting

Yikes!!!

 

I like 1NT

[ArtK78]

I bid 3♣. If 3NT is right, partner can either bid it himself or bid 3♥ to ask for a heart stop.

 

The fact that I have 5 reasonable clubs may be very important information for partner if he is considering a 3NT contract. Yes, my 3♣ bid does not promise 5 clubs - but it strongly implies a 5 card holding.

[jillybean]

2nt looks tempting

Yikes!!!

 

I like 1NT

Why is 2N so frightful ? ;) I admit it is pushy, but I would bid 1N on much less.

[Phil]

I think I like 3♣ a little better.

 

- 3 level minor jumps tend to be on the upper side of the 8-10/11 spectrum and show a source of tricks, instead of just 'cards'.

 

- Its IMPs, and I think 3♣ is the shortest route to 3N, instead of a bland 1N. How can partner properly evaluate a 13 count with fitting club cards?

 

By the way, I don't think 2N is as bad as everyone is saying. We are a passed hand, so we can't be much stronger. Our heart stopper is weaker than we would like, but if pard has the ♥A/K this is a very strong holding with the lead coming around.

[kfay]

2nt looks tempting

Yikes!!!

 

I like 1NT

Why is 2N so frightful ? B) I admit it is pushy, but I would bid 1N on much less.

(1X)-Dbl-(P)-1N is not the same as 1X-1N.

 

While it's true that you're a passed hand here, I don't think this hand is strong enough to bid 2NT even though you're max on values. Move all my values to the rounded suits and I think it's fine, I'm not exactly bringing a lot of tricks to the table here.

[rbforster]

Easy 1N for me.

[quiddity]

Me too - this looks like a perfectly normal 10-11 with a mediocre club suit.

[MarkDean]

Maybe it is because I still have this crazy notion that doubling often has shortness in the suit doubled, but I think that 3♣ is a substantially better bid than 1NT.

 

If partner has a minimum, likely either is a safe contract. If LHO has long hearts (which is somewhat likely on the auction so far), I would like to make him bid them a level higher and not alert him to the fact he should finesse instead of playing for the drop.

 

If we have 3NT, it is likely because partner has heart help, I think we are likely to get there via either route. However, if we have 5 or 6 clubs, I think it will be much easier to get there if we start with 3♣.

 

Old-fashioned again I guess: bidding my long suit.

[awm]

3♣ for me.

 

Obviously this depends somewhat on style. If you play a style where a 1NT advance shows 8-11 and a double often includes only two cards in an unbid minor, then 1NT is certainly best for you. Apparently this style is common on the forums.

 

Since I am less happy bidding three-card suits or playing 4-2 fits than most (apparently), my 1NT advance is more like 6 to a bad 10 and my doubles (barring serious extras) actually include three card support for the unbid suits. Therefore I expect 3♣ to work much better for me, since I have a real fit, preempt opener from bidding his hearts at the two-level, and will effectively show my values (since I don't expect partner to bid over a 1NT advance with 14-15 hcp).

[nigel_k]

3C is fine. If Partner wants to know about my lonely heart stopper, there must be a way to ask me.

Agree 100% and would bid 3♣ at matchpoints as well.