[navit]

BIDDING
W N E S
1[DI[ PASS
1♥I♠ ?

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[pbleighton]

2 clubs. This shows (usually) 5 diamonds and at least 4 clubs, which is what you have.

Peter

[inquiry]

Pass.

I don't necessarily believe in the concept of all FREE bids showing more than a minimum, but I don't like the fact that I have a heart void and partner bid hearts, and the fact that I have 4♠ and the opponent has bid spades. Pass is comfortable. If partner is short in spades (as we think he will be, with two or less on average) he can reopen with a double to bring clubs into play, or raise diamonds, or rebid a good heart suit (hope he doesn't use that option). And if partner has a three or more spades, perhaps he can bid 1NT which could easily be our best spot on many hands, or pass which could work out best if he has long hearts and fair number of spades.

If you ever watched me play, you might not believe I hold this position, but you don't have to make a bid everytime it is your turn.

[han]

I do believe you hold this position Ben, and I think your reasons are good. The heart void and spade length are signs of a misfit so this suggests defending.

However, I'm bidding 2C. I'm not sure if I will get another cheap chance to show my suits. If I pass partner will likely play me for a balanced hand. If I bid 2C partner will play me for an unbalanced hand with fewer than 3 hearts.

I think this is a great topic and I'm curious what some of the other posters will do with this hand.

[Winstonm]

It's is optional. Pass or 2C are both valid. Pass emphasizes the minimum nature of the hand while 2C emphasizes the shape. This is more about evaluation of the hand than method, IMO.

[neilkaz]

I agree with Winston...take your choice of pass or 2♣. The problem with passing is that PD could have some fit for a minor, and the problem with bidding is that PD may expect a bit more in your hand when he rebids ♥.

[mikegill]

2c - I don't like passing when I'm white and I can cheaply describe my hand. You never know what's going to happen before the bidding gets back to you. If I bid 2c now, my hand is off my chest and I can let partner figure out what to do.

[jdonn]

I like pass although 2♣ isn't wrong. The reason I pass is if 1♠ gets passed out then I am very happy, since then the opponents are in a bad fit vulnerable, and I would expect 200 or 300 on a partscore hand where our side might not have a fit anyway. And I don't think I'm much worse off on other auctions than if I had bid this round.

[pclayton]

Prefer pass.

1♠ is very possibly our best spot.

2♣ might either get us a nice false preference of 2♦ opposite a 3=5=2=3 or a 2♥ rebid on a 2=6=2=3, both of which seem unpalatable. The opponents will lead trump, and I'll get to eat my black suit losers.

If pard reopens with a double, I have an easy 2♣ call. If pard decides to raise diamonds on his own, I'll feel better about this hand.

[Apollo81]

At all white I'd bid 2♣ for sure. No strong opinion here.

[Echognome]

I pass and then pull a double to 2♣. For me, a direct 2♣ would show a bit more offensive potential.

[jtfanclub]

Since I didn't bid hearts, and I didn't rebid diamonds, and the opps are bidding spades, I think my partner will take me for club tolerence whether I bid them or not. I guess I don't feel it's necessary to take out 1NT to show the 4th club.

I pass. If partner bids 1NT, I pass again.