[PhilG007]

Anyone would be happy to be dealt
:-

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But its rather a awkward hand to bid accurately unless you
are playing a strong club system It's hardly worth a 2♣ opener.
And not the right type for an Acol Two (if playing Acol.) On the other hand it's
too good for a one opener and there are some who would compromise with
2NT, Now partner is in a quandary holding :-

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Would you raise to 3NT holding the North cards?

[shyams]

I'm afraid I disagree with the assertion that the South hand is "hardly worth a 2♣ opener". I would certainly open it as 2♣ and, upon hearing a 2♦ response from North, would rebid 2♠.

It so happens that North has a great spade fit albeit a flat 4-3-3-3 hand and while others might have conventions to show the ♣K enroute an eventual 4♠ contract, I don't usually play that. So I'd simply bid 4♠ with the North hand.

[Cyberyeti]

If you're playing 20/21-22 2N, this is an easy 2N opener (It's not worth its full 22 points).

I would pass.

We actually play good 19-21 for 2N, I'm not sure I'd downgrade, 2♣-2♦-2N-3♣-3♠(5)-4♠

[nige1]

PhilG007 "But its rather a awkward hand to bid accurately unless you are playing a strong club system It's hardly worth a 2♣ opener. And not the right type for an Acol Two (if playing Acol.) On the other hand it's too good for a one opener and there are some who would compromise with 2NT, Now partner is in a quandary. Would you raise to 3NT?"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As opener, I rank
1. 2♣ = ART. Intending to rebid 2♠.
2. 2NT = BAL. 20-21 HCP. Underbid.
3. 1♠ = NAT. Gross underbid.
As responder to 2NT, I rank
1. Pass = NAT.
2. 3NT = NAT. Overbid.
3. 3♣ = ART Staymanic.

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[FelicityR]

It's easy to talk yourself of opening 2♣ here, and whilst the hand is only four and a half quick tricks and comes out at a tad over 21 on the Kaplan and Rubens evaluator, those two Jacks in ♠s and ♦s adjacent to another honour give it more body. However, even though I agree with shyams, it is a borderline case.

I'm not so convinced though opening 2♣ and rebidding 2♠ is the best way to treat this hand. Maybe opening 2♣ and rebidding 2NT is better because that is the only 2♣ opening sequence that can be passed if partner has a Yarborough.

Puppet Stayman after 2NT will find the 5-4 ♠ fit on the two hands shown if you are using that convention.

[Cyberyeti]

FelicityR, on 2020-July-18, 11:00, said:

It's easy to talk yourself of opening 2♣ here, and whilst the hand is only four and a half quick tricks and comes out at a tad over 21 on the Kaplan and Rubens evaluator, those two Jacks in ♠s and ♦s adjacent to another honour give it more body. However, even though I agree with shyams, it is a borderline case.

I'm not so convinced though opening 2♣ and rebidding 2♠ is the best way to treat this hand. Maybe opening 2♣ and rebidding 2NT is better because that is the only 2♣ opening sequence that can be passed if partner has a Yarborough.

Puppet Stayman after 2NT will find the 5-4 ♠ fit on the two hands shown if you are using that convention.

2♣ followed by 2♠ is GF for many people, if you play 2♦ better than 2♥ this might be justified, but if you can catch the small hand without the K♣ then it's far too much.

Don't need to be playing puppet stayman, any of the 5 card methods will do (we play 5 card non puppet).

[smerriman]

Not sure where the spade bids are coming from. This is a balanced hand; either you treat it as a 22 count, open 2♣ and rebid 2NT, or downgrade to a 21 count and open 2NT.

K&R calls it 21.05 but I'd take the higher route, myself.

[dokoko]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-July-18, 09:48, said:

If you're playing 20/21-22 2N, this is an easy 2N opener (It's not worth its full 22 points).

I would pass.

We actually play good 19-21 for 2N, I'm not sure I'd downgrade, 2♣-2♦-2N-3♣-3♠(5)-4♠

To me this is a balanced hand worth 23 pts. So I would open 2♣ planning to rebid 2NT.

With responder's hand I would pass a 2NT opening or rebid showing no more than 22 pts but would bid Stayman over a 2NT opening or rebid showing 22-23 pts (or more). I would try for a suit contract because of entries.

[pescetom]

smerriman, on 2020-July-18, 14:25, said:

Not sure where the spade bids are coming from. This is a balanced hand; either you treat it as a 22 count, open 2♣ and rebid 2NT, or downgrade to a 21 count and open 2NT.

K&R calls it 21.05 but I'd take the higher route, myself.

I agree: perplexed about spade bidding and I would open 2♣ then rebid 2NT. Partner then discovers the 5-card spades and plays there.