[sasioc]

You hold

♠ Kx
♥ Jxxxxx
♦ KTxxx
♣ -

First in at love all, playing pairs. I passed (do you agree?). The auction continued

p 1NT p 2♣ (1NT = 15-17)

Are you bidding now? If so, what?

My action at the table felt icky but I didn't really fancy my choices...

[Cthulhu D]

Wow, tough hand.

Inept Analysis: I've got 2S showing a bunch of strong hands or a weak 5/5 two suiter in the reds with my regular partner so I'm going to open that in first seat and if partner asks I'm going to pretend it's a maximum, but if I didn't have that I'd have to pass because because it doesn't meet my standards for an opening of 1H. Change on of the small hearts to the QH and I'd open.

Not being able to do that, I'm not sure taking auction in 5th seat is a good idea here, but I'd then try 2H over 2C. I can run to 3D if it all goes tits up and hopefully partner will have a fit somewhere.

[Statto]

I've no bid to act here, so have to pass and wait. I may still be able to join in on the next round though.

[gnasher]

It doesn't look right to open 2♥ or 3♥ with a bad suit and so much outside, so I agree with the first pass.

On the second round, they're probably about to play in 3NT or 4♠, so the best I can do is to change partner's lead from a club to something else. However, it's not clear which red suit I want him to lead against 3NT, and a club may well be right against 4♠. The risk of going for a large penalty is significant too. I'd pass.

[whereagles]

If you wanna bid, do it now with 2NT or something like that.

Opps seem to be moderately balanced, so this isn't risk free. But it is your last chance (unless you want to guess 4NT over 4S...).

[Zelandakh]

If you were playing Muiderberg or equivalent then it would be reasonable to treat this heart suit as a 5 carder and open 2♥. Failing that, pass is ok. After 2♣ we have to be very careful - the chances are high that they will be declaring and anything we say is likely to be more useful to LHO than CHO; as Andy points out we cannot be sure that any information we give will help partner but it is almost certain to help the opponents. So having passed the first time I think it has to be right to pass again.

[nigel_k]

Hands like this will make you really wish you had a two suited opening. If not, I might open 2♥ and possibly rebid 3♦ later if that seems like a good idea. You might pass in first seat if your methods and style require it, as long as you don't feel good about it.

On the given auction, it is obviously very dangerous to enter on the second round but there are also plenty of bad things that can happen if you pass. In the worst case, RHO could be 4-6 in the blacks and partner with a number of red cards. I would pass at IMPs but bid 2♥ at matchpoints.

[sasioc]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I'm afraid the rest of the hand is not actually very interesting - oppo will bid to 4♠ basically whatever you do and p must lead a club from KJTxxx to beat it. At the table I bid 2♦ over 2♣, which I don't really like. At the time I was panicking a bit because I'd thought for a while and basically talked myself into bidding where I now think I shouldn't. I do prefer bidding 2♦ to bidding 2♥ though because it feels like a diamond lead is less likely to cost.

[Statto]

sasioc, on 2012-February-10, 11:52, said:

At the time I was panicking

The best advice I ever heard was from a tram conductor in Blackpool: "The worst thing you can do is panic." I never asked if he played bridge