[barsikb]

Dealer: East
Vul: N/S

Would there be many pairs not bidding 1NT-3NT at the clubs?

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[awm]

Assuming you play strong notrump, 1NT-3NT is the normal auction.

It's in general difficult to avoid game sometimes when you have 26 hcp, even when it doesn't make.

There are a few who play weak notrump and open the north hand one of a minor; they might avoid the 3NT contract (but would probably end in 5 of a minor, a better game contract but also failing on this layout). A few people might play methods to avoid 3NT with "small doubleton opposite small doubleton" and then use those methods here, but with Qx I think it would be common to blast 3NT even with such methods.

[Cyberyeti]

You need to be playing a weak no trump to avoid this, you'll be in good company in 3N-2.

I'd be in 5♣/♦-1, I can't stop out of game but can identify the lack of a spade stop.

[barsikb]

awm, Cyberyeti, thank you!

If opening 1♦, to find out weekness of ♠ in both hands, would that be InvMinors?

[Cyberyeti]

 barsikb, on 2013-February-24, 06:05, said:

awm, Cyberyeti, thank you!

If opening 1♦, to find out weekness of ♠ in both hands, would that be InvMinors?

Never ever open 1♦ if you play a strong no trump with this type of hand, it is a 1N opener period. It's a happy accident of playing a weak no trump that you avoid 3N in this case, move a heart honour into the south hand and the weak no trumpers will bid 1N-3N while the strong no trumpers may avoid it.

Whether the south hand is an inverted minor suit raise depends on whether you play 1♦-2♦ as invitational or game forcing, it's not good enough for a GF one.

[Zelandakh]

You might also avoid it if West feels the need to open some number of spades in third seat, or if they play an opening preempt showing both majors, or if East opens a mini (10-12) 1NT. Even if you can avoid it, that does not mean you can stop in a making contract on this layout - most of those not in 3NT will be in 5♦. And if the diamond holdings are switched, perhaps East will choose to lead a heart instead of a spade...

[wyman]

I'd let you off the hook for sure, since I'd open 2S as west.

Otherwise 1N-3N looks normal.