[Antraxxx]

---

First of all, was my first pass okay?
Secondly, what should I have bid at that point?

[mgoetze]

Sure you can pass with this hand. It's a matter of style, agreement and system. I wouldn't pass but playing a very solid style is fine at the B/I level.

Now on the second round, I would bid 1NT. We need to get our points into the auction but we don't have the right shape for any other bid. If you are confident that partner would understand 2NT as natural, you could bid that.

[Antraxxx]

Doesn't 1NT limit me to the 7-10 range? And yes, I was afraid of 2NT because I thought he'll think it's some weird convention.

[mgoetze]

In principle 1NT is 7-10, yes, but in competitive auctions you often need to stretch a bit to get your hand-type across. And your hand really screams NT at this point. Are you underbidding? Well, you've already decided this hand is not worth an opening bid. Yes, you might miss 3NT on a combined 25 HCP by bidding 1NT. But it might be going down, too (there's no reason West couldn't have ♠AKQJ and ♥A, for instance).

Of course, 2NT could be a perfectly good bid too. Should it be some weird convention? Well, only if you've discussed it. With no discussion, it should show 11-12 balanced with a spade stopper.

[Antraxxx]

Yeah, it just my impression that people never take 2NT as natural.
In the real auction I went with 2♣, trying to show an 11+ point hand before going to NT. It ended up working, but I kept wondering if it really was a good idea. At the time it seemed to be because a diamond opening makes it unlikely he'll suddenly try for game in clubs.

[ggwhiz]

My partner and I do play a conservative opening style as you seem to as well.

We don't open nearly as many 11 counts as others or 12 counts with 4 triple 3. We generally responds 2nt with these as discussed. Might be a good thing to mention up front with a new partner.

I would have opened that one but after competition, 1nt does not show a piece of cheese, a GOOD 8 (worth 9) to a really bad 11. Anything less passes expecting pard to re-open with double and THEN bids 1nt.

If you pass with this one, pard will likely (or should) re-open with a double but you have no attractive bid over that.

[helene_t]

I think it's fine not to open this hand.

2♣ is not a good idea IMHO because it is not forcing by a passed hand. If you were not a passed hand it would be safer. Opener could easily be 5-5 in the minors in which case you may not be able to talk him out of 5♣, but in that case 5♣ need not be a bad contract.

Just bid 2NT, by a passed hand this can only be 11 points with a spade stopper, unless you have discussed some other meaning of the bid.

Alternatively try pass, hoping for partner to double and then sit for it.

[the hog]

I would certainly have opened.
You are too strong for 1NT now. I would bid 2NT without liking it too much.

[Phil]

I am hard pressed to come up with a lot of 12 counts holding spades that I would pass, but I am sure they are out there. I am comfortable opening this hand, but I also play a semi-forcing 1N response which gives me an easy pass.

Had I passed, I have a painless 2N call. Hopefully our vul 3rd seat 1m openers are not too weak. Partner frequently has a spade honor if he sits for 2N, although there is no guarantee.