jillybean, on 2012-January-06, 09:00, said:
For those who play 2N as a balanced, positive response - why not use that here? And, what sort of hand would you have to use the 2N bid?
Because it's not a balanced hand. You have a 5-card spade suit, and there's a good chance you want those to be trumps. You also have a low doubleton heart, so there is a good chance that partner should be declarer. The 2N response is going to be quite rare, but it looks something like this:
K10x
Q10x
Q10xx
Q10x
(I think it should also be limited, something like either 8-10 or so strong it's going to take control)
jillybean, on 2012-January-06, 10:26, said:
And I bet you dont open 1n with 5 card suits either?
Personally, not with a 5-card major, no.
But to take the point seriously, this is a very different position to deciding whether to open 1NT with a 5-card major. In that circumstance you are usually aiming at getting to the right game. You open 1NT as often as possible to conceal your hand and avoid having a long scientific auction to the same 3NT contract, and because if you play in 3NT yours will likely be the stronger hand so wants to be declarer. This hand is very different, you have what is basically a slam force, and you want to explore denomination and level. You also have no reason to think that you should be declarer.