Maybe it's bad bridge but I like 3N as my first call.
We might get drilled on clubs, sure.
For that to happen, two things need to go wrong:
1) Partner has no club stopper
2) Opps need to figure that out.
Could it happen? Certainly. But we have ...
MR: "In team sports, it is accepted practice to try to 'get away' with stuff. In bridge, it is not."
In some team sports. Perhaps many/most.
In curling it is most certainly not accepted practice.
Just in my own partnership, this one could be grounds for divorce.
I'm bidding 3♥, and raising with two-card support will not please partner.
But in our partnership, her bid is hopefully 2N for clubs and hearts and cramping opposition, and the club fit's on.
If I feel the need to lie to partner with Hand #1, I'll lie with 2NT as unusual for minors.
If I bid anything other than 2♣ with the second hand, I'm walking home.
I kind of like opening 1NT here. I understand it's an underbid.
OTOH...
--It's not a gross underbid. KQ touching good, spots good, but only a 12.25 Woolsey Point Count.
--You might miss a decent game try, sure, if pard has good-11 etc...but you're also ...
"Here’s an analogy: In the sports world...the tennis majors are always in London, Paris, Melbourne and NY -- they don't go to XYZ, OH just to rotate around."
Seriously? Those tournaments have thousands of 'kibitzers' turning up daily, many of whom pay well over $100 to watch the ...