Looks like 9 tricks will be easier than 10.

 

  More often than not, I tend to get into trouble opening 1NT with a 5cd Major .

  But because of the rebid problem when opening 1H ( and getting a 1S, or 1NTF response ),  1NT opening does get the point count range across immediately.

Not really my style to open that hand 1NT, but I don't see anything else wrong with the bidding.

 

Bidding:

 

this is not my 1N opening.

 

1 - With a 5-card heart suit, the main problem of opening 1H is what to do if partner responds 1S, because you don't have a convenient accurate rebid. With this hand, that is not a problem as you can easily rebid 2C

 

2 - With 3 aces and a king, this is a Suit play oriented hand. So 5-3 heart fit will probably play better than 3N.

 

Play:

 

Play for drop of H-Q. If you finesse hearts, those in 4H will always take 1 trick more than you.

FYI for 2/1 players:

 

1M - 1N

2N = 18-19

 

1M - 1N

2m - 2M

2N = 16-17

I often open hands 1nt with 5 cards majors, I just make sure they are not better off being opened in the major.  But I am super careful about opening hands 1nt with two doubletons, like maybe 5% of the time.  Both suits covered and maybe a good six card minor.  Now the hand could be too good for nt.

I have one partner that I play 3C is puppet stayman over 1NT openings.  This is done specifically so we can open this hand 1NT.  We have reasoned thru the 2/1 bidding process and determined that we wish to know the point count on this type of hand before knowing the 5 card major situation.  I would confidently open this hand 1NT with this partner.  With any other partner, I would revert to opening 1H and be cussing silently that I have an ugly major suit and want to find NT and have no way to convince my partner of my good point count.