This is a case where if you look at just the N-S cards, you'd see 23 high card points, a nice 8 card fit in hearts and some mostly favorable distribution for a suit contract. North has a powerful hand and is likely to go to game if South shows any signs of life. After the very normal 3 passes North opens the very normal 1 heart. I hope no one would consider that hand worth a strong 2 bid. East could consider a takeout double, which TENDS to promise 4 spades in this situation, but not every time. With an imperfect hand for the double, E should at least be closer to a full opening bid when holding only 3 spades, so I agree with no double. Another option for E, if you are a compulsive non- passer, is 1NT by a passed hand, which suggests wanting to compete with a minor 2- suiter. That would lead to E-W buying the contract at 3 diamonds (probably making 3) or N-S getting too high.
If I'm East on this hand, I'd be headed for a below average result, because I would do what most people would do and pass 1 heart. Most players will stretch to open in 3rd seat. When my partner fails to open in 3rd seat, it's probable the opponents have the balance of strength and I'll just help them with information on how to play the hand. remember that I don't know at that point that South is intending to pass 1heart.
So, at my table 1 heart becomes the final contract, probably making 2
for 110 and a good N-S result. The actual bid of 2 clubs probably results in
down 2, -100, which isn't great, but still better than -110. The upside of the
2 club bid is that if South is a compulsive non- passer and raises to 2 hearts,
N probably jumps to game and EW will go plus even if they don't find the best
defense. I expect N-S +110 mor 140 is fairly common and the 2 club bid,
which I disagree with, is rewarded by the luck of the deal. Had I made
what I consider the 2nd best call for East (pass being my 1st choice), namely
1NT after North's 1 heart, we'd be on the road to a very good result, at least
some sort of plus.
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