dake50

Was 1D a catchall so my D-QJ might pull some weight? Then 2H appeals. 1D promises 3+good, Pass appeals. Now I see suggested 1S psych, that appeals. Though psych seldom enters my mind.

Dbl clear BECAUSE I have a system of clear weak/strong responses AND weak rebids. ALSO I have other direct-seat bids to show various strong shapes, so little or no chance partner lights it up this hand.

How about a particular control structure? Have 2M+1 as catchall, 3C as one control case (say C-1st +oM-2nd+); 3D as second control case (D-1st +oM-2nd+); 3H as third case (say minors 1st +2nd+)

Forcing pass on 2-level (enough to safe a partial), 4+level (enough to likely set), best guess at 3-level. Here pass, knowing partner calls something. Double as "don't know what to suggest" would be great.

Partner suggests NT. I have a good source of tricks and middling for 1D opener. 2NT. I see nothing wrong with 3NT, partner.

Dbl here suggests i see 2xlosers in D (their suit). Next partner's bid shows he don't.

After <2D!> 2S <3C> ?? Isn't any bid weak? So Pass meant good 14+ giving partner a chance to come out?

Over 1m, I have a bid for just this hand 2H = 4+S, 5+H, less than good 13hcp.

Did partner's double ask me to consider a penalty bonanza: 500 vs. partial here? I'll try that.

Black 2-suiter for partner. I can say 3 D D-values useful/not, then 3N =H-stop.

Lead C2. Maybe 1 less D-ruff kills this grand.

I partition strong hands into 1C or 1D. This steps my NT ladder AND which 2-suiters are in 1C, which in 1D, which left to open 1H or 1S and jump shift. So, What does the rest of your system handle? Remainder into 1C. This partition allows Dbl to suggest misfit M if 2-suiter M-m expected. Bid has tolerance+ for expected M. Eg. 1C <2H> X = don't fit Spades; 3m =m-stuff +S-Hx(+) Don't you have a reserved response for S-KQJxxx, m-KQJxxx? Similar near positives? One message, this suit. At least for Majors? a 2M response?

7H. sike the S-vooid.

Let's take this from a 1 IMP/push into a 6-10 IMP swing hand! They are in 3NT on 23-30 with likely clubs for tricks. Even if I were sure a Spade lead would set this, why high IMP risk? Swashbuckler image to uphold?

As I have 4C as D+S and 3S as S, I try 4C to de-accent my spades. My dbl would be 3-suits T/O or bal, NOT 2-suiter. Which deviation is least evil??

Well, I didn't take captaincy with RKC to not grand, did I? I did have other force exploring bids available? 7NT.

Rather like a 2NT Lebensohl-like as Fred suggests.

All vuls.

Partner didn't bid 3C just to affirm a minimum with real clubs, did he? The "I had to show my clubs weren't 2-cards" bid. I expect near S-x, H-xx, D-AKQx, C-KQJxxx. May be surprised with delayed H-support wanted to affirm good clubs first. 4C.

Do you have a 3NT =5-9, 4333, 0-1 control if 8,9(or near this canonical hand) ? That ends this description. Now just fit you/not, partner.

A 6-suit to sit in and surely likely their hand. Psych 1S, then 2H, then 3C quits.

12 of 20 in red hcp and 6-5. Gotta 5D.

Going to lose the S-KJ + D-KJ slam. Too bad! Bid 4H the likely to make bid.

I use transfers here. X->S or strong DT's for penalties -expect to set 1-level up. Here that's what I start. If partner declines penalties "Kaplan Q" 3H next. 2S->C, 3C->D, 3D->H(likely "Kaplan Q" here =1444 good controls).

I like semi-pos for a passed hand, ie 3-seat, 4-seat 1C. But just as you note the big hands become awkward when they are possibles. Have you tried a catchall strong response as 11+ (11-13 has 3+controls)?