dake50

3-seat 1NT is purely obstructive to expected 15hcp 4th-seat (take away 1-level). No 4cM expected; even to opening 4cM 3-seat. Weak doubleton is in a major, not minor, to assure m-fit when partner jumps to 3-minor --safe 3-minor jumps should be encouraged. Up the tops of 1M openers =up 1C bottom in 3-seat. I like 10-17. So Drury becomes even likable. Respond to 1C 3-seat inverted: 1D is max pass OR 0-3; else 4-7.

What is believable (not too far into left field) here? A higher scoring partial in clubs? Dreaming! Game in either suit? Hallucinating! Big trouble from any act gets too high? Yeah. Diagnosed doubled? Not unexpectable.

Suffer outsmarted---never out-dumbed.

Is this past beginner combos? So advanced or expert?

What is your main aim in 1NT force? To bundle these types out of two over one? Then accept this is impossible case. Or to best partial these types without game suggestion? Then 3D. I like no-game-suggested, so 3D.

4D is exact. Perhaps now partner can 'see' 5D/6D/6C/+. This is not 'my' decision to make but my support to show.

You are asking the right questions. As with most schemes, load ambiguous cases into the lower bids to allow clarity in space-using/picture bids. I think you accept the 'what to do now?' as you suggest because 'others' are clear. Think as relay schemes 'what are 'page one bids?' Then, not a 'page one' is this a page two? Or relay to page three.

SOME partition other than by hcp (eg Pre) must be effective. I partition 1C has Spades or bal big or some 2-suiters. Whereas 1D has bal mid or 1-suiter H,D,C or a few 2-suiters. The test I use is this/similar auction 1C <3D> ?? How many bids do I need to get partner reasonably on board. I have X,3H,3S,3N before so much space is used that higher need to be 'unilateral' hands: trumps solid, massive controls, etc. Develop this 'colors' partition. Forum where it leads you.

Double: I have shown 5-8, 5+C, 5+H. Now X shows a DT. Partner has my all.

4S. 3cS taking H-ruffs; good 6cD; CK. Worst case pard plays this S4-3 quite well. Good stuff sees S+D + side controls.

Partner's 12 +/- ; my 12; opponents points known LHO, I make 3NT +OTs. Beats 1C-X-2.

1. 3N? ? Partner bids 3S saying 'on unclear hand, try 4S' 6S is closer than 3N. Bid 4C. See what next: 4S or 5S if C-raise. 2. Partner has HJxxx and C-4th stop? Guess that's what I play for HA, HQ. 3. Opponents no NT try is telling. I try HK to get partner's H-tricks set up.

2NT --just enough S-stop to expect opening leader tries to find RHO entry to lead S thru. Besides, their 4S is on. Confusion wins.

Cascade, let's see NO SQ, NO CK NO HA HQ so partner 3C on S-xx H-xx D-xxx C-Q109xxx. He is some kind of masochist! Rule of 5-6?

6S. Hope 6-7C to KQ/KJ10 with SQx. May not even need H-guess(Q or A onside).

Which is urgent, here? Landing in better partial OR helping partner on borderline game decisions. I like 1NT to say bal; raise treatment for some hope of ruffs/long tricks to help game decisions. Let 2nd best partials: 1NT when 2M is better or v/v be play spots off.

Early in a team match? Convert to penalties, hoping to score 500 v our partial. Even 200 puts the fear of crackling in opponents hearts. That's appealing! Hope partner has S10+, as this X is against S-KQJ109 and need S8 to score. Adverse (double?) game swing seems too far afield; unlikely but loses match now. Convert appeals, but it's 'all-in' on this one hand. I don't, but would be taken aback if opponents did and won 200/500.

Which bid clues partner to slam with HK+DAK, A+A+K, SA+DKQ, etc? I think only 1C with jump club rebid. 5C misinforms partner that he needs 3xA to try slam. But not bad to gamble he has 'wrong' stuff. I never preempt when partner's expected 2 tricks sets 4M. Hope auction goes 1C <X,OC> 'stuff' <2OC> now 4C by me clues partner well. Hope not 1C <X,OC> pass =nothing <4M> now 5C is unilateral, but my best guess.

Convert for penalties must be clearly best guess, as it is so unilateral. Here 4H isn't even unlikely. Besides may get higher bonanza vs foolish competing.

Won't be deflected here. Play my 'best' line. I may be out-smarted --but never out-dumbed.

Super-Maf 3D = 2 suits not the one bid so S+H. Partner may evaluate well.

No 1st round t/o fearing 4S+ bounce would get us too high. But Game close now as clearly top-bounded.

Isn't Kx AQx x xxxxxxx a competitive double? "Partner, what to do?" So freeing 3H for "It's our hand, but where?"

X, then 2C over 1H, 1D. Then 2S. Get 2H=5cH rebid =GREAT; Get 1N/2N=C-stop rebid =GREAT; Else = "I have spades" and 16 prime points. Partner hasn't helped this time.

If partner pushes about 1 trick on these distributional hands, I think normal, I have that one trick. Pass to not punish 1-trick agression. SK for DK is a 5C raise, here SK is in their suit so not offensive plus, DK is at least in "unknown' suit.