Competing For Partscores - Scoring/Vulnerability

[awm]

I find that occasionally partner passes my balancing doubles. This is particularly frequent when I hold a hand like number 5 or 6. Say partner has some 4333 or 42(43) shape with four spades (not a particularly unlikely pattern given the bidding and my distribution). If partner has some decent spades and some points why shouldn't he pass it out? Especially if opponents are vulnerable, +200 could be a top board. The issue is that I want partner to be able to judge when to pass and when to bid. If my range of strength is anywhere from a bad six-count to a decent eleven, it will be very hard for partner to get this right (either we will defend a bunch of 2♠X making contracts, or we will run to what's possibly a 4-3 fit when 2♠X was down multiple tricks).

 

Another issue is that the opponents could have 23 hcp for this auction. When this is the case, and they have only an eight-card fit, they are very well-positioned to double us. Obviously we can't live in fear that both opponents are maximum, but the weaker my hand is in balancing seat the more likely it is that opponents are non-minimum.

 

Anyways, I would not balance on hands 1, 3, or 5 for this reason. I want some defense for a bid, and some reason to think we have close to half the values. Hand 2 is the most clear-cut balance, hand 6 I would've doubled 1♠ for takeout (but if I somehow forgot to double 1♠, I would balance). Hand 4, I would pass at IMPs but would double at MPs except red/red.