Matchpoints
Some might open this 2NT or even 2C, rebidding 2NT, but I started with 1C. So far, so good. I will now go with a hypothetical.
Hypothetical: Suppose partner now bids 2S, a relay to 3C that could be dropped. If partner has club length he will have some sort of strength, 6+ I imagine, else he would have passed 1C. So I don't want to bid a passable 3C. Any ideas? In particular, is 2NT passable? Maybe 3S over 2S? And this would show or ask what? It seems bidding 4C over 2S should show longer clubs than I have.
Actual: We were not playing any Lebensohl structure over reverses, partner's actual call was 3C over my 2D. This showed clubs, but said nothing about extras values.
Occasionally I guess right. Here are the hands:
Clubs are not 4-0 so 5C is a cakewalk, while after a spade lead against 3NT I have 8 top tricks, 9 tricks if I guess which way to go in diamonds, 10 tricks if I guess diamonds and if they split (they don't). Or ten tricks if I lead twice toward the KJT, finessing twice. Oops, rho takes his Q, their spades, a heart. All in all, I am happy to be in 5C even at mps.
Off and on I nag at partner to discuss reverses, and I would like to play that, after 1C-1H-2D, a bid of 3C is game forcing. So 2S, or maybe 2NT, gets used as a relay for the non-gf hands. Of course this hand is an advertisement for our current approach. Partner bids 3C, I learn we have a club fit without the danger that I learn of the club fit as partner bids 2S->3C and then passes.
Conventions are great but they need discussion. If you are willing to accept my preference for opening 1C rather than 2NT, how would you handle 1C-1H-2D-2S(or 2NT, whichever you prefer as a relay to 3C)?