Adding Mustard to Your Sandwich
The Sandwich NT has been around for quite awhile as an alternative to a takeout double immediately after opponents have bid two suits. Generally both bids are used, but the Sandwich NT shows different features than the takeout double depending upon partnership agreement – I. e, more (or less) defense, strength, distribution (at least 5-5), etc.
I propose the following version (esp. at MP’s): the ONLY difference should be that the Sandwich NT guarantees at least five of any unbid major. This allows partner to compete in a major when holding only a three card suit, which is unlikely to happen if not playing this version of Sandwich NT. In fact, the only time it will happen in current versions of Sandwich NT after the auction 1m – P – 1M is when the NT bidder happens to hold five of the other minor along with his five card major (since otherwise he will make a takeout double and partner will presume he has only a four card major); this seems to be an overly restrictive requirement.
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if theres a distinction to be made then this one is quite obvious. but we should question if its a good convention at all.
Another method is that a sandwich double includes in any nebulously bid suit, if there is one. For example, after Precision 1D-P-1H, 1NT could show spades, clubs, and DIAMONDS. Or, after 1C-P-Montreal Relay 1D, 1NT could show hearts, spades, and diamonds.
One variation that I have seen before is that the 1NT call includes Responder’s suit and is a pure takeout of Opener’s suit, but it seems better to incorporate the nebulous suit instead. Another example might be Short 1C-P-1S, with 1NT showing hearts, diamonds, and clubs.
If the two suits are real, your idea of 1NT guaranteeing the fifth card in the major (and hence the doubling being equal or longer in the minor) makes sense and seems somewhat intuitive, with the 1NT call being more like Michaels than takeout.