Splinter, Blackwood et al

[DWM]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sqxhaxxxdkjxxcaxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Bidding has gone (all NS, playing 2/1)

 

1S - 2D

4H - 4NT

5S - 5NT

6S

 

4♥ is a splinter singleton/void agreeing ♦

5♠ is 2 KC in ♦ plus the Q

5NT is a king ask, 6S shows all 3 outside diamonds

 

Few questions about this hand

 

1. Is a splinter agreeing diamonds a good treatment for the 4H bid, we keep 3H as showing a hand with reversing strength.

 

2. Should I have used BW in this situation.

 

3. Was a King ask risky? I thought that I could duck out at the 6 level if he shows 0 or 1 kings.

 

4. I placed Partner with

 

AKxxx

K

AQxxx

Kx

 

Should this have been a million miles away?

 

I thought that if P had either the Q♣, J♠ or spades were 3-3 7NT is cold. At the table I guesstimated that 2/3 of the time at least one of these would happen so I should go for it? I did not think P would have opened 2C with 20/21 points holding a singleton K♥.

[Robert]

Hi everyone

 

Splinters are a good bidding tool. They are 'not' a cure all by any means, classic bidding can often show the same hand type by 'bidding around the clock.'

 

I am somewhat nervous about using up all the space with a 3H jump(in your methods) showing 'reversing' values. You are trapping partner into bidding 3NT without a club stopper 'or' perhaps showing support for a major 'with less than normal trump support.'

 

2/1 auctions are supposed to save bidding space by 'forcing' to game with the first bid. Why not bid 2Hs and 'show' extra values later 'if' needed.

 

After the 4H bid, couldn't opener have a great deal less values 'since' your 2D bid promised GF values? Cuebids with no idea of what type hand partner holds is very dangerous bidding.

 

I play 'Kickback' to ask for keycards 'when' a minor suit is agreed. I also play

1S-2D-3H* as a splinter bid. If you hold 'wasted' heart values, you can bid 3NT.

 

What do you bid 'with wasted' heart values after a 4H 'splinter?' You play 4NT as ace asking.

 

The King asking bid was risky. You had no idea of what partner might hold. Your guess 'ranged' from 0-3 Kings.

 

After he showed 3 Kings, you now 'hoped' that he would have a key extra Jack, Queen or that spades would split 3-3. A famous bridge player is often quoted as saying, 'Do not play me for a perfect hand, I won't have it.' Not 100% true, however, a good general rule to follow 'most' of the time.

 

That example hand is not nearly a 2C bid in my style. It also 'does not' have

20-21HCPs. There are 19HCP there 'if' you do not discount(somewhat) the singleton King of Hearts. I would describe the hand as having 16HCP 'plus' the stiff King of hearts.

 

If partner held this hand 'with one King', Axxxx K AQxx xxx are you making 6Ds?

 

Regards,

Robert

[ArcLight]

Playing 2/1, jumps are very special picture bids. They are not needed to show general strength.

With a 2 suiter, opener could bid 2♥ without fear of being passed out since your 2/1 established a GF.

 

There was no reason for the 4♥ bid, probably pard wasn't aware that 3♥ was a splinter.

 

From Mike Lawrnces 2/1 CD

Jump shift to new suit – 2 treatments (both good) Discuss with pard which one treatment.

 

a ) Two GOOD suits. 8 – AQJ87 – Q8 – KQJT5, but NOT AK – Q9763-J-AKQ87 (hearts are weak, even with 19 HCP). Bid 2D with the later, despite the HCP.

 

b ) Splinter. Keeps the bidding lower than a double jump to the 4 level. You can play that a double jump then shows a void.

Note: Jump to the 4 level ALWAYS is a splinter (assume 1 card, not a void).

 

 

I wouldn't assume pard has 5 Diamonds, just 4. Pard may have though you had 5!

Does the response to 5NT = sepcific kings? OR just 0,1,2,3 - thats important! Pard may be thinking something else.

 

I would be a bit nervous about the Grand Slam - what will you do with all those hearts if pard has 4 trumps and opps lead trumps? 4-1 trump splits are not uncommon. Even with 3-2 how do you make 13 tricks on a trump lead, unless pard has AKJxx in hearts, or KQX in clubs.

 

From the bidding pard is probably 5=1=4=3.

[pclayton]

If I were sitting down with a random world class player under the age of 50, I would expect 3♥ to be a splinter 99% of the time. Some of the older crowd might take it as a strong 5-5.

 

4♥ is tougher, but I think the only sensible interpretation is EKCB, however, I would never make a 4♥ call under any circumstances, without it being previously discussed, since it is so open to interpretation.

 

Pard's 4♥ has really accelerated the auction, so you don't have much choice. A 4♠ cue is possible, but 4♠ should be real support, so RKCB is sort of forced on you.

 

There are a few (Larsen / Kivel for instance) pairs that play 5N is the # of kings, but there aren't many. Specific Kings is more the norm. I'd love to hear a 6♠ call, and I would play pard for close to the hand you gave, although its very possible that pard has 4♦'s. In any case, you have a clear 7♦ call. 7N is a little far-fetched.

[pclayton]

I would be a bit nervous about the Grand Slam - what will you do with all those hearts if pard has 4 trumps and opps lead trumps? 4-1 trump splits are not uncommon.

[hv=d=n&n=sakxxxhkdaqxxckxx&s=sqxhaxxxdkjxxcaxx]133|200|[/hv]

 

1. Trump lead, win the Q

2. K♦

3. A♦

4, 5, 6: Q, A, K♠

7. Ruff spade

8. A♥, pitch club.

 

All this needs are trump 3-2 and spades 3-3 or 4-2. I make it 56.96%. 6♠ is just under 68%.

 

I want to be in 7♦.

[ArcLight]

Phil,

I think its a bit much to hope for the stiff King of hearts as well as everything else.

I know a good pard will always have what you need, but maybe not ;)

 

It could also be:

♠AKxxx

♥x

♦AQT9

♣Kxx

 

That too probably wants to be in a small slam. But not a Grand

[neilkaz]

I am in complete agreement with Phil on this thread. The 6♠ bid shows all 3 outside kings, so I think 7♦ is the best contract and worth a shot vs passing and hoping to make 6♠ or pulling to 6NT.

 

7♦ if it makes should be a big score and I think it is more likely to make than 7NT. If PD possibly has some undisclosed extras after 7♦ he can carry on to 7NT, but I'd certainly not expect that nor bid it very often.

 

.. neilkaz ..

[the hog]

Look at Phil's post. As 2H would be a reverse, why on earth play 4H as a splinter instead of 3H?

 

I would chance 7D on this hand and agree with the gist of Phil's comments.

[HeartA]

1. Is a splinter agreeing diamonds a good treatment for the 4H bid, we keep 3H as showing a hand with reversing strength.

After pd's 2/1 response, 2H would be forcing (pd promised to bid again if you play SAYC. And if you play 2/1, 2D is game forcing). 3H would be UNNECESSARY jump and is therefore Splinter.

 

2. Should I have used BW in this situation.

After pd's 4H you don't much space left for exploit slam. 4NT as BW is OK as your honors are all primary cards (including SQ).

3. Was a King ask risky?  I thought that I could duck out at the 6 level if he shows 0 or 1 kings.

Could be risky. But if you want to try grand, I guess that's the only choice.

4. I placed Partner with

 

AKxxx

K

AQxxx

Kx

 

Should this have been a million miles away?

It's not too far away, though pd could have one less diamond. If I held the hand and heard pd responding 2D, I would bid 4NT (or 4D or whatever is RKC for diamonds), instead of Splinter.

 

Anyway, I would bid 7D with all keycards, Kings and my SQ support for pd's suit.