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The Mini Splinter Subtlety


Echognome

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Give what you think are the minimum and maximum hands for these two sequences:

 

1 - 1; 3

 

1 - 1; 2 - 2*; 4**

 

*Asking bid (some may use 2NT)

**4, max for 2, shortness

 

Contrast this with your min/max when the mini is not available, such as:

 

1 - 1; 2 - 2*; 4**

 

*, ** As above except shortness.

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A minimum mini splinter would be something like Axx KJxx x AQ10xx. My mini splinters don't have an upper limit, because I may have a game force and be planning to bid again.

 

2 then 4: from Axx KJxx x KJ10xx to Axx KJxx x AJ10xx.

 

The availability of a mini splinter has no effect on the range of the 2 raise. A hand which was worth the three level is still worth the three level.

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The minimum for a mini-splinter is about a good 6 loser hand. It's a hand good enough for a 3 call. A typical minimum looks like: Axx KQxx x AJxxx.

 

If you want to ratchet this back to 1 - 1 - 2 - 2N - 4, I would subtract the Q (or maybe substitute the J for the Q).

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The jump to 4 doesn't promise any extras, it will be used whenever you have 4 trumps and shortness (unless maybe when you have a control-poor minimum).

This isn't the way I was taught. 3 shows 4 trump, a minimum and might have a stiff.

 

I'm not saying its a bad idea, although I don't know which method is more prevalent.

 

Playing my method I wouldn't 4 on a hand like: Kxxx QJxx x AJxx.

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The jump to 4 doesn't promise any extras, it will be used whenever you have 4 trumps and shortness (unless maybe when you have a control-poor minimum).

This isn't the way I was taught. 3 shows 4 trump, a minimum and might have a stiff.

 

I'm not saying its a bad idea, although I don't know which method is more prevalent.

 

Playing my method I wouldn't 4 on a hand like: Kxxx QJxx x AJxx.

What about T852 AK65 --- KJT87?

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Playing my method I wouldn't 4 on a hand like: Kxxx QJxx x AJxx.

Would you actually have opened this hand?

?? I hope you are joking Andy.

No, I was serious. 4441s are usually horrid, and this one is no exception. It has no spots, an excess of jacks, and only 11 points to start with.

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