Splinter or Gerber

[masse24]

In the following (uncontested) auction, what is the best use for this jump to 4♣?

 

1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4♣?

[steve2005]

if you want to use Gerber go 1N-4♣. Why show 5♥ and then Gerber you don't even know If you have a fit?

With 6+♥ and your only interested in keycards, use Texas then 4N.

[Zelandakh]

I also use it as a splinter but another popular method is for all splinters to go through a 3♠ rebid freeing up 4♣ and 4♦. This is useful if you do not have an alternative way of starting a cue auction, as 4♣ can now be used for that with 4♦ being RKCB. Having the 4♣ rebid asking for key cards is more common but, in my view, clearly not as good.

[Finch]

Depends on the rest of your system. For me, it is a splinter but there are other ways to show that hand type; similarly there are other ways to ask for heart keycards.

[jodepp]

I'm sure others across the world do things differently, but here's what I do in my neck of the woods:

 

Jumping after a transfer is a splinter. To ask for aces/key cards, use a Texas transfer (4L) then bid 4NT.

[blackshoe]

I'm sure others across the world do things differently, but here's what I do in my neck of the woods:

 

Jumping after a transfer is a splinter. To ask for aces/key cards, use a Texas transfer (4L) then bid 4NT.

Does your Texas promise a six card suit?

[steve2005]

I also use it as a splinter but another popular method is for all splinters to go through a 3♠ rebid freeing up 4♣ and 4♦. This is useful if you do not have an alternative way of starting a cue auction, as 4♣ can now be used for that with 4♦ being RKCB. Having the 4♣ rebid asking for key cards is more common but, in my view, clearly not as good.

While using 4♣ or 4♦ as keycard is an interesting idea, your still likely going to be signing off in 5♥ if you aren't in slam. So very little is gained over using 4N and if your not safe at the 5-level why are you using keycard.

 

So, I think 4C/4D is better to use for something other than keycard.

[barmar]

If you have a 5-card suit and a singleton, you must also have a side 4+ card suit. If that's his hand, responder's second bid should be the second suit.

 

And as others have said, if you have a 6-card suit and want to check on aces, you start with Texas rather than Jacoby.

 

So by process of elimination, this sequence should show 6+ hearts and a singleton or void in clubs.

[helene_t]

Does your Texas promise a six card suit?

It sets trumps so in principle it is based on 6+ cards but of course if you think your 5-card suit is good enough to insist on it then you can use Texas.

[fromageGB]

And as others have said, if you have a 6-card suit and want to check on aces, you start with Texas rather than Jacoby.

I agree I'd use 4♣ as a x6xx splinter, but what advantage is there in Texas rather than Jacoby with a 6 card suit ace asking hand? I can't see that knowing of 6 hearts rather than 5 is going to be any benefit to opener. He is hardly likely to be able to see 7 side suit tricks needed to convert a slam to NT. You may prefer to have a different meaning for a 4♦ reply.

[Cyberyeti]

if you want to use Gerber go 1N-4♣. Why show 5♥ and then Gerber you don't even know If you have a fit?

With 6+♥ and your only interested in keycards, use Texas then 4N.

 

Don't assume everybody plays Texas, we certainly don't. Splinter for us.

 

One thing I would say, if you don't use this jump as Gerber and don't play Texas, then use 1N-2♦-2♥-4♠ to ask for aces even if you don't otherwise play kickback (use 3♠ then 4♠ as exclusion).

[lycier]

Splinter with slammish.

[lonesome31]

Splinter of course.

[steve2005]

I, but what advantage is there in Texas rather than Jacoby with a 6 card suit ace asking hand? .

So, you can use 1N-2♦-2♥-4N as quantitative INV to 6♥/6N with 5♥ balanced because your using Texas for all ace asking