Jacoby 2NT, 2/1 or Other

[ali quarg]

Playing 2/1 either GI/GF

[hv=pc=n&w=sa953hdq9732ck732&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1sp?]133|200[/hv]

and another challenge in the spoiler

 

 

A surfeit of voids & how do NS compete?[hv=pc=n&s=sq862h98642dcq865&w=sa973hdq9732ck732&n=shajt75dk86cajt94&e=skjt54hkq3dajt54c&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1sp?]399|300[/hv]

 

[P_Marlowe]

Playing 2/1 either GI/GF

[hv=pc=n&w=sa953hdq9732ck732&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1sp?]133|200[/hv]

Splinter.

 

You have a min GF hand, if you make the splinter, partner signs of,

you are happy. If you have if av. a void splinter, would be great,

but otherwise I would show the shortage and respect partners sign of.

[jillybean]

I can't remember the last time I used a splinter but agree this hand looks good. It's a weak GF raise, I hope you make this partner.

It is a shame that it will leave partner no room to explore but 2♦ is too much.

[sfi]

It is a shame that it will leave partner no room to explore but 2♦ is too much.

You've identified the problem and this is exactly why people find ways to show this splinter below 4H. A simple way is to use 3NT to show the "inconvenient splinter", allowing a cuebid or two and a last-train option.

[jillybean]

Yes, I like that. What else would you use 1M:3nt for!

[sfi]

Yes, I like that. What else would you use 1M:3nt for!

We were using it as choice of games with three-card support, but we never were confident enough about when to pass or how to effectively look for slam. So we're happy we made the change.

[Douglas43]

Yes, I like that. What else would you use 1M:3nt for!

 

16-18 balanced, meaning that two level response then 3NT is limited to 13-15.

[johnu]

Yes, I like that. What else would you use 1M:3nt for!

I use

[hv=d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp3sp3n]133|100[/hv]

 

[hv=d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sp3np4c]133|100[/hv]

as splinters showing singletons, with the next step asking for the singleton.

 

Direct jumps to the 4 level (and 3NT over 1♥) shows voids. This allows the use of exclusion Blackwood when responder has shown a void.

[mw64ahw]

I use

[hv=d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp3sp3n]133|100[/hv]

 

[hv=d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sp3np4c]133|100[/hv]

as splinters showing singletons, with the next step asking for the singleton.

 

Direct jumps to the 4 level (and 3NT over 1♥) shows voids. This allows the use of exclusion Blackwood when responder has shown a void.

 

I'm considering something like Modified Bergen Raises (Bravos) Bridge Convention (bridgebum.com) which incorporates void showing sequences as an alternative.

 

At the moment I'm modifying:

1♠-3♣ to show a mixed raise with a game going 4+♠

1♠-3♦ to show a mixed raise with a strong game invitational 4+♠

1♠-3♥ to show a mixed raise with a weak game invitational 4+♠

 

 

to incorporate into

1♠-3♣ a slam invite with 4+♠ with a void so that

--1♠-3♣-3♦ asks which type of hand?

----1♠-3♣-3♦-3NT shows a ♣ void

----1♠-3♣-3♦-3♥ shows a ♦ void

----1♠-3♣-3♦-3♠ asks opener to bid game opposite a non-minimum opening

 

1♠-3♦ a slam invite with 4+♠ with a void so that

--1♠-3♣-3♥ asks which type of hand?

----1♠-3♣-3♥-3NT shows a ♥ void

 

This leaves

1♠-...-4♣/♥ to show weak honours (where 3NT has been used to show the void) in control bidding sequences

[Cyberyeti]

Yes, I like that. What else would you use 1M:3nt for!

 

 

3334/3343 13-15 choice of games

[DavidKok]

I'm considering something like Modified Bergen Raises (Bravos) Bridge Convention

I'd love to play against this.

[LBengtsson]

First, I do not like splinters with voids - just my opinion - I prefer them with a stiff card, and stiffs turn up more times than voids, and second, this is an ideal hand to use a Bergen raise of 3♣ (7-10 with 4 card support) and then show the control after. That way it shows the control as a void or an ace. And that your hand is worth slightly more and you are interested in slam if opener has extra values/controls.

[Cyberyeti]

First, I do not like splinters with voids - just my opinion - I prefer them with a stiff card, and stiffs turn up more times than voids, and second, this is an ideal hand to use a Bergen raise of 3♣ (7-10 with 4 card support) and then show the control after. That way it shows the control as a void or an ace. And that your hand is worth slightly more and you are interested in slam if opener has extra values/controls.

 

We play void splinter, with singletons through a limit+ 2N, but this hand isn't quite good enough for the splinter (although fine for 2N).

 

Good hand for mini splinter 3♥ followed by 4♥ to confirm the void and extras if you play it like that, we don't.

[mycroft]

I play limit splinters with one partner, this is a perfect hand for it. Even if this is the hand that always wants to be in 4♠ (which I am not sure of), I don't want to game force splinter on a ragged 9-and-a-void. Too much chance of being in 6♠ making 5 or 5♠ making 4 when partner plays me to have what I would normally. Especially with a heart void, I expect partner to either not pass (invites are "blame transfers", right?) or get pushed there quite often (and partner will have a better idea what to do over 5♥ than if I show more cards, too).

 

 

Edit, just noticed the spoiler in the OP. Sure looks like partner is going to be deciding what to do over 5♥, doesn't it?

 

 

Not playing limit splinters, yeah, figure out how to show it - maybe this is the 1NT Forcing, then 4♠ hand?

 

Traditionally, 1M-3NT is either 3M433 or 2M balanced, minimum game force, choice of games. Another of my partners has me playing it as "a 4M raise, but with an outside A or K". I kind of like this one - that's what I normally tried to show with 1NT Forcing, then 4♠.