[wyman]

I've polled a few experts and have gotten mixed reviews. Just curious how much of a consensus -- if any -- we have on this call.
Assume BWS or related 2/1-with-gadgets systems. If you use reverse transfer Meckzilli to handle this, feel free to say so ITT, but I'd like to keep the poll based on what you'd do in a 2/1 context.

Thanks for weighing in.

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[jmcw]

I have a game going hand with shortness, thats a splinter response for me.

If partner shows no interest in going beyond game I will respect his decision.

[dustinst22]

jmcw, on 2011-August-02, 07:42, said:

I have a game going hand with shortness, thats a splinter response for me.

If partner shows no interest in going beyond game I will respect his decision.

So did you mean to vote for 4♦? Regarding the splinter, the only reason I don't like this here is because I think the hand is too powerful for a splinter (despite the "only" 10 HCP, the hand on its own is 14.75 on K+R evaluator, and likely worth 17+ after 1S opener). I like my splinters to be a very limited GF hand in strength and having little to no extras (around 12-15 total pts). A splinter also ignores your excellent shape here with a powerful 6 card heart suit. The question you should ask is "is slam out of the picture if we have wasted values in diamonds?". The answer is clearly no, so no reason to take up so much space imo. Regarding Jacoby, I think again the hand is far too distributional for it -- at least in the "traditional sense" of jacoby, it should be a more balanced hand and definitely not a freak distributional hand imo.

[Phil]

I don't like a splinter on this hand at all. If partner signs off, I am on a total guess.

Either a forcing raise, 2♣ or 2♥ are OK with me.

[hrothgar]

To me, the key to this hand is my Heart suit.
If partner has a key filler or two life is golden.
If not, things are a lot more difficult.

Add in the fact that void splinters can make life complicated and 2♥ is looking real good.

[ArtK78]

My choice is 2♥. If we are lucky enough to get a raise, this hand will be much easier to bid.

I intend to make a forcing spade raise next unless the auction prevents me from doing so.

[nige1]

wyman wrote "I've polled a few experts and have gotten mixed reviews. Just curious how much of a consensus -- if any -- we have on this call. Assume BWS or related 2/1-with-gadgets systems. If you use reverse transfer Meckzilli to handle this, feel free to say so ITT, but I'd like to keep the poll based on what you'd do in a 2/1 context. Thanks for weighing in."

IMO 3N (void showing) = 9, 4♦ (splinter) = 7, 2♥ = 5.
No brainer? Modern practice is to use 3N to show a plain-suit void. But exclusion (if available below the five level) would be even better. If partner has fewer than three of ♠AK ♥A and ♣A then play in game. Otherwise a small or grand slam.

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[rduran1216]

2♥ is very clear

[daveharty]

Bleh. I agree it's too strong for a 4D splinter, unless you play two-tiered splinters where 4D is the more slammish option, but even then I think Phil's right, if partner signs off you are guessing. I guess I'll try 2NT with no clear conviction; a 4C rebid would get me excited, a 3H rebid would raise a red flag, etc. I could easily be convinced that 2H was better, or even 3H if playing Soloway-style jump shifts.

[BunnyGo]

While I normally support with support...in particular I like to tell partner when I know what the trump suit is, in this case I'd like to describe the nice secondary feature of my hand so that partner can make an informed decision later (or so I can...my hand is gold if he raises me in hearts). I'd have loved if the opps bid 2♦ so I could make a 3♥ fit jump, but unless I'm playing 3♥ as a fit jump, then I'll just bid 2.

[Phil]

daveharty, on 2011-August-02, 11:04, said:

Bleh. I agree it's too strong for a 4D splinter, unless you play two-tiered splinters where 4D is the more slammish option, but even then I think Phil's right, if partner signs off you are guessing. I guess I'll try 2NT with no clear conviction; a 4C rebid would get me excited, a 3H rebid would raise a red flag, etc. I could easily be convinced that 2H was better, or even 3H if playing Soloway-style jump shifts.

I don't know that hearing 3♥ is such a turn off. It implies that we could have coverage in clubs (where we need it), and we can still get hearts established. Even with a void heart we could have a massive crossruff and make 12-13 tricks, but there may be a few anxious moments if the opponents have a middle trump spot.

5 trump + a 4 loser hand is such a powerful holding.

[daveharty]

Phil, on 2011-August-02, 13:03, said:

I don't know that hearing 3♥ is such a turn off. It implies that we could have coverage in clubs (where we need it), and we can still get hearts established. Even with a void heart we could have a massive crossruff and make 12-13 tricks, but there may be a few anxious moments if the opponents have a middle trump spot.

5 trump + a 4 loser hand is such a powerful holding.

Yeah, the more I think about it the less I like 2NT, mostly because if the auction goes 1S-2NT-4S I'm back to a complete guess. I guess I'll jump on the 2H bandwagon, but I do kinda like the Soloway JS idea if available.

[Phil]

daveharty, on 2011-August-02, 13:07, said:

Yeah, the more I think about it the less I like 2NT, mostly because if the auction goes 1S-2NT-4S I'm back to a complete guess. I guess I'll jump on the 2H bandwagon, but I do kinda like the Soloway JS idea if available.

2♥ is my choice too. It could be vital to protect the ♣K in 6 and we can only do that in hearts or maybe 6N.

[gnasher]

daveharty, on 2011-August-02, 13:07, said:

Yeah, the more I think about it the less I like 2NT, mostly because if the auction goes 1S-2NT-4S I'm back to a complete guess.

Would your partner really bid 4♠ with three key cards?

[wyman]

daveharty, on 2011-August-02, 13:07, said:

Yeah, the more I think about it the less I like 2NT, mostly because if the auction goes 1S-2NT-4S I'm back to a complete guess. I guess I'll jump on the 2H bandwagon, but I do kinda like the Soloway JS idea if available.

Are people really rebidding 4S with 3 keycards? Even AK A, I'd bid something temporizing. Partner's unlimited.

edit: gah, gnasher beat me to it.

[daveharty]

gnasher, on 2011-August-02, 13:16, said:

Would your partner really bid 4♠ with three key cards?

Sadly, I expect that some would, holding AKxxx xx xxx Axx.

[xxhong]

This is a perfect hand for 4D to be played as ERKC. Really, the overall HCP isn't the major consideration of this hand and the KCs except for DA are the keys.

wyman, on 2011-August-02, 07:30, said:

I've polled a few experts and have gotten mixed reviews. Just curious how much of a consensus -- if any -- we have on this call.
Assume BWS or related 2/1-with-gadgets systems. If you use reverse transfer Meckzilli to handle this, feel free to say so ITT, but I'd like to keep the poll based on what you'd do in a 2/1 context.

Thanks for weighing in.

---

[JLOGIC]

If I had reasonable methods after 2N, I would start with 2N. A cuebidding auction seems like it would be great, especially if I know partner is not cuebidding a singleton at any point. I would also like to know if partner has a minimum or not in context of cuebidding.

If playing standard jacoby, I would just start with 2H. I would hope to bid 3S next and hear some cuebidding. Partner will probably not cuebid a heart singleton early on so that route should be fine.

I think splintering is completely misguided. I think bidding 2H for the reason of showing a source of tricks is misguided, I'm not going to show my hand, I am interested in 4 cards: the CA, HA, and SAK, so I'm going to attempt to get an auction going ASAP where I can find out about those cards.

[JLOGIC]

Phil, on 2011-August-02, 13:14, said:

2♥ is my choice too. It could be vital to protect the ♣K in 6 and we can only do that in hearts or maybe 6N.

You are going to find a way to play 6N from your side and be confident that it is right? Impressive!

[Phil]

JLOGIC, on 2011-August-03, 04:46, said:

You are going to find a way to play 6N from your side and be confident that it is right? Impressive!

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(OK, we don't cue 1st round controls, but if we did..... )