[jillybean]

Here's a hand I found rather interesting...


AK543, KT84, Q76, 4

R vs. W, IMP Partner opens 1♠ (2N) ?

Do you splinter or use uns vs. uns, and why?

[cloa513]

 jillybean, on 2011-September-30, 22:13, said:

Here's a hand I found rather interesting...


AK543, KT84, Q76, 4

R vs. W, IMP Partner opens 1♠ (2N) ?

Do you splinter or use uns vs. uns, and why?

Splinter because 5 HCP outside of spades isn't much. Partner needs at least 11 including two aces to make slam work. Save unusual for real strength outside of the trump suit where you don't need to worry about opponents interfering (because its risky).

[chasetb]

I would splinter as well, because this hand would splinter without interference, and we can still do it.

[aguahombre]

4♣ because splinters put partner in the driver's seat and show just game values in support of partner, not slam tries. The Diamond queen would have to be the Ace for me to do more.

[jillybean]

For me 3♦ shows inv+, not slam interest. Why splinter when you can force game at a lower level and would you still splinter
if the minors were reversed?

[aguahombre]

 jillybean, on 2011-October-01, 00:13, said:

For me 3♦ shows inv+, not slam interest. Why splinter when you can force game at a lower level and would you still splinter
if the minors were reversed?

Can't imagine how reversing the minors would matter. And re: 3D ---why make a non-descriptive general support bid (inv+) when u have a specific limited splinter available to give partner the ball?

[jillybean]

 aguahombre, on 2011-October-01, 00:19, said:

Can't imagine how reversing the minors would matter. And re: 3D ---why make a non-descriptive general support bid (inv+) when u have a specific limited splinter available to give partner the ball?

If you reverse the minors and splinter 4♦ partner can't show ♣ control below game. I prefer using splinters for hands with little slam interest and on this hand I am interested.3♦ leaves plenty of room to cue.

[aguahombre]

 jillybean, on 2011-October-01, 00:39, said:

If you reverse the minors and splinter 4♦ partner can't show ♣ control below game. I prefer using splinters for hands with little slam interest and on this hand I am interested.3♦ leaves plenty of room to cue.

O.k. Seems as if you have the answer to your question in the O.P. already ---plus the answer to the follow-up about reversed minors.

[gordontd]

 jillybean, on 2011-October-01, 00:39, said:

I prefer using splinters for hands with little slam interest

That seems completely the wrong way around.

[jillybean]

 aguahombre, on 2011-October-01, 00:55, said:

O.k. Seems as if you have the answer to your question in the O.P. already ---plus the answer to the follow-up about reversed minors.

I asked the question because I evaluated this hand as having slam interest and would not splinter, I`m not sure if it is the best method or right evaluation. It sounds like we use the approach to splinters ("4♣ because splinters put partner in the driver's seat and show just game values in support of partner, not slam tries"), Our difference could be in evaluation rather than method?

[Vampyr]

 jillybean, on 2011-October-01, 00:39, said:

I prefer using splinters for hands with little slam interest

 gordontd, on 2011-October-01, 01:51, said:

That seems completely the wrong way around.

Well, obviously there is no point in using a splinter unless it will help you find a thin slam, but I think that the OP is saying that she (and most people) would not splinter with an in-between hand. She would splinter with a hand that gives partner information in order to evaluate slam prospects (potentially with a super fit), or with a monster that would bid on after a splinter.

This is why splinters have to be very specific, with their points in aces and kings rather than queens and jacks. I like to play splinters as 3 or 4 controls (A=2, K=1) and very little outside. The more tightly defined, the better, when a bid takes up so much space.

[aguahombre]

Not to worry in this case about leaving a lot of room for cue-bids. If I had a control in diamonds as well as my club stiff, perhaps a slower route than the splinter would be appropriate. Partner is expected to know that also.

The most likely "slam-probe" by opener will be Wood. Even with, say QX of hearts, opener can guess reasonably that my ten HCP will consist of a heart control. In response to WOOD I intend to show the spade queen. Since she probably holds it herself, the 5-card support will become apparent.

[gwnn]

A typical splinter is a normal 11 count with 4 trumps and a singleton. I don't know how interested I am in slam, I just know that I told my pd what I have. In the case of most splinters we can have slam opposite a very suitable minimum, so I guess that means that I have slam interest.

[jillybean]

Here's how the bidding went

---

[aguahombre]

Pard expressed slam interest; they took away Wood, and that is the best she could do. I accept; that is the best I can do. 6♠