phoenixmj, on 2019-April-03, 08:37, said:
I like the splinter approach but not sure what partner would have done next - and as I just consulted him - he is not sure either
I was in a quandry but clearly smelled a likely slam. So - I instead decided to take control and did a texas transfer. Bidding went -- 1N, pass, 4H, pass, 4S, pass, 6S. I did not feel I could get answers to my questions asking for key cards so I gambled - and in THIS case - it paid off. We bid and made the slam.
The results - I looked at the field and we were only 1 of two out of a field of 21 tables that bid the slam (most of whom frankly are better players than us). I questioned my tactics. The finesse in clubs is key in this case. We are also missing the spade Q.
So - how would you have proceeded as east if the bidding had gone as you suggested?
Any and all help is appreciated.
First of all, when you transfer and then splinter, you are not asking about a fit, you are telling partner that you will play in the suit to which you transfer. Furthermore, the splinter has to be at least a mild slam try else you'd just bid game.
Let's consider the splinter. Mel Colchamiro in his book How to Play Like an Expert suggests taking a cue from Frank Sinatra with regard to splinters. Ol' Blue Eyes recorded a song called "All or Nothing at All" and this is the basis for Mel's comments. Basically, he suggests the holding you want opposite a splinter is all (the A) or nothing (all spots versus other honors). Now this was in the context of opener considering what to do opposite a limited responding splinter to opener's suit. The A would cover partner's singleton or possibly provide a pitch out of responder's hand. All spots suggests that there is no wasted values in opener's hand. The more wasted values the less opener should be interested in anything but game.
The same principle applies in this auction with this hand. Here you have a Q, but not a lot else to devalue. BUT the rest of the hand looks pretty good opposite, the splinter. Consider that the splinter suggests that most, if not all, of responder's values are in the other suits. Opener's hand will mesh nicely with whatever responder holds.
How about slam? The first consideration for slam is whether there are 2 quick losers in any suit. Responder's splinter says not in
♦. Opener's hand has the As of the other side suits, so there aren't 2 quick losers in any side suit. The
♠ A also reduces chances of a trump suit loser. Opener should like this hand very much in terms of a possible slam.
So over the splinter, opener should show some interest in slam by not bidding 4
♠. Here the stand out bid over 4
♦ is 4
♥. it says "Partner, I also have some interest in slam and am showing you a
♥ control." That will let responder take the next step toward slam if the
♥ control is useful.
One important consideration with this hand is that responder should captain the auction. Responder has shown a distributional hand via the splinter, but other than
♦ shortness and likely 6+ pretty good
♠, opener doesn't have a clue what responder's hand is. So opener should be telling in response to responder's bids because responder will be better able to decide if slam is good.
Responder can then continue slam exploration by whatever seems appropriate. RKCB can be bid if that is right, or, responder can continue showing controls. What responder does may also depend on your bidding agreements.
Help
