[inquiry]

Scoring: MP

BPO-006C
You open 1♠, Pard bids 2♦. Opps pass throughout.

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This hand is open for discussion.

[hrothgar]

BPO-006C: 3D

Interesting hand. I suspect that the panel will debate the merits of a Heart splinter as opposed to a Diamond raise. Personally, I'm in the Diamond raise camp. The Heart splinter is a very descriptive bid. However, I think that there is too much chance of bypassing a 4S contract at MP. The simple Diamond raise will allow us to explore the club control at a safe level.

[han]

3H, splinter, and as Richard says, very descriptive.

[cherdano]

Hannie, on Oct 7 2005, 06:03 PM, said:

3H, splinter, and as Richard says, very descriptive.

In fact, I wondered whether "Is 3♥ a splinter?" is the only issue on this hand.
If I raise diamonds, I like 4♦ better.

Btw, 3♥ should also get you to 3NT when that is right.

[Blofeld]

3♥, but I never did claim to understand matchpoints. I'll just bid my hand.

[mike777]

3D, Agree 3h will be splinter but I prefer to have a better hand for the splinter.

Even though I play 2d as stronger than almost anyone else here.

[mikeh]

Jlall, on Oct 7 2005, 12:07 PM, said:

Interesting, I generally prefer to have minimum hands for splinters.

I agree, in that a splinter should not have 'medium' extras. When you splinter you should be comfortable passing if partner signs off, or comfortable bidding on. The former means having a minimum, the latter means having a LOT of extra values.

However, I did not splinter here. I would have splintered with Axxxxx x AQJ10 xx, but I don't like my ♠ suit for a high-level ♦ contract and I do like it for a ♠ contract. Compare how Qx in ♠ fits the 2 hands for a ♠ contract and how xx fits it for 5/6♦... in both cases, you'd prefer to play 4♠... not that my 3♦ choice makes it easy to reach ♠

[Winstonm]

I chose the (hoped for) 3H splinter for two reasons: first, I thought if would get the most votes , and secondly, because it's matchpoints a minor suit slam is going to be very difficult for partner to visualize with a trump holding of Kxxxx, so to keep slam alive with such excellent support I felt it necessary to make the most aggressive slam bid I could make. If partner holds little in hearts not only will we avoid NT but may get to a minor slam which will play huge dividends at MPs.

Winston

[Al_U_Card]

Since pard has yet to deny at least a spade preference, and he may have a 2344 hand, I like a 2S bid. Even tho I may only have 5S for this bid, I am minimum and he has promised a rebid so I can catch-up with D later (I still want to play in the 6-2 rather than the 4-4 with a 4-1 break in either of the pointy suits possible.)

[Winstonm]

Many years ago, I was either told or I read somewhere that the one holding the good trumps should take aggressive action and I've found this to be generally true. Put yourself in partner's shoes with:

Ax, J10xx, Kxxxx, AK

How can he really get excited about this hand without a heart splinter?

Winston

[inquiry]

I liked this problem very much. It has a lot going for it.

1) Do you rebid ♠ before showing ♦ support. It is matchpoints after all, and spade "pay off" better. But if you rebid ♠ can you ever convince your partner you had SOOOO much in ♦

2) Do you rebid 3♦ (right on suit quality, shade light on hcp, but plenty extras in waiting). This gets you aimed towards diamonds, but at the potential expense of not playing in spades at matchpoints.

3) Do you splinter in ♥'s, perhaps closing the door to spades all together, when you will not know what to do if partner then bids 3NT (is your xx of clubs enough to stand 3NT? Might 4♠ play better?).

I hope the expert answers here will give us all something to think about, but from reading the replies so far from members, a lot of the topics that are discussed by them are already being picked up on.

[Al_U_Card]

Winstonm, on Oct 7 2005, 12:32 PM, said:

Many years ago, I was either told or I read somewhere that the one holding the good trumps should take aggressive action and I've found this to be generally true.  Put yourself in partner's shoes with:

Ax, J10xx, Kxxxx, AK

How can he really get excited about this hand without a heart splinter?

Winston

If he has that hand he will make at least one move.

It's when he has the more mundane holdings that finding the spade fit before deciding on 3NT (It IS MP after all.) when that may be right. The splinter on this kind of a hand can also steer the defense while restricting your bidding envelope.

[pigpenz]

i went for 3♦'s if partner cues will go for it

[Al_U_Card]

I really like the 3D bid for the 5332 hand that has a flaw for NT and is waiting for pard to provide further info.

[cherdano]

Btw, I think this hand is a really good plug for Ben's splinter rules: http://inquiry2over1.blogspot.com/2005/07/...inter-bids.html.
For him, a splinter after two suits have been denies a control in the 4th suit in most cases (probably unless we have a huge hand that will move towards slam anyway). I think this works really well when partner has shown an opening hand. (I am not so sure it is adequate when partner has just made a 1-1 reponse -- e.g. 1♥-1♠-4♣.)

Given that, I think we should even be able to accept a 3NT sign-off by partner. He knows he has to stop 2 suits himself, so it should show a very strong opinion. (And we have only failed to show him our 6th spade.)

Arend

[Winstonm]

Quote

If he has that hand he will make at least one move.

Maybe, maybe not. Why try for slam opposite Jxxx? But for sure he wouldn't with:

Ax, J10xx, Kxxx, Axxx. It's a cinch almost that this hand will play 4S, a contract that IMO should still be reached when right over 3H.

I don't see how the weaker and less descriptive 3D puts you in any better position than 3H. If partner bids 3S over 3H, you can bid 4S and that should still be to play since a serious slam interest hand would bid 4D; likewise, if I show the singleton heart I have no real reason to move over 3N. IMO, any 3S bid by pard should show either real support or a "card" in the suit, Ax, Kx, Qx would all qualify, so with xx and no better than Kxxxx of diamonds and hearing a heart stiff opposite, he almost surely has to hold a club card or two to make his 2/1. Even with xx there are hands where 3N from his side is better than 4S.

However, realize I live in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and the water tastes kind of funny here.....

Winston

[Al_U_Card]

Winstonm, on Oct 7 2005, 01:04 PM, said:

However, realize I live in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and the water tastes kind of funny here.....

Winston

The kind of funny tasting water that comes in a fifth bottle......? roflmao (I prefer the foamy kind myself... )