[jillybean]

1nt : 2♣
2♠: ?

---

Is 4♥ here a splinter supporting ♠'s?
If it is, is it too aggressive and 4♠ a better bid?

ty
jb

[kenrexford]

I would play that 4♥ is a splinter, and this hand qualifies as "strong enough."

[pclayton]

Yes! Minimums like: KJxx, xxx, Axx, AKx give slam a play and moderate hands like: KJxx, Axx, Ax, Axxx make slam odd-on. Its not hard to construct hands where slam is 100% too.

So a positive move is in order, in spite of the weak club suit.

[keylime]

I sometimes dream of hands like this.

With the right tickets pard can look at their hand and realize the true trick taking potential.

I'd gleefully invite pard to the big dance.

[Gerben42]

The "standard" agreement is that an unusual jump in a new suit is a splinter. 4♥ here is such a jump. So it is a splinter. Could it be natural? No, because partner cannot have 5+♥ without ♠ fit if he didn't make a transfer.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

is 4H a spilnter:

yes.

would I always recognisze it:

no.

is the bid to aggressive:

no, you have 6 looser, a 15-17 NT usually has
also 6 looser, the LTC says slam is an option,
but only if there is no wastage in hearts.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: An alternative option, and assuming that the
partnership has agreed on this, would be to bid 3H
as a slam try in spade. (*)
This would give you the chance to find out, if
partner controls the club suit, but 4H is probably more
descriptive.

(*) 3H cant be natural, since with 5-4 in the mayors a fit
was found, and with only hearts responder would have
made a transfer or would have jumped direct to 3H.

[kenrexford]

The only problem with the other-major slam try is that it must specifically exclude the possibility of a 4♥ Splinter hand. In other words, the one hand Opener should not expect would be a hand with the shown pattern, or a similar one with shortness in a minor instead (4♣/4♦). If you have two different ways to show the same hand, then you have greatly limited the number of inferences available for partner to analyze alternative auctions.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

the real difference betwenn 4H and 3S is,
that 4H is cooperative and 3S not, after
3S responder is captain and will make the
final decision, if one is prepared to do it,
since one believes one gets all information
needed, 3S is fine, else not.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kenrexford]

I'm not sure what all that was, about the 3♠ alternative. Here's the simple way to understand this.

Opposite a 4♥ splinter, Opener can simply count the number of non-heart cover cards. He, by force of our hand, is limited to the spade King, the diamond Ace, and the club A-K-Q. These total 16 HCP's, well within his range. The heart Ace is not as wonderful to hold, but it can replace any one of these, especially if a Jack bolsters the spot where another better control is removed.

Opposite a 3♠ cue, Opener might have A-Q or K-Q or A-K of hearts, a sizable percentage of his holding potential. He will not be able to guage the value. If he thinks that you are not short in hearts, any of these holdings is useful. If you later cue hearts, having not splintered, he will be assured that his cards are working.

Even Kx of hearts, just three of the potential points, might be over-valued to devastating effect.

Thus, a 3♠ call should just about be limited to 4333/4432/5422 patterns, IMO.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I wont cue hearts, I will cue diamonds.
If opener cues hearts, I will sign off.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[HeartA]

I agree that 4H is splinter. But it should be used with caution between pick-up or not-so-familar partners. It could be taken as "to play".

[neilkaz]

HeartA, on Oct 9 2006, 12:34 PM, said:

I agree that 4H is splinter. But it should be used with caution between pick-up or not-so-familar partners. It could be taken as "to play".

As one who plays with many pickups (Inter to Expert) and makes certain that we play Jacoby, I cannot imagine anyone bidding 4♥ to play after using Stayman and getting a ♠ response, especially since it is rather standard to respond 2♥ if 44.

However, constantly I am amazed at how often when someone doesn't understand a bid, they pass. I've seen a splinter like this passed by opener when he has only 2♥.

I've had "expert" PD's pass me in obvious 4 level Q bids when they have a stiff and the auction was unopposed and I bypassed that suit earlier so I cannot possibly have enough of them to play. ..etc etc..

So when I laugh at the thought that anyone could consider 4♥ to be passable in this auction..I recall bitter experiences.

4♥ is a splinter and the hand given has just enough to justify it, IMHO. Slam has decent chances if opener has good controls and no real wastage in ♥ so if he carriers on beyond 4♠, and you then stop at the 5 level, you should be OK.

.. neilkaz ..