[FrancesHinden]

Scoring: IMP

1♣ 1♠
1NT 2♦
2♥ 4♣
4♥ ?

---

Uncontested auction

1♣ is either clubs (open 1D with 4-4 in the minors) or balanced without four diamonds.

1NT = 12-14

2♦ = game forcing enquiry

2♥ = 4 hearts

4♣ = club singleton

You don't officially play 'last train' but in practice you do in this auction.

Do you agree with 4♣?
Are you worth another move?

[mr1303]

No. If we in practise do play 4D here as last train, partner is likely to have too much wastage in clubs, and on a likely diamond lead I think we'll have too much to do.

Would partner show 3 card spade support in preference to mentioning his 4 hearts?

[FrancesHinden]

mr1303, on Aug 20 2007, 10:09 PM, said:

Would partner show 3 card spade support in preference to mentioning his 4 hearts?

He would usually bid 2H in this auction, the cheaper bid, unless holding something like AKx 5432 in the two suits (not possible here).

[mr1303]

In which case a holding like 3 small spades is reasonably likely, which may hinder attempts to set the spade suit up, so I stand by my decision to pass.

[Blofeld]

I agree with 4♣, but think we're just shy of another bid now.

[Echognome]

Yeah. I agree with the problem that a 2=4=3=4 gives us better play for slam than a 3=4=2=4. So I will also pass, but wouldn't be surprised if slam was making.

[cherdano]

Minor nitpick: If you don't know whether to pass now you shouldn't have splintered.

Opposite xx Kxxx Kxx KQxx slam is pretty good, and that's a subminimum with maximal wastage. I can't bring myself to pass and would try 4S now.

[han]

Is slam really pretty good opposite xx Kxxx Kxx KQxx?

Anyway, I agree that 4C wasn't right, partner is too likely to sign off when slam is good. I think I pass now though.

[mikeh]

I don't like splinters when I hold all the Aces between the splinter and trump. I also don't like splinters when I hold so many controls.. partner is bound to dislike his hand too often. Besides, I had a perfectly good 3♥ slam try available.

Having splintered (and despite my comments, it's hardly the worst call I've ever made), I respect partner's signoff. Bidding again means my splinter really was a bad choice.

[jdonn]

I disagree with 4♣ like the others, I have given myself a guess now. It's really close between passing and not but I can't bring myself to pass, certainly we could still have slam or it might have no play. I'll bid 5♦ and leave it up to partner to judge, in the context of his previous rejection of the splinter.

[Codo]

I think 4 Club is inferior to a simple 3 Heart bid, so now I overrule my own descission and do not respect pds 4 Heart bid and make another move with 4 Spade.

[ulven]

I agree with 4C as we need fillers in other suits. I also know what to do now - I pass.

Had the minors suits been switched, I would not have splintered 4D, leaving no room. Then 3H would be my choice.

[Fluffy]

Maybe you should decide what will you do after a splinter bid if partner sings off before making it, and when no answer comes, bid othewise .

Most hands I think of needs a finese or a 3-3 spade break for 6♥.


Think of a minimum 10 count hand like ♠Qxx-♥Kxxx-♦xxx-♣KQx, it only needs good breaks in the majors.

Any hand I think of partner that doesn't have ♣A will have wastd values in clubs, and almost all have a chance in 6♥.

My guess is to bid on: 4♠.

[ulven]

Time to show us what partner had.

[Walddk]

I don't agree with the splinter; I much prefer 3♥ to see if there is any life opposite. Now that I did splinter and my partner signed off, I will too. In my view, if I bid on now, I admit to having made the wrong call on my previous turn.

It is very difficult to make partner co-operate after a splinter when one knows that the only first control he can have is ♣A. He surely doesn't have that card when he bids 4♥.

I confess that slam has play opposite say

♠ Qx
♥ Kxxx
♦ Qxx
♣ KQ10x

and also other hands with wasted club values. However, I think it's safer to take the low road.

Roland

[Fluffy]

Walddk, on Aug 21 2007, 09:01 AM, said:

I think it's safer to take the low road.

You are giving up on this slam?, if this hand isn't even worth a Roland-slam then I must be wrong and should pass .

[Gerben42]

I'll pass. I have tried, I'm playing pd for at least ♣K now.

[Impact]

I prefer my splinters over a balanced hand to be either : even a minimum with no wastage gives us a play for slam (could be cold) OR "I will take charge" over signoff ....always assuming I have other forcing methods of bidding the hand.

On that basis this is NOT the hand for the splinter as it is inbetween (not so much the strength as the controls and good H which make it too strong for the first option and too weak for the second). If there was a mechanism which allowed me to relay out shape (the presence or absence of the 3rd S and /or SQ is likely to be crucial to slam) I would have taken that.

I think my controls are just too good so if forced to this auction I would make one more try: 5H by default....as 4S would be kickback and the other cues unhelpful.

regards

[benlessard]

Passing is sick...

AK762
AQ106
A76
3

There is almost no danger to go down in 5H... and slam is certainly possible. You cannot win IMPs if you stay out of 80%+ slams just because your afraid of the 5 level.



The worst hand partner could have is something like

Jx
xxxx
KQJ
KQxx

and still 5♥ isnt a disaster



partner could have


AKQ in clubs with no D controls and 6 will be almost cold contract if partner has the ♥J or K.

Partner can have so many bad hand that give slam a play that my score for passing is 2/10.

[Fluffy]

benlessard, on Aug 22 2007, 06:44 AM, said:

The worst hand partner could have is something like

Jx
xxxx
KQJ
KQxx

What about...

Jxx
xxxx
KQJ
KQx