[xx1943]

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

- 1♣ Pass 1♥
Pass 1♠ Pass 2♦
Pass 3♣ Pass 4♦
Pass 5♦ Pass 5♥
Pass 6♦ Pass 6NT
Dbl Pass Pass Pass


Hi all,

My partner and I bid the hand like shown. 2♦ was game-forcing.
He thought the 4♦ bid as splinter. I thought it showed a big red 2-suiter.

1) What do you thinks is 4♦?
2) How do you distribute the blame?
3) Would 4♣ instead of 4♦ have been RKCB? (we play 4!C as RKCB in any forcing situation, where trumps are agreed explicitly or implicitly)

Many thanks for your answers

Al

[han]

North, 4D is a splinter and seems a good bid.

[han]

xx1943, on Sep 16 2007, 03:35 PM, said:

3) Would 4♣ instead of 4♦ have been RKCB? (we play 4!C as RKCB in any forcing situation, where trumps are agreed explicitly or implicitly)

No, trumps were not yet agreed.

[cherdano]

To be honest, if you have to ask 3) then you shouldn't be playing Minorwood. If you can't make a clear rule and stick to it then you will lose a lot by many misunderstandings (and no, "4m is always minorwood if natural and forcing" is not a good rule, at least "4m is never minorwood" is a better one).

[skjaeran]

3♦ would be natural and forcing (ie a strong red 2-suiter), thus 4♦ is a splinter agreeing clubs.

[mike777]

Both 100%
You seem to have not discussed and agreed with partner what or when a splinter or rkc bid is? A partner needs to make sure not only that they know and understand the convention but that their partner does also.

Bridge is a partnership game, you need to make sure not only you know what you are playing but that your partner knows also...

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

1) Splinter, 3D instead of 2D would show
a GF 2-suiter, but if you are not sure,
that partner gets it, just bid 4C
Personnally I believe South needs some
sign of cooperation from North, and since 4C
is RKCB, 4D as a splinter is best
2) North, 4D is a splinter
3) in view of your agreements, 4C would
be RKCB for clubs, how else do you agree
clubs in a forcing auction after 4th suit
I prefer it as natural forward going, but this
is a matter of style

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Having read the arguments of the other posters,
I agree, that it is a partnership problem, i.e South is
as well to blame

[jdonn]

I prefer to play 3♦ over 1♠ is natural 5-5 game forcing, but I believe standard (assuming 4th suit forcing to game) is that auction is invitational, 2♦ then 3♦ natural and game forcing. So yes 4♦ is a splinter. To the other question, I can't imagine playing 4♣ as keycard there in any effective manner. If you want to play that south can set trumps with 4♣ and north could then bid keycard with 4♦, well it's not my favorite but it is playable.

Just a small digression. Everyone I know in southern California would make a strong jump shift on south's hand to 2♥, then bid 3♦ to show hearts, club support, and diamond shortness. This would easily let north bid 4♣ to set trumps and keycard next. It is a method that comes up more than you would think, especially given the regional style to do it on any game force that would make slam if the hands fit well, and it tends to do very well when it occurs.

[han]

mike777, on Sep 16 2007, 04:15 PM, said:

Both 100%
You seem to have not discussed and agreed with partner what or when a splinter or rkc bid is? A partner needs to make sure not only that they know and understand the convention but that their partner does also.

Bridge is a partnership game, you need to make sure not only you know what you are playing but that your partner knows also...

If your point is that south needs to be blamed for playing with north then I agree.

[han]

Hmm, I like methods that come up a lot and tend to do well when they come up. Maybe I should move to Southern California.

[Codo]

Yes 4 ♦ was a splinter
4 ♣ had been agreeing clubs but it is not clear whether it is forcing in your system or just a place to play when pd denies a diamond control.

I really love minorwood as: 4 Club/diamond in an uncotested auction are never to play and it is always asking for KCs. (obvious exceptions are cuebids or splinters)