[Echognome]

Give what you think are the minimum and maximum hands for these two sequences:

1♣ - 1♥; 3♦

1♣ - 1♥; 2♥ - 2♠*; 4♦**

*Asking bid (some may use 2NT)
**4♥, max for 2♥, ♦ shortness

Contrast this with your min/max when the mini is not available, such as:

1♦ - 1♥; 2♥ - 2♠*; 4♣**

*, ** As above except ♣ shortness.

[gnasher]

A minimum mini splinter would be something like Axx KJxx x AQ10xx. My mini splinters don't have an upper limit, because I may have a game force and be planning to bid again.

2♥ then 4♦: from Axx KJxx x KJ10xx to Axx KJxx x AJ10xx.

The availability of a mini splinter has no effect on the range of the 2♥ raise. A hand which was worth the three level is still worth the three level.

[pclayton]

The minimum for a mini-splinter is about a good 6 loser hand. It's a hand good enough for a 3♥ call. A typical minimum looks like: ♠Axx ♥KQxx ♦x ♣AJxxx.

If you want to ratchet this back to 1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥ - 2N - 4♦, I would subtract the ♥Q (or maybe substitute the ♥J for the Q).

[cherdano]

The jump to 4♦ doesn't promise any extras, it will be used whenever you have 4 trumps and shortness (unless maybe when you have a control-poor minimum).

[pclayton]

cherdano, on Apr 9 2008, 01:24 PM, said:

The jump to 4♦ doesn't promise any extras, it will be used whenever you have 4 trumps and shortness (unless maybe when you have a control-poor minimum).

This isn't the way I was taught. 3♥ shows 4 trump, a minimum and might have a stiff.

I'm not saying its a bad idea, although I don't know which method is more prevalent.

Playing my method I wouldn't 4♦ on a hand like: ♠Kxxx ♥QJxx ♦x ♣AJxx.

[gnasher]

pclayton, on Apr 9 2008, 10:29 PM, said:

Playing my method I wouldn't 4♦ on a hand like: ♠Kxxx ♥QJxx ♦x ♣AJxx.

Would you actually have opened this hand?

[Echognome]

pclayton, on Apr 9 2008, 01:29 PM, said:

cherdano, on Apr 9 2008, 01:24 PM, said:

The jump to 4♦ doesn't promise any extras, it will be used whenever you have 4 trumps and shortness (unless maybe when you have a control-poor minimum).

This isn't the way I was taught. 3♥ shows 4 trump, a minimum and might have a stiff.

I'm not saying its a bad idea, although I don't know which method is more prevalent.

Playing my method I wouldn't 4♦ on a hand like: ♠Kxxx ♥QJxx ♦x ♣AJxx.

What about T852 AK65 --- KJT87?

[pclayton]

gnasher, on Apr 9 2008, 02:23 PM, said:

pclayton, on Apr 9 2008, 10:29 PM, said:

Playing my method I wouldn't 4♦ on a hand like: ♠Kxxx ♥QJxx ♦x ♣AJxx.

Would you actually have opened this hand?

?? I hope you are joking Andy.

[gnasher]

pclayton, on Apr 10 2008, 01:15 AM, said:

gnasher, on Apr 9 2008, 02:23 PM, said:

pclayton, on Apr 9 2008, 10:29 PM, said:

Playing my method I wouldn't 4♦ on a hand like: ♠Kxxx ♥QJxx ♦x ♣AJxx.

Would you actually have opened this hand?

?? I hope you are joking Andy.

No, I was serious. 4441s are usually horrid, and this one is no exception. It has no spots, an excess of jacks, and only 11 points to start with.