[kfay]

Scoring: MP

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You're playing weak NTs. Partner opens:

1♣*-1♠      *could be doubleton
1NT*-2♦**    * 15-17         **(Art. FG)
3♣*-?        *Natural, 5+ cards

[maggieb]

4♦, splinter.

By bidding 3N, the only other possible call to me (even though I guess a 4-3 heart fit or 5-2 spade fit could hypothetically be a big winner), you are essentially gambling that partner has 2 effective diamond stoppers (if he has only 1 I would guess that 3N is a heavy loser), and that even if he does, 3N will play better or equal to 5♣, and that you can't bid and make slam in clubs. I don't know, that seems like a hard sell to me, especially because even a disaster like 6♣-1 is not necessarily bad.

By the way, I'm assuming that opener has denied holding 3♠ or 4♥, so that his only likely shapes are 2335, 2245 or 2(23)6, with some vague possibility of 1345.

[effervesce]

4♦ splinter.

[Jlall]

4 D

[Hanoi5]

4♣

[andy_h]

It appears we might have a bit of an advantage since the field will most likely be using a 15-17NT and have a stayman and smolen auction. If partner has 4-5 in the minors is he bidding 3♦?

As it's matchpoints, I think I'm going to bid 3♥ to get partner to assess the diamond position. I'm presuming with 5-5majors GF we would bid 3♥ over 1NT?

[Fluffy]

♦♦♦♦

[kfay]

If you bid 4♦ (I did) your partner bids 4♠.

Do you pass or bid?

Here's the hand, I had the original wrong by a spot, now that I think about it:

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Did partner F this up?

[helene_t]

You both bid fine.

[bid_em_up]

kfay, on Sep 12 2009, 10:05 AM, said:

Did partner F this up?

Imo, yes.

You made a game force. You agreed clubs. You showed diamond shortness. Your hand is still unlimited.

What reason does he have to not show the heart control?

[kfay]

bid_em_up, on Sep 12 2009, 10:19 AM, said:

kfay, on Sep 12 2009, 10:05 AM, said:

Did partner F this up?

Imo, yes.

You made a game force. You agreed clubs. You showed diamond shortness. Your hand is still unlimited.

What reason does he have to not show the heart control?

Depends on how you play splinter bids I guess. For my partner and I the splinter is actually a limiting bid. Which is to say, we wouldn't splinter with a slam drive or near slam drive.

[bid_em_up]

Ok, I'll restate it then.

Would you want to be in slam opposite as little as Axxxx AQx x xxxx, and surely this is a dead minimum for the auction given, right? Ok, so you may not have bid this hand this way either, but assume for a minute that you did.

If so, what reason is there not to show the heart king?

And not that it matters much, but personally, I think that the 4D splinter MUST imply at least a mild interest in the minor suit slam. Otherwise, why did you not just bid 5C on a hand that had no interest in 3N with a big club fit? And the only way to find the slam is by showing the heart King.

4S simply does not allow you to evaluate your hand properly.

jmoo.

[aguahombre]

bid_em_up, on Sep 12 2009, 11:04 AM, said:

Ok, I'll restate it then.

Would you want to be in slam opposite as little as Axxxx AQx x xxxx, and surely this is a dead minimum for the auction given, right?  Ok, so you may not have bid this hand this way either, but assume for a minute that you did.

If so, what reason is there not to show the heart king?

And not that it matters much, but personally, I think that the 4D splinter MUST imply at least a mild interest in the minor suit slam.  Otherwise, why did you not just bid 5C on a hand that had no interest in 3N with a big club fit? And the only way to find the slam is by showing the heart King.

4S simply does not allow you to evaluate your hand properly.

jmoo.

yep

[Phil]

My first reaction was 3♥. If pard steers away from 3N, I will feel much better about sniffing at a club slam. 4♦ launches us past 3N and that can't be good at MPs when we have a marginal slam try.

At IMPs, I like 4♦ a lot better, since I'm indifferent about 3N vs 5♣.

On the actual hand, not cueing 4♥ is a serious error and a breach of discipline.

[skjaeran]

Splinter 4♦, wtp?

Obvious 4♥ cue for partner.

[cherdanno]

kfay, on Sep 12 2009, 10:31 AM, said:

bid_em_up, on Sep 12 2009, 10:19 AM, said:

kfay, on Sep 12 2009, 10:05 AM, said:

Did partner F this up?

Imo, yes.

You made a game force. You agreed clubs. You showed diamond shortness. Your hand is still unlimited.

What reason does he have to not show the heart control?

Depends on how you play splinter bids I guess. For my partner and I the splinter is actually a limiting bid. Which is to say, we wouldn't splinter with a slam drive or near slam drive.

That still doesn't make splinter very limited.

It is certainly right to make splinters that take up a lot of room very limited. I.e. 1H-4D should be s.th. like 10-12 hcp when having a typical 3415 shape. You have other options when you are stronger.
Here, the splinter is taking away only one level, and you still have lots of room between 4D and 5C to sort out strength. With many hands you won't have a good alternative to splinter - if you just make a forcing raise, you will never be able to show your shortness.
Hence the splinter is a bit wider in range. Some hands will drive to slam if partner makes just one cooperative cue. Others will never go beyond 5♣ by themselves. Even worse hands will just bid 5♣ over whatever partner bids.

[MarkDean]

I am surprised at the strong reactions to 4♠ - I think it is a reasonable bid. If you do not think the hand is worth a slam drive over 4♦ (which I don't), then you will get to cue bid one major suit king - I would prefer to show the king in partner's suit. However, 4♥ has the advantage that it allows partner to bid 4♠. Basically, I think that if you are going to slam after 4♥ - 4♠, then 4♥ is the better bid, but that if you will sign off over 4♥ - 4♠, then it is better to bid 4♠. (For what it is worth, I am in the first camp).