[andy_h]

We're dealer.

1♥-(2♦)-3♣-(P)
4♦-(P)-4♥

4♦=Splinter for clubs.
4♥=To play or cue?

[helene_t]

To play, 3♣ does not deny 3 hearts.

[mich-b]

For us - a cue bid.
Opener, by splinterring implies that 5♣ will be ok.

Having a ♥ cue available helps a lot for bidding a ♣ slam.

[jdonn]

helene_t, on Nov 24 2009, 10:43 AM, said:

To play, 3♣ does not deny 3 hearts.

Right

[ArtK78]

Responder has not had a chance to clarify the nature of his hand, other than show a club suit. He can certainly have heart support - possibly more than just 3 cards.

The unexpected 4♦ splinter has made this an awkward situation, but it doesn't change the fact that 4♥ is nonforcing.

[aguahombre]

ArtK78, on Nov 24 2009, 09:32 AM, said:

Responder has not had a chance to clarify the nature of his hand, other than show a club suit.  He can certainly have heart support - possibly more than just 3 cards.

The unexpected 4♦ splinter has made this an awkward situation, but it doesn't change the fact that 4♥ is nonforcing.

extend this just a bit. If 3C commits us to game, opener's splinter has made it an awkward situation and should be avoided if it leaves no room for responder to show heart support AND desire to explore slam.

You might say that raising clubs would have the same effect, without benefit of showing the diamond shortness. But, it does leave 4D available for agreed use.

[helene_t]

I don't think heart support matters much if we are interested in slam. OK that responder can't ruff the 3rd heart round may be relevant but we can't afford that level of perfection in contested auctions anyway.

[TylerE]

Cuebid for me. If you just want to play 4♥ opp. anything partner will say over 3♣, why bid 3♣? If you just want to play 4♥ make whatever your forcing heart raise is.

[jdonn]

TylerE, on Nov 24 2009, 11:51 AM, said:

Cuebid for me. If you just want to play 4♥ opp. anything partner will say over 3♣, why bid 3♣? If you just want to play 4♥ make whatever your forcing heart raise is.

In case partner needs help deciding what to do over 5♦ or 4♠. Or in case you don't know which suit you belong in for slam opposite club support.

[kenrexford]

I have a slightly different take here.

I don't think 4♥ is a cue. Over 4♦, I would personally play that 4♠ is RKCB, 4NT a suggested land, and 5♣ to play. Having one cue available does not impress me much.

I also don't think 4♥ is strictly "to play." If I have a hand worthy of showing clubs before raising hearts, I either make a fit jump in clubs (4♣ the first time) or decide "Oh well" because it gets too muddy to bury heart support for a moment in a competitive auction that starts with my first call at the three-level.

So, what is left?

IMO, 4♥ is a choice bid. I'd expect Responder to have Ax, Kx, or maybe Qx. An offer to play 4♥ if Opener thinks that this is best. Responder probably has some diamond card to disrupt a tap defense, a card that is also a negative feature for slam purposes. Maybe something like ♠xxx ♥Ax ♦Kxx ♣KQxxx? Opener might have something like ♠Kxx ♥KQJxx ♦x ♣AJxx, where 4♥ looks like a nice contract.

If Opener has first-round control in spades, he can still move, expecting the hearts to be solid, if he chooses, bidding 4♠ as RKCB for clubs.

[gnasher]

jdonn, on Nov 24 2009, 05:52 PM, said:

TylerE, on Nov 24 2009, 11:51 AM, said:

Cuebid for me. If you just want to play 4♥ opp. anything partner will say over 3♣, why bid 3♣? If you just want to play 4♥ make whatever your forcing heart raise is.

In case partner needs help deciding what to do over 5♦ or 4♠.

Suppose that you have that hand-type. Will partner be better placed after

  1♥-(2♦)-3♣-(5♦)

than after

  1♥-(2♦)-3♦-(5♦)

Another alternative would be to play 4♣ as a fit jump. A splinter in the suit they haven't overcalled in is pretty rare, and doesn't often lead to a slam anyway.

Quote

Or in case you don't know which suit you belong in for slam opposite club support.

If you have that, once partner splinters in support of clubs, aren't you likely to belong in clubs, and unlikely to want to sign off in game? You can always bid 5NT later.

[jdonn]

gnasher, on Nov 24 2009, 02:43 PM, said:

jdonn, on Nov 24 2009, 05:52 PM, said:

TylerE, on Nov 24 2009, 11:51 AM, said:

Cuebid for me. If you just want to play 4♥ opp. anything partner will say over 3♣, why bid 3♣? If you just want to play 4♥ make whatever your forcing heart raise is.

In case partner needs help deciding what to do over 5♦ or 4♠.

Suppose that you have that hand-type. Will partner be better placed after

  1♥-(2♦)-3♣-(5♦)

than after

  1♥-(2♦)-3♦-(5♦)

Another alternative would be to play 4♣ as a fit jump. A splinter in the suit they haven't overcalled in is pretty rare, and doesn't often lead to a slam anyway.

I think it's very plausible that he will be better placed after the club bid, on many 3-6 hands for example. And I do play 4♣ as a fit jump, but promising 4 card support.

[Jlall]

To play

[Phil]

To play of course. I suppose I could come up a hand containing Hx of hearts but I'm too lazy to provide an example.

[Codo]

A cuebid, or actually in my partnership an asking bid.