2007-09-10 15:03

Hand Evaluation – Good Bad 2NT ( Recovering the Splinter )

PITBULLS:

As I am so fond of saying “Bridge is a game of suits” . This line is attributable to Garozzo who says that for designing a system , showing suits should have priority over everything. In competition , the opponents use the tactic of “jamming you” by leaping to high levels when they have a good fit with partner. This means that if you play a splinter in the majors , you cannot otherwise show a long suit with pre-emptive values.

Partner opens 1♠ & they overcall 2♣ , you hold ♠xx ♥QJ10xxxx ♦xxx ♣x . You cannot bid 3♥ as that is a splinter. They leap to 5♣ & it turns out that you have a 5♥ sacrifice for –100 against their +600. Next hand , Partner opens 1♥ , they overcall 1♠ & you hold ♠x ♥xx ♦KQ109xxx ♣xxx . You can not describe your hand with 3♦ thereby putting partner in the picture as 3♦ is a splinter. They bid 4♠ so around to you. Turns out this time you are cold for 5♦ but you reluctantly pass.

Playing Q bids in competition as limit raise or better means that you can tell partner immediately about the fit , so the splinter can come later via a Q bid. This means that jumps revert to their original Bridge meaning of a long suit with pre-emptive values. You lose the splinter but it is a small price to pay as suits are more important in the scheme of things especially in competition.

My partner has come up with an idea that applies just over openers in a major suit . He suggests that a 2NT bid in competition after partners major is not that essential a bid. There are many ways to show flat hands & the frequency of a 3NT contract after a major opener , is diminished as compared to after a minor opener. My partner suggests using 2NT in these major sequences in competition as the “good-bad 2NT” . The good-bad 2NT forces partner to bid 3♣ so responder can show a good long suit lacking values to bid the suit freely. In other words , hands similar to those shown above.

What this does , of course , is to recover the splinter or the fit showing jump in competitive major suit auctions.

1♠-2♦-2NT-P

3♣-P-3♥ is a long heart suit with pre-emptive values. Therefore , a direct 3♥ jump can be a splinter like Standard Edmonton plays it now.

What this structure can also does is clarify 2/1 in competition . You have the extra inference that partner did not bid 2NT to show a Lebebsohl type of free bid. The 2/1 should definitely not be a stretch. Despite the negativity of splinters in competition , they do have the advantage of describing your hand quickly to partner. With opponents lurking & for defensive purposes & forcing pass purposes this is advantageous.

This is only a partial cure as with all “Lebensohl” like auctions you do not know partners intended suit immediately. This is why Rubensohl was invented as opposed to Lebensohl. However , it is a start & allows partner to back into the auction with her suit later as she has indicated weakness with the 2NT bid. Also if the opponents pre-empt to 4♠ ( for example) & responder has bid 2NT earlier , 4NT by opener says bid your suit. An established partnership can discuss the meanings of 5♣ or double in these jammed auctions after partner has bid 2NT.

This treatment suggested by my partner is for people who do not want to give up their splinters or fir showing jumps after a major opening in competition. As usual you have to give up something to get something. 2NT in competition after a major opener as natural is not a great loss. Comments ???