Monday, January 23, 2006 2:38 AM

Splinters as Game Tries

PITBULLS:

Splinters are essentially slam tries. They can also be used as “game tries” after finding the magical fit. I like jumps in the other major as WJS’s. They assist the forcing NT structure ( removes heart suits from forcing 1NT) and are very descriptive. In order to use these bids as natural , we need to mask our splinters. What this does is prevent us from using splinters as a game try as we are in game already after asking the location of the splinter. What I would prefer is use a 3♦ splinter to show a singleton in the other major. We now know right away whether we have one of these “magical games or if we do not , there is room to sign off in our major at the 3 level. The beauty of 3♦ as a splinter in the other major is that you can sign off in 3 of your major with duplication of value.

This leaves 3♣ as a splinter in one of the minors. Again this gives us room to ask after a spade opener to stay out of a bad game or bid a “magical game” . 3♦ asks and 3♥ shows a stiff club and 3♠ shows a stiff diamond with limit raise values and 3NT shows a stiff diamond with game forcing values. This allows us to stay at the 3 level with duplication of value and a minimum. What about after a heart opener ? A 3♣ splinter is a still a limit raise or better but we can not afford to ask if we are minimum. We sign off in 3♥ and partner now bids her splinter at the 4 level with a game forcing hand in case there is a magical slam. With a minimum splinter of course, we just pass the “death response” .

Q10xx x xxx AQ10xx Partner opens 1♠ , so you bid 3♦ a splinter in the other major. Partner has AKJxx xxxx x KJx so she knows we have the magical hand so we leap to game. AKJxx KQx xxx xx and we screech to a halt and hope the club king is on side to make 3♠ !!

Splinters in the minors being shown by a leap to 3♣ gives you a head start just by looking at your minor holding. AKJxx Axxx xxx x this hand is an ask as you hit a home run with a diamond splinter. With a heart opener xxx AKJxx Ax xxx and partner bids 3♣ . You can not afford to ask so you sign off in 3♥. Partner persists with 4♣ ( showing the stiff ) and all of a sudden your hand is worth a Q bid . AKxx Qxxx KQxx x and you get to your 26 HCP +1430 in hearts.

After a heart opener and a 3♣ splinter you are committed to game if you do ask . Therefore you can build the HCP range of the splinter into your response for slam purposes. 1♥-P-3♣-P 3♦ asks so you can have 3♥ shows a mini with a club singleton and the next step shows a game force with a club singleton. The next step shows a mini with a diamond singleton and the last step shows game forcing values with a stiff diamond. Good stuff !

Tom Gandolfo and I had an auction which puts the theory into action. Tom opened 1♠ on ♠Kxxxx ♥Ax ♦Ax ♣xxxx and I bid 3♣. Tom has a dead minimum so he signs off in 3♠. I heard him announce his dog so he does not have to announce it again. He is free to evaluate his hand in light of the fact that he has a minimum. I bid 4♦ which must be the stiff so I am asking a Yes/No question. Do we have any duplication of value there ? Tom has no diamond duplication so he bids 4♥. I bid KCB and Tom bids 5♥. I do not ask specific kings but I bid 6♥. Tom has Ax of hearts but not the queen so he bids 7♠. This is lay down as I have ♠AJxxx ♥K109xx ♦x ♣AK . Tom could have had ♠KQxxx ♥xxx ♦KQJ ♣QJ 13 HCP and 4♠ could go down. The key to the hand is ferreting out diamond duplication of value and then make a suit asking bid in hearts.

What about 4 level splinters or 3♠ after a 1♥ opener ? I am old fashioned and like a jump to game in the other major as natural to play. A jump to 4♣ , 4♦ after either major or 3♠ after a 1♥ opener is Exclusion Blackwood . This shows a void and exclusion responses ensue. We have everything covered.