Next installment from Robert Todd Hi Everyone - This weeks Slam Bidding topic is a return to our favorite slam bidding advantage - shortness! Specifically, we will be looking at Splinters beyond the traditional ones. There are many times in which Splinters get us to good slams (or keep us out of bad slams) by allowing us to re-evaluate our hand. We will look at some more advanced auctions where these Splinters apply. Take Care, Robert (and the AiB Team) P.S - You can find the complete Archives of all our past OLS documents on our website. The password for the Archives is Stayman. Please feel free to share our lessons with your friends - all we ask is that new members sign up for the list with their own emails! P.P.S - Encourage your club to join up with The Common Game. Its a great way to compete against bridge players across the country AND get free expert commentary, including analysis every Friday afternoon by AiB! View Lesson Online and Download for Printing (99) Slam Bidding Philosophy: More on Splinters – Delayed Splinters Date: Jan 2015 © AiB Robert S. Todd Level: Advanced robert@advinbridge General Splinters are some of the most valuable bids in bridge. They simultaneously set trump (usually agreeing on Partner’s suit) and further describe our distribution by showing our shortness (singleton or void.) Most players are familiar with traditional Splinters - Example 1S - 4D 11-14 HCP, 4+S, 0/1D But Splinters can be used in many other situations to show a fit, show shortness, and enable better hand evaluation. These Splinters allow partner to re-evaluate their hand for wasted values/fitting cards and better determine how many tricks our combined hands might take (if slam is possible on fewer than the normally required HCP.) Many of these other Splinters happen later in the auction than traditional ones and thus are frequently called Delayed Splinters. Let’s take a look at some examples of delayed Splinters. Delayed Splinters Opposite a 1N Opener Splinters After Stayman 1N 2C 2H 3S/4C/4D These bids show 4+cH, Slam-interested values (usually about 13+ HCP), and shortness in the suit bid. Note: Many players play that 3S is an artificial, forcing H raise – slam try. 1N 2C 2S 4C/4D/4H These bids show 4+cS, Slam-interested values (usually about 13+ HCP), and shortness in the suit bid. Splinters After Transfers 1N 2D 2H 3S/4C/4D These bids show 6+cH, Slam-interested values, and shortness in the suit bid. 1N 2H 2S 4C/4D/4H These bids show 6+cS, Slam-interested values, and shortness in the suit bid. Note: In both of these situations a simple Jump Shift (not a double Jump Shift) is a splinter because a shift would be natural and forcing while a weak jump shift would not apply. Delayed Splinters in 2/1 Auctions Responder’s traditional Splinters (in response to 1M Openings) show 4-card support and a Game Forcing hand. When we have a similar hand with 3-card support opposite a 1-Major Opening we usually start with a 2/1 GF bid and then Splinter on our next call -- this distinguishes 3-card from 4-card trump support. Examples 1S 2D 2S 4C 3-card S, 0/1C, Slam Try, 12+ HCP 1S 2D 2H 4C 4-card H, 0/1S, Slam Try, 12+ HCP In 2/1 GF auctions the Opener can Splinter in support of partner’s suit if Responder bids their side suit and Opener has shortness. This does not promise extra values (just a hand that you would not be embarrassed to have opened.) Example 1S 2D 3H 4+cD, S/V in H This usually makes D the trump suit, although since Responder could have 3-card support for S, then S could still be a possible “better” fit (Majors are better than minors.) Note: 2H would show 4+H and be unlimited (since we are in a GF auction), thus we can use 3H (a simple Jump Shift, not a Double Jump Shift) to show shortness. Other Splinters There are other auctions where showing shortness can be valuable in helping Partner evaluate their hand for slam (and properly describe your hand.) Example 1D 1S 4C/4H These bids show 4-card S support with shortness in the suit bid and about 18+ points worth of playing strength – enough to force to game opposite a minimum response. These Splinters by the Opener allow Responder to evaluate their hand (controls, fitting cards, wasted values) to determine if slam has good play or not! Similarly Responder can make a self-Splinter in an effort to reach slam. Example 1C 1S 1N 4D Since a 1N rebids promises 2-3cS, then with a 6+S Responder has an implied fit. Thus, 4D shows a slam going hand with 0/1D (setting S as trump.) Conclusion Splinters are some of the best slam exploration tools in bridge – they are used to show a fit, display shortness, and express slam interest all in one bid. It is important that they communicate all of this information since they eat up a tremendous amount of valuable bidding space. You will find that making a Splinter simplifies the auction and leaves Partner well-placed to judge the final contract. We should try to find and take advantage of as many of these valuable bids as you and your Partner can agree upon! Copyright © 2015 Adventures in Bridge, All rights reserved. Thank you for joining our Online Lesson Series emails. The password for the OLS Archives is Stayman. Our mailing address is: Adventures in Bridge PO Box 14915Tallahassee, FL 32317
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:53:58 +0000
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