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Splinter Bid
- A method of using an unnecessary artificial jump in a side suit, generally to
show a 4+ major trump support and a singleton or void in the bid suit. The
splinter bidder promises game going values, typically 12+ for responder, 20-21
for opener.
Exception - 3 card splinter suits are permissible when:
|
1. |
Partner has shown a 6 card
suit |
|
2. |
Partner opens with a Strong
Club and rebids a suit |
|
3. |
Bidding begins: 1S - 2H;
4x |
Examples:
|
1H - 3S |
Responder has 4+ Hearts and
shortage in Spades, as well as 12+ points |
|
1H - 1S;
4D |
Opener has 4+ Spades and a
shortage in Diamonds, as well as 19+ points |
|
1D - 1S;
3H |
Opener has 4+ Spades and a
shortage in Hearts, as well as 19+ points (2H would be a reverse) |
|
1S - 2H;
2S - 4C |
Responder has 3+ Spades and a
shortage in Clubs, as well as 12+ points |
|
1S - 2H;
4D |
Opener has 3+ Hearts and a
shortage in Diamonds, as well as 12+ points. Only "2 over 1" responses
like 1S-2H are the only auction sequences where splinter bidder may have
only 3 trump and partner may have only 5 Hearts. |
|
1S - 2D;
2S - 4C |
Responder has 3+ Spades and
a shortage in Clubs, as well as 12+ points; responder may only have 3 trump
support since opener likely has 6 trumps. |
|
1N - 2D;
2H - 4D |
Responder shows 6+ Hearts
using a Jacoby Transfer and a shortage in Diamonds |
|
1H - (1S) - 3S |
Responder shows 4+ Hearts and a shortage in Spades as well as 12+
points. |
Warning: some players use transfer
structures to show Splinter bids; be sure to discuss non-standard methods with
partner before playing Splinters.
Secondly, making a
splinter when holding a stiff Ace may distort one's strength since the holding
shows both first and second round control. Experience shows splinter bids
with a singleton Ace are usually more effective by the stronger hand where slam
exploration is assured.
Full Splinter jump
rebids by opener show 4+ trump support in responder's suit, shortage (singleton
or void) in the bid suit, and 18+ distributional points. Additional bids
are included to contrast similar bids sometimes confused by novice and
intermediate players:
| Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1D;
3H/S |
4+ Diamonds, 18+ distributional points,
singleton or void in Hearts/Spades; note the splinter suit is always
above responder's suit (2H/S would be a Strong Jump Shift) |
|
1C/D - 1H;
3S |
4+ Hearts, 18+ distributional points,
singleton or void in Spades; note the splinter suit is always
above responder's suit (2S would be a Strong Jump Shift) |
|
1D - 1H/S;
4C |
4+ Hearts/Spades, 18+ distributional points,
singleton or void in Clubs; note opener's 4 level jump rebids are
game-forcing splinters (2C is non-forcing, 3C is a Strong Jump Shift) |
|
1C/D - 1S;
4H |
4+ Spades, 18+ distributional points,
singleton or void in Hearts; note the splinter suit is always above
responder's suit (2H would be a Reverse, 3H is played as a Mini-Splinter
by some - see below; others may choose to play 3H as a Full Splinter) |
|
1S - 1N;
4C/D/H |
5+ Spades, 18+ distributional points,
singleton or void in lower suit; opener makes a rare "auto splinter" |
Reverse
rebid by opener with 17+ points; additional bids are included to
contrast similar bids sometimes confused by novice and intermediate players:
| Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1H;
2D |
17+ HCP, 5+ Clubs and 4+
Diamonds (Clubs longer), reverse suit is above opener's
first bid but below responder's bid |
|
1C - 1S;
2D/H |
17+ HCP, 5+ Clubs and 4+
Diamonds/Hearts (Clubs longer), reverse suit is above
opener's first bid but below responder's bid |
|
1D - 1S;
2H |
17+ HCP, 5+ Diamonds and 4+
Hearts (Diamonds longer), reverse suit is above opener's
first bid but below responder's bid |
|
1H - 1N;
2S |
17+ HCP, 5+ Hearts and 4+
Spades (Hearts longer), reverse suit is above opener's
first bid but below responder's bid |
|
1H - 2C/D;
2S |
If playing Standard
American, 16+ HCP, 5+ Hearts and 4+ Spades (Hearts longer), reverse suit
is above opener's first bid but below
responder's bid.
If playing 2/1 system,
strength is dependent on partnership agreement |
Definition of Opener's Strong Jump Shift:
Opener's jump bid is in a rank higher than both responder's suit as well as
opener's initial suit rank.
Strong Jump Shift by opener with 19+
points:
| Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1D;
2H |
Strong Jump Shift, 19 - 22 HCP
(Opener's second suit is above both opener's and responder's
suit) |
|
1C - 1H;
2S |
Strong Jump Shift, 19 - 22 HCP
(Opener's second suit is above both opener's and responder's
suit) |
|
1D - 1H;
2S |
Strong Jump Shift, 19 - 22 HCP
(Opener's second suit is above both opener's and responder's
suit) |
|
1D - 1H/S;
3C |
Strong Jump Shift, 19 - 22 HCP
(typical Opener 3 level jump rebid, below opener's and
responder's suit) |
|
1H - 1S;
3C/D |
Strong Jump Shift, 19 - 22 HCP
(typical Opener 3 level jump rebid, below opener's and
responder's suit) |
|
1S - 1N;
3C/D/H |
Strong Jump Shift, 19 - 22 HCP
(Opener 3 level jump rebid over 1 NT) |
Regular rebid by opener:
| Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1D;
1H/S |
Up to 18 HCP - responder could
pass (no need to reverse with 17-18 HCP) |
|
1C - 1H;
1S |
Up to 18 HCP - responder could
pass (no need to reverse with 17-18 HCP) |
|
1D - 1H;
1S |
Up to 18 HCP - responder could
pass (no need to reverse with 17-18 HCP) |
Mini Splinter 3 level jump rebids by opener
show 4+ trump support in responder's suit, shortage (singleton or void) in the
bid suit, and 16+ distributional points. By definition, opener's Mini
Splinter suit must be beneath responder's suit, allowing responder
to signoff in 3H/S with a minimum hand (6-8 bad points):
| Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1S;
3D |
4+ Spades, 16+ distributional points, singleton
or void in Diamonds, inviting game; note Mini-Splinter suit is always
below responder's suit (2D would be a Reverse) |
|
1D - 1S;
3H |
4+ Spades, 16+ distributional points, singleton
or void in Hearts, inviting game; note Mini-Splinter suit is always
below responder's suit (2H would be a Reverse) |
|
1C - 1H;
3D |
4+ Hearts, 16+ distributional points, singleton
or void in Diamonds, inviting game; note Mini-Splinter suit is always
below responder's suit (2D would be a Reverse) |
|
1D - 1S;
3H |
4+ Spades, 16+ distributional points, singleton
or void in Hearts, inviting game; note Mini-Splinter suit is always
below responder's suit (2H would be a Reverse) |
See more
Cuebids
Also
see books on
Slam and other slam conventions:
1430,
Baby Blackwood,
Blackwood, Controls,
Exclusion Blackwood/Voidwood,
Gerber,
Grand Slam Force,
Jacoby 2 Notrump,
Key Card Blackwood,
Kickback,
Last Train, NAMYATS,
Pick a Slam,
Quantitative Notrump Bid,
Rolling Blackwood,
Serious 3 Notrump,
Slam Try - Stayman,
Splinters,
Opener
Jump Shift,
Strong Jump Shift, and legacy treatments as
Roman Asking Bids,
Roman Blackwood,
Roman Gerber. Slam
treatments
also include interference of
an overcall by opponents, as
Negative Slam Double,
DOPI,
DEPO, ROPI.
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