Monday, January 23, 2006 2:38 AM

Hand Evaluation – Major Splinters 3♦

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 or in the case of Tom Gandolfo , intermediate . These WJS’s assist the forcing NT structure ( removes heart suits from forcing 1NT) & are very descriptive. In order to use these bids as natural , we need to mask our splinters. What masking does in general is prevent us from using splinters as a game try . 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”. If we do not , there is bidding 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 & 3♥ shows a stiff club (steps) , 3♠ shows a stiff diamond with limit raise values & 3NT shows a stiff diamond with game forcing values. This scheme allows us to stay at the 3 level with duplication of value & 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♥ so if partner now bids her splinter at the 4 level , it shows a slam try. 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 we screech to a halt & 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 will 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 ) so all of a sudden your hand is worth a Q bid . ♠AKxx ♥Qxxx ♦KQxx ♣x , you get to your 26 HCP +1430 in hearts.

After a heart opener & a 3♣ splinter you are committed to game if you do ask . Therefore, with the help of step responses , 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 , the next step shows a game force with a club singleton. The next step shows a mini with a diamond singleton , the 4^th & last step showing game forcing values with a stiff diamond. Good stuff !

Tom Gandolfo & I had an auction which puts the theory into action. Tom opened 1♠ on ♠Kxxxx ♥Ax ♦Ax ♣xxxx , 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 so 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 so 4♠ could go down. The key to the hand is ferreting out diamond duplication of value & followed by making a suit asking bid in hearts.

What about 4 level splinters or 3♠ after a 1♥ opener ? I am old fashioned so 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 where exclusion responses ensue. We now have everything covered.