Thursday, May 03, 2007 11:53 AM

Hand Evaluation - Serious 3NT ( Splinters )

PITBULLS:

Serious 3NT theory was built for splinters at the 3 level. Splinters show at least a 4 card major fit & are unlimited. Serious 3NT theory conflicts with “old fashioned” splinter theory as splinters originated in the 1970’s. . Before serious 3NT was invented , fast arrival to game after a splinter was very common defined as meaning we have a shot at game. 3NT was showing duplication of value with extra so suggesting a contract. Ditto with Jacoby 2NT & singletons. Serious 3NT changed all that. Fast arrival with splinters now shows duplication of value with a good hand. Duplication of value with a minimum meant a retreat to the trump suit at the 3 level. Courtesy Q bids apply if you have no duplication even with minimums by responder or opener, as partner’s splinter is unlimited. Leaping to game should now be a picture bid.

Going to the 5 level after a splinter or Jacoby 2NT to try for a slam is just as disgusting as with 2/1 auctions after finding a major suit fit. Partner’s fast arrival bid is misguided with these auctions also. The serious 3NT as a Q bid conserves useful space & allows courtesy Q bids which are so valuable when the other hand is unlimited. Partner opens 1♠ & you have ♠Axxx ♥x ♦KJ10x ♣AQxx so you splinter with 3♥ or ( 3♦ with masked splinters) & partner bids 4♠ not playing serious 3NT. So you bid KCB or worse a 5 level Q bid so you go down in 5♠ . Partner holds ♠KJ10xx ♥AQxx ♦xx ♣Kx , the diamonds are located poorly & the trump are 3-1.

Same auction but this time opener holds ♠KJxxxx ♥xxx ♦Ax ♣Kx but +1430 is cold but responder did not move with her good hand ( splinter ) . This hand is built for a courtesy Q bid in case partners splinter is unlimited. Jacoby 2NT is the same idea. Do not waste the valuable 3NT bid to show duplication of value. This treatment blows away serious 3NT theory. That is 1970’s thinking or modern matchpoint thinking at best. This type of thinking does not allow courtesy Q bids and encourages the evils of fast arrival with slam tries at the 5 level. Horrible Bridge thoughts in this day and age.

Partners splinter or Jacoby 2NT is a variable range bid so therefore defined as unlimited. Serious 3NT helps sort out this wide range & complies with the useful space principle. 3NT as a Q bid shows your slam intentions immediately so allows for a cheap Q bid from the other side. Partner does not pre-empt you by bidding game thereby forcing you to use KCB as a “slam try” as beginners do in the game of Bridge. Keeps slam bidding and the game of Bridge as a partnership game. Serious 3NT is just not for 2/1 bidding but applies equally well with splinters & Jacoby 2NT. Same fast arrival concepts & keeping slam tries under game is necessary.

In a recent match, Maurice held ♠A10xx ♥AKQJx ♦x ♣Axx , opened 1♥ with Klimo his partner bidding 1♠. This brought about a splinter to 4♦ but Klimo bid 4♠ . This brought about the dangerous bid of Blackwood which forced the auction to the 5 level which went down. When partner signs off in 4♠ in these auctions he means it as he has horrible duplication of value in diamonds. Why ? because he could have made the “Last Train” slam try by bidding 4♥ when he does not have duplication of value in diamonds. Once you have found a fit , it is useless to find another fit , therefore 4♥ has a meaning attached to it. It also happens to be one level below the trump suit. “Last train” bids are part of serious 3NT theory. You do not want to go past game but you want to inform partner of no duplication of value.

What if the opponents double a splinter ? The death response as always is returning to the trump suit to show duplication of value. A pass shows a minimum for the bidding but no duplication of value. You do not get in partners way by bidding even though you have a minimum. With no duplication of value & a good hand , you take control via KCB or Q bid. A splinter is a good bid so you need solid understandings after the splinter has been made.