The definition of splinter was divised in 1964 by Alan Truscott's wife, winner of 4 world champion and bridge writer, Dorothy Hayden Truscott (1925-2006) with the sentence "A UNUSUAL JUMP GUARANTEES A FIT FOR PARTNER'S LAST-NAMED SUIT AND SHOWS A SINGLETON OR VOID IN THE SUIT IN WHICH THE JUMP IS MADE".
In practical the use of splinters is often used by Responder, after a major opening, bidding with double jump his shorter suit (singleton or void) at level 4 or level 3:
Opener Responder Opener Responder
1
4
/
4
/
4
1
3/4/4This promisses in points (hcp + distributional points) 12-17 points (not hcp) and 4+ cards in the opening suit. This help partnership to be more competitive with few high card points considering a fit of 9+ cards. In fact a splinter do not show a strong hand to be invitational hand to try Slam, but sometimes, when the responder's hand fits and Opener has good controls (Aces/kings and singleton/void) he may try Slam.
Splinter is also used after a minor suit opening and thats may help partnership to find the best contract for the hand due to the facilitation in understand more easy the distribution of the cards and possible non useful honors, but remember that a splinter shows 3 or 5 points in distribution and few high cards points.
Opener Responder Opener Responder
1
3/3/3
1
3/3/4Playing 2/1 after agreement with partner the splinter may be done in the second bid of the Opener or Responder with a simple or double jump:
Opener Responder
1
2 3
<= splinter 4+
cards and singleton/void in Hearts Opener Responder
1
23
<=
splinter 4+
cards and singleton/void in DiamondsOpener Responder
1
14
<= splinter
4 cards and
singleton/void in DiamondsOpener Responder
1
13
<= splinter
4 cards and
singleton/void in SpadesOpener Responder
1
22
3 <= splinter 4
cards and singleton/void in HeartsOpener Responder
1
22
4 <= splinter 4
cards and singleton/void in ClubsNote: 50 years ago these jumps showed strong hand but now with the dissimination of splinter they show shorter suit with support to partner' suit.
In hand evaluation we should consider that having a fit with 4+ cards in partner's suit upgrade in distributional points our singleton with 3 points and our void with 5 points. Thus with 9 hcp + singleton we have points to make a GF response jumping in our singleton/void after a major opening and with 5+ cards in a minor opening.
So it is important to restringe the splinter's superior range at 17 points (or up to 14 hcp with a singleton or 12 hcp with a void) because Opener needs to know if it is possible to try Slam that needs 32-33 points.
Aftter the splinter, if Opener has a balanced hand 5332 limited in 15 hcp, he should stop in game even if the hand fits (xxx - x or Axx - x), but with 16-17 hcp Opener could try Slam. However this may be done in a cooperative way as propose by Kantar in his convention after a splinter that we will show in this text.
Examples of splinter for majors
Opener Responder
1
4 <= splinter 12-17 points or up to 14
hcpa) Responder's hand =>
Qxxxx Kxx Axxx
x => 9 hcp + 3 points = 12 points
b) Responder's hand =>
QJxx K10xx AJxx
x => 11 hcp + 3 points = 14 points
c) Responder's hand =>
Kxxxx KQxx Axx
x => 12 hcp + 3 points = 15 points
d) Responder's hand =>
Kxxxx KQxx K10xx
- => 11 hcp + 5 points = 16 points
So, splinter is good when the splinter's suit is at our losers cards and not good when it is at our honors like KJx or KQx or AKJ.
Note1: many partnership consider the strength for a splinter with 12-15 hcp (not points), so the use of splinter needs a clear discussion between partners to establish an agreements about splinter as you should also do using Jacoby 2nt convention with 12-16 hcp without singleton.
RULE#1: To avoid misunderstood after interference the splinter is on only if the interference is double, otherwise is off. Of course there are many advanced partnership that ignore interference and use splinter but they may have problems when Responder has a weak long suit.
Example:
Opener Overcaller Responder
1
2
? <= xx Jx x KJ1087xxx as we see if the 4
is a splinter Responder need pass and the hand may have game in 5,
so we will assume that 4
in this sequence is natural, long suit and weak hand.
Opener Overcaller Responder
1
2
? <= xx KQ1087x x JxxxHere the 3
bid is not a
splinter but a long
and weak suit not forcing, unless hand fits.WHAT TO DO AFTER SPLINTER
After splinter we should reevalute our hand and if the splinter fits and we have a good hand we may try Slam in a few situations, but if the hand does not fits or we have a weak hand of course we should rebid the agreed suit to stop the bidding.
CUEBID showing some interesting in Slam
The tradicional way to exchange information by partnership is the use of cuebid in sequence to avoid A try to Slam having a suit without first and second control.
Opener Responder
1
4
>= splinter Then if Opener bids 4
this means that that hand fits (Axx
or xxx)
and Opener has A
and denies Diamonds control. So Responder without Diamonds control must
sign-off the bidding. So cuebid may work well after the splinter.Suppose Opener's hand is
AQxxx AJx xx
Axx and after the
splinter at 4 Opener's cuebid in 4
denying Diamond control Opener Responder
1
4 4
?in a) Responder bids 4
shows
no control in Diamonds.................
Kxxx KQxx QJ10x
x or Kxxx KQxx J10xxx
in b) Responder bids 4
with
minimum besides had control .................
Jxxxx KQxx Kxx
x or Kxxxx Kxxx Kxx
xin c) Responder bids 4nt RKB0314 to try Slam with
control.................
Kxxx xxx AKJ109
x or Kxxx Q109xx AKx
xin d) Responder bids 5
to show a void in Clubs and
control.................
Kxxxx Qxx KQJ10x
- or Kxxxx Qxx AJ109x
-and now Opener's with no second control in
and in
should stop
the bidding in 5
because his A now loses value.
Splinter miscellaneous situations
After a 1nt opening we can also use splinter when a fit is found:
Opener Responder
1nt 2
<= Stayman asking for major2
4 <= splinter with 4
and waiting for Diamonds controlOpener Responder
1nt 2
<= Stayman asking for major2
4 <= splinter with 4
waiting for spades controlOpener Responder
1nt 2
2
4 <= splinter with 4
and waiting for Hearts controlAfter a GF sequence when a fit is found we can use splinter
Opener Responder
1
2 <- GF2
4 <= splinter showing 4
and shortness in DiamondsOpener Responder
1
2 <- GF2
3 <= splinter showing 4
and shorter in SpadesOpener Responder
1
2 <- GF3
<= splinter showing 4+
and shortness in Diamonds - there no convention to justify the jump in
Diamonds other than for splinter because the splinter information
implies in support and of course to show a fit and also a singleton is
important to find the better contract. Thus the way in 2/1 GF to show a
strong hand with Hearts and Diamonds is bidding 2
and after 4 to explain
strong 2 suits. SPLINTER AFTER A MINOR OPENING
After a minor opening a splinter response at level 3 it is GF and need 12-17 points (9-14 hcp) with 5+ cards support.
Opener Responder implicit splinter by Responder
1
3/3/3
splinter GF 12-17 points 5+
singleton/void Opener Responder
1
3/3/4
splinter GF 12-17 points 5+
singleton/voidWhen Responder is 18+ points (15+ hcp) the splinter, if possible, should be done at Responder's second bid:
Opener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2
3/3
splinters with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideOpener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2
3/4
splinters with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideOpener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2
4/4
splinters with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideOpener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2nt 4
/4/4
splinters with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideOpener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2
3 <= splinter
with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideOpener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2
4 <= splinter
with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideOpener Responder
1
2
<= inverted minors 4+
and 10+ hcp2nt 4
/4
<= splinter with 15+ hcp - then Opener decideNote3: For minors a splinter at level 4 promisses A or K in the unbid suit and bidding the agreed suit is RKB, if possible, else at 4nt, so for sign-off it is necessary to bid the minor at level 5, because a splinter is a GF.
HOW WORKS RKB AFTER SPLINTER USING KANTAR'S ORIENTATION
In Kantar's book "Roman KeyCard Blackwood" we found the follow orientation:
1- after a splinter if you have a minimum hand or the aplinter does not fits then just sign-off bidding the agreed suit;
2- if splinter fits (like Axx - x or xxx - x) with a good hand then there are two ways to make a try for Slam:
a) take charge and ask for RKCB1430 bidding 4nt
b) having space then explain your hand in 4 steps to partner's decision
1- first step => 2 aces + 2 kings + trump's Queen, here 4
;2- second step => 3 aces + 1 king without trump's Queen, here 4
;3- third step => 3 aces + 1 king + trump's Queen, here 5
;4- fourth step => 4 keycards without the trump's Queen, here 5
.Then Responder may sign-off bidding 5
,
may just bid Slam, or bid a Specific
Suit Ask as a try for Small/Grand Slam (step1: Qxx or xx/ step2: Kxx(x)
/ step3: Kx /KQx: raise of the ask-suit / singleton: jump in the trump
suit / xxx: return to agreed suit). Example1
Suppose Opener =
A109xx
Kxx
Ax
AxxResponder =
KQxx
AJxx
Kxx
xOpener Responder
1
4
<= splinter?
4
<= will be sign-off
4nt <= RKB1430 but even the best answer in 2 keycards with Queen is not clear for bid Slam. Thus Opener decide to show his controls bidding the 3th step (excluding 4
4nt)5
<= showing a good hand 3A+1K........... ? then Responder may bid:
........... 5
<=
sign-off
or........... 6
<= Slam or........... 5
<= Specific Suit Ask in
and sign-off is 5
5nt <= step2 shows Kxx so Slam is possible (if the response by opener was 5
showing KQx
then Responder may try a Grand Slam bidding 7)........... 6
<= good Slampass
Example2:
Opener Resp Opener Resp explanation
1nt 2
(1) AQ KJ10xxx (1)
transfer2
4(2) 10xx 3 (2)
splinter
and 6+
cards4nt 5
(3) KQxx Axx (3)
zero or
3 keycards6
pass KQxx
AxxNote: if Responder are only 6
and only one more ace thenhe will make a sign-off transfer at level 3, so this splinter
is an invitation for possible Slam.
Example3:
Opener Resp Opener Resp explanation
1nt 2
(1) Axx KQJ10xx (1)
transfer2
4(2) Kxxx Axx (2)
splinter and 6
cards5
(3)
6 Axx
x (3)
second step
3 keycardspass .......
A10x
KJx
without Queenbesides was 1nt with 15 hcp the splinter fits the hand
Example4:
Opener Resp Opener Resp explanation
1nt 2
(1) KQJx
(1)
transfer2
3(2) Jx AQxxxx (2)
splinter in spades with 63nt(3) pass
AQxx
Kxx (3)
strong spades stoppers....................
Kxx
AxxExample5:
Opener Resp Opener Resp explanation
1nt 2
(1) Jx AKxxxx (1)
transfer2
4(2)
KQJx
3 (2)
splinter
and 6
cards4
(3)
pass AQxx K84
(3) nothing fits - sign-off ...............
QJx
KxxExample6:
Opener Resp Opener Resp explanation
1nt 2
(1) Kxx Ax (1)
transfer2
4(2) Kx AQJ10xxx (2)
splinter
and
6
cards4nt(3) 5
(3) AKxxx x (3)
take charge - RKB14306
pass Kxx
Qxxx
(4) 2 keycards with QueenNote: the opener's hand is compose by Ace and Kings that is
the principals controls for make tricks and the AKxxx - x have
62% in a 4-3 division, so good chance to find 3 tricks here.
Example7:
Opener Resp Opener Resp explanation
1
4(1) AJ98xx Kxxx
(1) splinter
4
(2)
4(3) QJ10 Kxxx (2)
2 keycard with Queen => 10 cardspass
Axx
x
perfect space to show his strength..............
x
KQJx
(3) sign-off - missing 2 keycards
Note: We recommend the use of Kantar's strategic way to to be use after a major open and a splinter, so if you agreed that with your partner be careful not to forget and anf after the splinter bid a cuebid.
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