[P_Marlowe]

Free, on Apr 19 2006, 11:17 AM, said:

mikestar, on Apr 19 2006, 03:49 PM, said:

Let's see. We have 10+ spades and they have 10+ hearts. At best they have a cheap sac, they might make 5♥ -- there are some 10 point hands for partner where they can make 6♥.

So the odds that they have a paying sacrifice or can make is greater than the chance we have slam. I bid 4♠. This is particularly effective in a big club system where it might not be preemptive: it could be a balanced hand with good support but not enough values for slam to be in the picture--let the enemy guess with doubtful hands.

I wonder why opps suddenly have 9+♥, or even 10+♥!

Chances are huge that partner has 4+♥ himself. That's why I think a splinter is the best choice, partner can immediatly evaluate his hand for slam. Bidding 4♠ obviously has some merrit, but imo the hand has a lot of slam potential.

According to the problem description,
the 1S opening did deny a 4 card heart
suit.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Gerben42]

4♥ splinter for me.

[Echognome]

Scoring: IMP

1♠ - (P) - 4S - All Pass

---

I went for the simple 4♠ raise. We happened to have a slam this time (clubs were 2-2). Partner resulted and complained I didn't ♥ splinter, but I don't see that being very helpful. One thing about the heart splinter is that unless partner holds xxx in ♥, he will have a tough time evaluating his hand to go on.

For example, will he know to make another try with:

♠xxxxx
♥xxx
♦Ax
♣AQJ

But not with:

♠Axxxx
♥xxx
♦xx
♣AQJ

And to make another try with:

♠Axxx
♥KQx
♦x
♣AQxxx

But not with:

♠Axxx
♥Kx
♦xx
♣AQJxx

[Free]

After a splinter, I'm still not sure you'll end up in slam... But at least it showed some interest. 4♠ ends the auction unless partner has an extreme freak with very few losers, but that's quite rare.

[whereagles]

Echognome, on Apr 20 2006, 11:21 AM, said:

Partner resulted and complained I didn't ♥ splinter

Ignore him, or, if possible, get a better one

[mikestar]

Partner thinks a heart splinter opposite his stiff would exite him enough to bid a slam that needs 2-2 clubs? Wow, that's really resulting. I would never have criticised your 4♠ even if I disagreed with you--these freak hands are going to leave you guessing.

A much more likely result if you splinter is they get a cheap chance to get together in hearts by doubling the splinter, when your bidding has clued them in to having a good heart fit. If your are going to take this risk, why not start lower and really exchange some useful info if they are quiet--2NT, for example, at least doesn't tell them how good their heart fit is.

If your partner had advocated blasting 6♠, I would have sided with you but considerd his opinion reasonable if over-aggressive. Much depends on what your 10-point openers look like--if they typically have extra shape and good controls, the blast looks better. If they might be minimal shape with only fair controls, 4♠ stands out.

Note that these arguments are laregly dependent on the systemic knowledge that partner has at most 3 hearts--in a system where partner may well have heart length, enemy intervention is less likely at this vulnerability.

[mike777]

Echognome, on Apr 20 2006, 06:21 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

1♠ - (P) - 4S - All Pass

---

I went for the simple 4♠ raise. We happened to have a slam this time (clubs were 2-2). Partner resulted and complained I didn't ♥ splinter, but I don't see that being very helpful. One thing about the heart splinter is that unless partner holds xxx in ♥, he will have a tough time evaluating his hand to go on.

For example, will he know to make another try with:

♠xxxxx
♥xxx
♦Ax
♣AQJ

But not with:

♠Axxxx
♥xxx
♦xx
♣AQJ

And to make another try with:

♠Axxx
♥KQx
♦x
♣AQxxx

But not with:

♠Axxx
♥Kx
♦xx
♣AQJxx

I rejected the splinter since I thought your hand had too much playing power for it or 4s....did bidding 2nt help me or just make the issue worse?