[cherdano]

The general idea (on any auction) is that a splinter shows the values to force to game, but not much more. Sometimes you have to fudge with this when there really isn't any other way to describe your shape, but it's always what partner should use as a baseline assumption.

[jillybean]

cherdano, on 2011-January-18, 11:58, said:

The general idea (on any auction) is that a splinter shows the values to force to game, but not much more. Sometimes you have to fudge with this when there really isn't any other way to describe your shape, but it's always what partner should use as a baseline assumption.

Thanks Arend. I hoped my question was specifically in regards to this auction where we are already in a game force after 1m:2m. Should openers splinter show any extra values, some may consider the shortage is the extra, or are you expected to make it on any minimum hand?

I think I would like it to show any hand with shortage. That seems to be very useful information for partner to evaluate slam and if opener does hold a monster hand, she should be able to make a slam try later.

After
1♣:2♣
3♦:
Partner shouldn't fly to game with no slam interest but rather bid 4♣ to allow opener to make a slam try.

[Phil]

cherdano, on 2011-January-18, 11:58, said:

The general idea (on any auction) is that a splinter shows the values to force to game, but not much more. Sometimes you have to fudge with this when there really isn't any other way to describe your shape, but it's always what partner should use as a baseline assumption.

Yes, absolutely for the same reason that you would bid 3♥ over 1N with a hand as light as Axx x KQxxx xxxx for the simple reason that we want to avoid a bad 3N and (hopefully) find a good 5m. If either partner has more than we can still look for slam.

[Fluffy]

Perhaps this doesn't belong to BIL section, but south has a common hand for supporting splinter, the auction 1♣-2♣-3♦-4♦ shows non minimal strengh, with nothing wasted in diamonds (the ace or the jack maybe with a little extra outside to compensate), I think the international name for this bid is Bluhmer.

Even if you don' bid 3♦ at round 2, you can also bid 4♦ a round 3. The difference for splintering now or later is something very few will have talked about, so don't worry about it.

[jillybean]

It is interesting that you bring up splintering next round as this is what my r/l partner said he would do.

If you bid 4♦ here to show no min etc then you are not going to show your ♥control below game, what is the benefit of 4♦'s over a 3♥ cue?