SPLINTER 4-5 support

 

Here are two very similar hands to show the difference between a SPLINTER with 4 and 5 cards support.

Opener      Responder                opener        Responder

♠ A9543           ♠ R876                                             ♠ A9543               ♠ R876 2

♥ RDV             ♥ 8432                                              ♥ RDV                 ♥ 8432

♦ V654             ♦ A                                                   ♦ V654                 ♦ A

♣ A                  ♣ D1052                                           ♣ A                      ♣ D105

SLAM is very bad : you need trumps                     Slam is very good : only an immediate ruff or trumps break 3-0.

break 2-2, diamonds 4-4 an no                           

uppercut in the end.

 

With SPLINTER 4 cards support : one or two ruffs are insured but not the third.

                                                 The Queen of trump is a key card and jack can play.

With a SPLINTER 5 cards support : asset after playing three cuts are ensured.

                                                  The Quen and the Jack of trumps are not useful for the announcement of the slam.

These examples show the little-known differences between the SPLINTER with 4 and 5 cards support.

It is therefore desirable to distinguish the two types of hands.

Note: The hand is not a pure SPLINTER because it has a bare ACE; this does not compromise the analysis.

 

 

The frame of the system on the opening of one in a MAJOR:

3 cards support of at least 9 DH is answered 2♣ and 4 cards support of at least 9 DH is answered 2NT.

The system is not constrained, you can respond 2♣ with a fourth card support (eg 4-3-3-3 or scattered values

in other suits or a defensive hand ...)

4 cards support with a singleton limited to 11 HCP is answered 2NT.

5 cards support with singleton or void is answered by a SPLINTER(double jump including 3NT).

SPLINTERS of 12+H is answered 2♣ and then jumped.

 

2M = 6-8 DH . 3 cards support.

3M = 5-8 S . 4 card support (not 4-3-3-3)

2 ♣ = Either Natural STANDARD.

          or  9+ DH . 3 card support but from 12HCP can have a longer support or SPLINTER.

2 ♦   = Classic but with 5+ cards.

2NT = 9+ DH , limited to 11 H. 4 cards support (not 4-3-3-3)

3NT = SPLINTER, 5+ cards support limited to 11 HCP with a shortage in spades (heart fit) or A-K singleton(spade fit)

Double jump = SPLINTER, 5+ cards support. Limited to 11 HCP.

 

4 responses available to a SPLINTER with 5 cards support :

heart trump : 3 ♠ (bare high honor to be determined), 3NT, 4 ♣ 4 ♦ . (3NT = short spades)

spade trump : 3NT ( bare high honor to be determined), 4 ♣, 4 ♦ , 4 ♥ .

 

To follow: 2 ♣ SAUVET