SYBIL SAYS . . . . Let’s talk about Splinter Bids – Part 1 A splinter bid is an alertable convention whereby a jump bid in a side-suit indicates a trump fit and a singleton or void in the suit bid and values for at least a game in the agreed suit. For example, a 4C response to a 1H opening establishes hearts as trump and indicates a singleton or void in clubs. A splinter bid like this is made by responder on hands of such a strength that a slam in the agreed trump suit may be makeable opposite a suitably strong hand held by partner/opener. Although they consume bidding space, splinter bids are very descriptive as they help partner to re-evaluate his/her hand: soft honors (a king, queen or jack) in the splinter suit lose value, while honors in the other suits gain value. The short suit in a splinter hand is preferably a small singleton, though it can occasionally be a singleton honor or a void. The idea is that partner can tell if he has wasted values in the splinter suit; for example, Axxx is ideal whereas KJ9x is almost worthless. The 4D bid in the following bidding sequences (with East-West passing throughout) are generally agreed to be splinter bids establishing spades as the trump suit: North South 1S 4D Splinters can be made by responder in opener’s suit as in this example. 1C 4D

1S

1C 1S

1H 4D

Splinters can also be made by the opener in responder’s suit as in the example.

In some auctions, a splinter may occur at the three level. Consider the following auction: 1H 3S Here, South is showing acceptance of hearts and a singleton in spades. Splinter Bid is always one below the game bid level. Definition: An unusual jump, which makes no sense otherwise, guarantees a fit for the last-named suit by partner and shows a Singleton or void in the suit in which the jump is made. The Splinter bid is always a suit bid, never a bid in No Trump. This bid is Alertable. Controls plus Tricks can produce slam on fewer than 33 points Point count is not so meaningful with unbalanced hands that have a good fit. Tricks and controls, or controls with distribution and lots of trump are the hand types that make slam easily with less than 33 points. Here are two hands on slam bidding to illustrate this point.

Example #1 West ♠ AJ3 ♥ KQJ1085 ♦ A3 ♣8

East ♠ KQ10987 ♥ A97 ♦ 965 ♣6

Example # 2 West ♠ AJ987 ♥4 ♦ A7652 ♣ A7

East ♠ KQ10654 ♥ A9854 ♦5 ♣6

This is a 24 point slam, either in hearts or spades. There are 13 tricks available 6 spades, 6 hearts and 1 diamond, while the opponents have only 1 trick, the ♣Ace. There are plenty of tricks in hearts and spades and both minor suits are controlled. Diamonds are controlled on the first round by the ace and clubs on the second round by a singleton.

Combined HCPs in these hands is only 22, but there are no quick losers. There are only 8 top tricks, but a cross ruff will produce 12 tricks. Contract 6 spades. Draw no trumps at all. Take all 3 aces then ruff hearts in one hand and diamonds in the other. This produces 3 aces, 4 ruffs in each hand for 8 tricks and one round of trump for a total of 12 tricks.