Advanced Splinter and Cue Bids

Look at this hand Partner opens 1 Partner opens 1  What do you respond? What do you respond? 13 HCP 13 HCP Fit in ‘s Fit in  ‘s Probably 3 Probably 3  QQ TT 88 33 K Q 7 66 AA QQ TT 6 66

Look at this hand Partner opens 1 Partner opens 1  What do you respond? What do you respond? 13 HCP 13 HCP Fit in ‘s Fit in  ‘s Probably 3 Probably 3  KK 99 55 QQ A 8 7 33 33 AA 99 88 33

We responded 3 on both hands We responded 3  on both hands But are they the same value? But are they the same value? QQ TT 88 33 K Q 7 66 AA QQ TT 6 66 KK 99 55 QQ A 8 7 33 33 AA 99 88 33

The second hand is much stronger Partner has 4+ ‘s Partner has 4+  ‘s We have only 1 We have only 1  Gives us known ruffing capability Gives us known ruffing capability If partner has A and Q, and If partner has  A and  Q, and either K or A either  K or  A Slam must be on Slam must be on How do we tell partner this? How do we tell partner this? KK 99 55 QQ A 8 7 33 33 AA 99 88 33 Bid 4! Bid 4  !

The Splinter Bid A double jump shows a splinter bid A double jump shows a splinter bid It looks like a pre-empt It looks like a pre-empt but we would not pre-empt partner! but we would not pre-empt partner! You must notice it and bid again You must notice it and bid again or partner may play at the 4 level with very few trumps! or partner may play at the 4 level with very few trumps! It is an extremely useful bid It is an extremely useful bid Forcing to game Forcing to game

The Splinter Bid The double jump says: The double jump says: I have 4+ of your major I have 4+ of your major I have a singleton or void in this suit I have a singleton or void in this suit I do not have the A of this suit I do not have the A of this suit I have about 13+ HCP with a singleton I have about 13+ HCP with a singleton or about 11+ HCP with a void or about 11+ HCP with a void I know you should make game I know you should make game Are you interested in a slam? Are you interested in a slam?

Examples of Splinter Bids  P P P P P P 2 2  4 4  4 4  3 3  4 4  4 4  4 4

Splinters over responses You open? You open? 1 1  Partner bids 1 Partner bids 1  What is your re- bid? What is your re- bid? 4 4  KK 99 55 QQ A 8 7 33 33 AA 99 88 33

To Splinter you need As Responder As Responder With a singleton about 13+ HCP With a singleton about 13+ HCP With a void about 11+ HCP With a void about 11+ HCP With even better shape could be fewer With even better shape could be fewer AA 22 J 6 5 KK JJ TT 99 22 Partner opens 1 ! Only 9 HCP Partner must have some top ‘s Splinter in 4 Splinter in 4 

To Splinter you need As opener responding to partner’s major bid eg 1 P 1 As opener responding to partner’s major bid eg 1  P 1  A fit in partner’s major, and A fit in partner’s major, and With a singleton about 15+ HCP With a singleton about 15+ HCP With a void about 13 HCP With a void about 13 HCP Remember that partner may only have 6 HCP and a fairly weak hand Remember that partner may only have 6 HCP and a fairly weak hand But take extreme shape into account But take extreme shape into account

Continuation after Splinter You open 1 You open 1 Partner bids 4 Partner bids 4  You have 13 HCP You have 13 HCP Minimum opening Minimum opening Just bid the game Just bid the game 4 4 No slam interest No slam interest But partner may go on But partner may go on KK JJ 44 JJ A T 5 QQ 22 QQ 3 2 33

Continuation after Splinter You open 1 You open 1 Partner bids 4 Partner bids 4  You have 16 HCP You have 16 HCP Fairly strong Fairly strong Slam interest Slam interest You could bid 4NT You could bid 4NT But Cue bids would be better But Cue bids would be better AA KK 44 JJ A T 5 QQ 22 QQ 3 2 33

Cue Bids After agreeing a major at the 3+ level After agreeing a major at the 3+ level A bid of another suit shows first round control A bid of another suit shows first round control Either the A Either the A or a Void or a Void It also denies first round control in any suit, except trumps, that has been missed It also denies first round control in any suit, except trumps, that has been missed Expresses slam interest Expresses slam interest

Cue Bids We opened 1 We opened 1 Partner splintered in 4 Partner splintered in 4  Bid 4 Bid 4  Showing first round control in Showing first round control in  and no first round control in and no first round control in  Slam interest Slam interest If partner bids 5 it shows a void If partner bids 5  it shows a void If partner bids 5 it shows A and a singleton If partner bids 5  it shows  A and a singleton  A bid of the trump suit shows no controls or no slam interest A bid of the trump suit shows no controls or no slam interest AA KK 44 JJ A T 5 QQ 22 QQ 3 2 33

Cue Bids Cue bidding a suit a second time shows Cue bidding a suit a second time shows The K The K or a singleton or a singleton Cue bidding a suit in the next round that you could have bid earlier shows second round control Cue bidding a suit in the next round that you could have bid earlier shows second round control But why use Cue Bids? But why use Cue Bids?

QQ TT 88 K Q T KK QQ 5 KK JJ 77 A J 8 AA 77 TT 7 2 55 JJ 99 88 22 22 1 1  4 4  5 5  1 1 4NT 5 5 Bidding using RKCB With 2 Key cards missing you cannot get to the slam

QQ TT 88 K Q T KK QQ 5 KK JJ 77 A J 8 AA 77 TT 7 2 55 JJ 99 88 22 22 1 1  4 4  5 5   6 6 Bidding using Cue Bids With a known void in you can get to the slam with 26 HCP With a known void in  you can get to the slam with 26 HCP Only missing 4 HCP that matter

Another Cue Bid hand Splinter Splinter Cue bid Cue bid Shows A and denies void Shows  A and denies  void Shows K or singleton Shows K or singleton Shows K or singleton Shows  K or singleton Bids 6 without A Bids 6  without  A AA 99 KK 4 3 TT AA QQ 55 66 55 33 44 44 55 66 11 4 5 66

Summary Splinters are a valuable tool for finding: Splinters are a valuable tool for finding: Game on < 25 HCP Game on < 25 HCP Slams on < 33 HCP Slams on < 33 HCP For shutting opponents out of the bidding For shutting opponents out of the bidding You have probably bid their suit! You have probably bid their suit! With a short suit many of opponents HCP are wasted With a short suit many of opponents HCP are wasted Cue bids are not limited to after Splinters Cue bids are not limited to after Splinters But they fit well with Splinters But they fit well with Splinters

Summary Splinter Bids are very noticeable Splinter Bids are very noticeable Because of the 2 level jump Because of the 2 level jump The one you can miss is the 3bid after 1 opening The one you can miss is the 3  bid after 1 opening You will notice partner’s splinter bid You will notice partner’s splinter bid Will you remember to bid your’s? Will you remember to bid your’s? From now on if you pick up a hand with a singleton or void think “Can I Splinter?” From now on if you pick up a hand with a singleton or void think “Can I Splinter?” Then remember the requirements! Then remember the requirements!