[Hilver]

Consider the following start of the bidding:

You partner
1S 2H
...

(1S = 5+-card and 12+ HCP)

Two questions

A) If 2H is not gameforcing, what would a jump to 4C or 4D show now.
Do you prefer this to be a splinter or a control bid or even something else?

B) What if 2H is gameforcing? Is your answer the same?

Thanks

[kenrexford]

If 2♥ is not GF, then I'd prefer 4♣ as a Splinter, personally.

If 2♥ is GF, then my alternative options suggest that a Splinter be more precisely defined. The precise definition I elect here is that a 4♣ call in this auction shows a stiff in clubs (at best stiff Queen), good trump support (two top honors -- KQ+), a trick source potential in my original suit (two of the top three honors, plus one more of the top four honors), and no 1st/2nd round control of the fourth suit (QJ10 at best).

[inquiry]

When you play 2♥ as not game force, how do you play openers raise to 3♥? With a heart fit, does 2♥ now become game forcing when raised? This will impact the meaning of 4♣ and 4♦.

I, like ken, when playing 2/1 GF use 4C and 4D as controlled splinters, but what I promise is a little different. Basically, when I make this splinter it denies the ACE of the splintered suit (or a void) and it DENIES a control in the unbid suit (in this case the other minor). My jump to 4♥ shows a hand like 5422 with very good hearts and spades, but without a control in either minor.

[P_Marlowe]

A) A jump would be a splinter, since you can
bid the suit a level lower as forcing
A splinter bid is a control bid, since the splinter
shows control based on shortness.

Assuming you wanted to show values in the suit,
it gets problematic, and it maybe nearly impossible
depending on your cuebidding agreement.
One case: opener may be to strong to make a splinter,
hence he bids either 3H (forcing in SA) or makes an
advanced cuebid.
Advanced cue bids are sometimes a little bit problematice,
since you may have problems convincing partner, that you
have real support for his suit.

B.) It does not matter, if 2H was game forcing or not.
A more serious impact would be, if a 3H would be not
be forcing (2H does not promise a rebid as in Acol),
in which case, 4C / 4D still would be a splinter, but you
would need to make an advanced cuebid.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: A final remark: quite often it does not matter, because
most of the time, opener will have a single, unless he is
5-3-2-2 or 5-4-2-2 in which cases he can simply bid
3H, 5H, 3NT or 4NT.

[kenrexford]

inquiry, on Dec 15 2006, 08:46 AM, said:

My jump to 4♥ shows a hand like 5422 with very good hearts and spades, but without a control in either minor.

Same here, for that jump (GF auction). The only slight difference I'd have is that "very good" has specific definitions (same as for "controlled" splinters internally), and that 5332 is possible.