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Splinter and Cue BidsSplinter and Cue Bids

Look at this handLook at this hand

Partner opens 1Partner opens 1 What do you What do you

respond?respond? 13 HCP13 HCP Fit in Fit in ‘s ‘s Probably 3Probably 3

Q

T

8

3

K

Q

7

6

A

Q

T

6

6

Look at this handLook at this hand

Partner opens 1Partner opens 1 What do you What do you

respond?respond? 13 HCP13 HCP Fit in Fit in ‘s ‘s Probably 3Probably 3

K

9

5

Q

A

8

7

3

3

A

9

8

3

We responded 3We responded 3 on both on both handshands

But are they the same value?But are they the same value?

Q

T

8

3

K

Q

7

6

A

Q

T

6

6

K

9

5

Q

A

8

7

3

3

A

9

8

3

The second hand is much The second hand is much strongerstronger

Partner has 4+ Partner has 4+ ‘s‘s

We have only 1We have only 1 Gives us known Gives us known

ruffing capabilityruffing capability If partner has If partner has A A

and and Q, and Q, and either either K or K or AA Slam must be onSlam must be on How do we tell How do we tell

partner this?partner this?

K

9

5

Q

A

8

7

3

3

A

9

8

3

Bid Bid 44!!

The Splinter BidThe Splinter Bid A double jump shows a splinter bidA 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 againYou must notice it and bid again or partner may play at the 4 level or partner may play at the 4 level

with very few trumps!with very few trumps! It is an extremely useful bidIt is an extremely useful bid Forcing to gameForcing to game

The Splinter BidThe Splinter Bid The double jump says:The double jump says: I have 4+ of your majorI have 4+ of your major I have a singleton or void in this suitI have a singleton or void in this suit I do not have the A of this suitI do not have the A of this suit I have about 13+ HCP with a I have about 13+ HCP with a

singletonsingleton or about 11+ HCP with a voidor about 11+ HCP with a void I know you should make gameI know you should make game Are you interested in a slam?Are you interested in a slam?

Examples of Splinter BidsExamples of Splinter Bids 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

PPPPPPPPPPPP22

44 44 33 44 44 44 44

Splinters over responsesSplinters over responses

You open?You open? 11 Partner bids 1Partner bids 1 What is your re-What is your re-

bid?bid? 44

K

9

5

Q

A

8

7

3

3

A

9

8

3

To Splinter you needTo Splinter you need As ResponderAs Responder

With a singleton about 13+ HCPWith a singleton about 13+ HCP With a void about 11+ HCPWith a void about 11+ HCP With even better shape could be fewerWith even better shape could be fewer

A

2

J

6

5

K

4

3

2

J

T

9

2

Partner opens 1Partner opens 1 ! !

Only 9 HCPOnly 9 HCP

Partner must have Partner must have some top some top ‘s‘s

Splinter in 4Splinter in 4

To Splinter you needTo Splinter you need As opener responding to partner’s As opener responding to partner’s

major bid eg 1major bid eg 1 P 1 P 1 A fit in partner’s major, andA fit in partner’s major, and With a singleton about 15+ HCPWith a singleton about 15+ HCP With a void about 13 HCPWith a void about 13 HCP

Remember that partner may only Remember that partner may only have 6 HCP and a fairly weak handhave 6 HCP and a fairly weak hand

But take extreme shape into accountBut take extreme shape into account

Continuation after SplinterContinuation after Splinter You open 1You open 1 Partner bids 4Partner bids 4 You have 13 HCPYou have 13 HCP Minimum openingMinimum opening Just bid the gameJust bid the game 44 No slam interestNo slam interest But partner may go But partner may go

onon

K

J

4

J

A

T

5

Q

2

Q

3

2

3

Continuation after SplinterContinuation after Splinter You open 1You open 1 Partner bids 4Partner bids 4 You have 16 HCPYou have 16 HCP Fairly strongFairly strong Slam interestSlam interest You could bid 4NTYou could bid 4NT But Cue bids would But Cue bids would

be betterbe better

A

K

4

J

A

T

5

Q

2

Q

3

2

3

Cue BidsCue Bids

After agreeing a major at the 3+ levelAfter agreeing a major at the 3+ level A bid of another suit shows first round A bid of another suit shows first round

controlcontrol Either the AEither the A or a Voidor a Void

It also denies first round control in any It also denies first round control in any suit, except trumps, that has been suit, except trumps, that has been missedmissed

Expresses slam interestExpresses slam interest

Cue BidsCue Bids We opened 1We opened 1 Partner splintered in 4Partner splintered in 4 Bid 4Bid 4 Showing first round control in Showing first round control in and no first round control in and no first round control in Slam interestSlam interest If partner bids 5If partner bids 5 it shows a it shows a

voidvoid If partner bids 5If partner bids 5 it shows it shows A A

and a singleton and a singleton A bid of the trump suit shows A bid of the trump suit shows

no controls or no slam interestno controls or no slam interest

A

K

4

J

A

T

5

Q

2

Q

3

2

3

Cue BidsCue Bids

Cue bidding a suit a second time Cue bidding a suit a second time showsshows The KThe K or a singletonor a singleton

Cue bidding a suit in the next round Cue bidding a suit in the next round that you could have bid earlier shows that you could have bid earlier shows second round controlsecond round control

But why use Cue Bids?But why use Cue Bids?

Q

T

8

K

Q

T

K

Q

5

K

J

7

A

J

8

A

7

T

7

2

5

J

9

8

2

2

114455

1 1 4NT4NT5 5

Bidding using RKCBBidding using RKCBWith 2 Key cards With 2 Key cards missing you cannot get missing you cannot get to the slamto the slam

Q

T

8

K

Q

T

K

Q

5

K

J

7

A

J

8

A

7

T

7

2

5

J

9

8

2

2

114455

1 1 5 5 6 6

Bidding using Cue BidsBidding using Cue BidsWith a known void in With a known void in you you can get to the slam with 26 can get to the slam with 26 HCPHCPOnly missing 4 HCP that Only missing 4 HCP that mattermatter

Another Cue Bid handAnother Cue Bid hand SplinterSplinter Cue bidCue bid Shows Shows A A

and denies and denies voidvoid

Shows Shows K K or singletonor singleton

Shows Shows K K or singletonor singleton

Bids 6Bids 6 without without AA

A

9

K

4

3

T

A

Q

5

6

5

3

4

4

5

6

1

4

5

6

SummarySummary Splinters are a valuable tool for finding:Splinters are a valuable tool for finding:

Game on < 25 HCPGame on < 25 HCP Slams on < 33 HCPSlams on < 33 HCP For shutting opponents out of the biddingFor 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 With a short suit many of opponents HCP are wastedHCP are wasted

Cue bids are not limited to after Cue bids are not limited to after SplintersSplinters

But they fit well with SplintersBut they fit well with Splinters

SummarySummary Splinter Bids are very noticeableSplinter Bids are very noticeable Because of the 2 level jumpBecause of the 2 level jump The one you can miss is the 3The one you can miss is the 3 bid after bid after

11 opening opening You will notice partner’s splinter bidYou 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 From now on if you pick up a hand with a

singleton or void think “Can I Splinter?”singleton or void think “Can I Splinter?” Then remember the requirements!Then remember the requirements!