Splinter Bids


A Splinter bid is any jump in the auction where a bid of the suit with no jump (or a lesser jump) would be forcing; It agrees the last named suit as trumps and shows at least 4-card support and a singleton or void in the suit bid.
For example, a 4 ♣ response to a 1 ♥ opening establishes Hearts as the Trump suit and indicates a singleton or void in Clubs. Although they consume bidding space, Splinter bids can help partner to reevaluate their hand, honours in the splinter suit losing value, while honours in the other three suits gain in value.
The required strength to make this sort of bid varies depending on your own agreement.

(1) Some experts advise that responding to an opening bid with a Splinter Bid shows the strength required to raise directly to game, i.e. about an opening hand or the equivalent in losers

(2) Others say that it can be bid on as little as 10- points, with a singleton (not singleton honour) or void in the suit bid and at least 4 card trump support.

(3) Others suggest that is better to use them only on hands that are slam invitations, 6 losers or better which could of course still include (1) and (2)

For example ♠ Axxx, ♥ Qxxx, ♦ Axxx, ♣ x is 10 points and a 7 loser, enough for game but for slam potential opener will have to be up around the 18 points or 5 losers but most people who play Splinters would bid 4♣ over an opening 1 ♥ or 1 ♠
Change the hand slightly to ♠ AQxx, ♥ Qxxx, ♦ Axxx, ♣ x - 6 losers
or ♠ AQxx, ♥ Qxxx, ♦ Axxxx, ♣ Void -5 losers and there a good slam prospects opposite many basic opening hands from as little as ♠xx ♥AKxxx ♦ KJxx, ♣ xx (not good but possible) to ♠ Kxx, ♥AJxxx, ♦ KQx, ♣ xx.
Many players make Splinter bids with hands like the first one or even as little as ♠ xxxx, ♥ KQxx, ♦ x ♣ KJxx

As in all things Bridge you decide but the wider the possible range the more difficult it is for Opener to decide whether to push on
My personal preference is to make an immediate Splinter with hands that are no worse than 6 losers

Splinter bids don’t just arise as the immediate response. They can come in many auctions and by either partner.
North 1 ♣ South 1 ♥
North 3 ♠ 4 ♣ and 4 ♦ would all be Splinters agreeing responders Heart suit and showing an Opening hand good enough to go to game opposite a mere 6 count.
Something like ♠ KQx ♥ KQxx ♦ x ♣ AKxxx or ♠ x ♥ Qxxxx, ♥ AKx ♣ AKQxx

Another sequence might be North 1 ♠ South 2 ♣
North 2 ♥ South 4 ♦
If South had Diamonds or wanted to try for 3NT 3 ♦ would be forcing so the only meaning for the 4 ♦ bid would be agreeing Hearts and showing a singleton or void in Diamonds and a hand good enough for game.
Opposite North’s opening bid of 1 ♠ South might have something like ♠ xx, ♥ AJxx, ♦ x ♣ KQJxxx

A subsequent bid of a new suit by either player would be a cue-bid, and 4NT would be whatever form of Blackwood you are playing If you feel all this is too complicated and without clear partnership agreement on the strength required it can be dangerous, why not try Advance Cue bids which can get you on the Slam trail but define clearly whether your hand is good enough, but only good enough, for game or whether you are better and want to suggest looking for a slam but don’t want to go flying off to 4NT immediately.

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