Good Splinters

Another one of the “Fantastic Nine” bids to know and use is the Splinter Bid.

A Splinter bid is one that can allow partnerships to bid a game or slam which otherwise could be missed. If you use this raise, your hand must have good support for partners bid, game going values, and a singleton or void.

The bid works like this: partner opens a suit you can support. Your bid using the splinter bid, is to jump raise in your short suit, going one level higher than a normal jump raise would be. Now your partner can accurately reassess his hand using your information and can decide how high he can safely make the contract. You will at least have a game bid. Further, opener may give a splinter bid at his second chance to bid.  If partner answers with a bid that opener can support and opener has a short suit, he can then signal his shortness with a jump raise. As with any new bid, be sure to practice it with partner.

Evergreen winners on Friday May 1st were N/S: First, Marie Pugh and Ruth Bowles; second, Pat Featherston and Dick Brisbin; third, Fern Albracht and Pat Macon. E/W: First, John and Myrnie McLaughlin; second, Carol Bachl and Judy Gealy; third, Chuck and Margaret Rimer.

Featured is hand # 7 from the Friday, May 1 game:    All vulnerable   South dealer

NORTH:

S  5 2

H  A T 9 2

D  A K Q 9 5 4

C  T

WEST:       EAST:

S  9 8 6         S  Q J T 4

H  Q 7 4        H  K J 6

D  J 7             D  T

C  A Q 6 5 4   C  J 9 8 3 2

SOUTH:

S  A K 7 3

H  8 5 3

D  8 6 3 2

C  K 7

Best N/S score was made by Pat Featherston and Dick Brisbin who played 3NS making 4 while Patsy Reynolds and Joe O’Brien did best E/W as opponents bid 2DN making 4.

Winners at the Tuesday, May 5 Women’s Club game were: First, Sonjia McHone and Jayne Shive; second, Dick Brisbin and Pat Featherston; tied for third/fourth, Chuck and Margaret Rimer with Pat Macon and John McLaughlin.