Splinter Bids in BETA

     

Note: In Beta ACOL direct splinter bids over a 1Ma opening are NOT used.

In their place we prefer SWISS bids, DGR sequences, direct limit raises,  2NT Baron with strong balanced hands with 2|3 card support, TRUSTCOTT with solid raise to at least the 3-level with 4+ card support, limit raises over intervention with more diistributional hands.

Instead, with some distribution, we take the opportunity to show the responder's primary suit,  usually 5+ cards. [a 4 card major may be shown at the 1-level] intending to return to partners major at the 3|4 level as appropriate.

This change of suit is forcing and valuable knowledge for opener when subsequently required to judge game/slam posiibilities. This follows Fantoni's statement that it is imperative for a partnership to show their respective suits early in any auction. Thus we feel direct splinters are contrary to this guiding principle.
Therefore responder shows his support through delayed game raise (DGR) sequences.

Balanced hands can be shown with a 2N response (16+HCP)

Responder may use a single gump in his suit with 16+HCP & when NOT possessing more than a doubleton support for partner's opening suit.

The picture is entirely different when opener wishes to show at least game values in partners  response suit, whether a Major or minor suit, with a double jump in a shortage. E.g 1  - 1 - 3! or 1 - 2 - 4! or 1 - 1 - 4 . These are genuine Splinters.
Note: Splinters directly initiate Cue-Bidding.

A good moment to remind one that in Beta a single jump rebid by OPENER in a 3rd suit  shows (15)16+ HCP. Also this announces a short suit of 2-3 cards with usually 2 top honours. (It also implies your opening suit to be a rebiddable suit AND also denies holding a 2nd suit. It suggests at most minimum support for partners suit. Do not make this bid without honours! Perhaps a special case: a singleton ACE is acceptable and your suit will be (6)7 cards, still deny a 2nd suit, and at most 3 card support for partner.
Opener can also use our style 'mini splinters' to show his strength (15)16+  and distribution single-suited - also confirms his suit as 5+ cards - by making a single jump in an unbid  short suit  of  (1), 2 or 3 cards. This suit must contain A  and preferably a second top honour. Therefore it strictly denies 4 card support for partner but does not deny a 3 card support - which partner would show at his next bid unless direction of bidding is changed - e.g responder opts for a NT game (then he would not likely to have 5 cards in his suit nor would he have support for your primary suit) or game in your suit etc.
Bidding the 4th suit is forcing but at the same timeis  an inquiry looking to resolve a possible fit for his suit or a NT game or a move towards an eventual slam.

These mini splinters made on usually on 5332 distribution, compliment our non-forcing 2Ma openings where a 5-4 minimum distribution is required.