IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

The splinter bid is a valuable tool.  With one bid you can show support for partner, game or greater strength, and shortness in the bid suit.  North used the splinter here to reach a good slam with only 27 high card points in the combined hands.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)
 
Hand #19
Dlr   E
Vul E/W
S J75
H J
D AKQJ84
C QJ6
S KQ32
H K72
D 95
C 9742
    
S 864
H Q109654
D
C K1085

S A109
H A83
D 107632
C A3
West North
 East
 South


Pass
 1D
   Pass    3H*
    Pass
     4D
   Pass
    5C    Pass
    5NT
   Pass
    6D All Pass
*Splinter bid

BIDDING:  I was sitting in the North chair and after hearing partner's 1D bid, I decided the two most important messages I could give partner were good diamonds and heart shortness.  We play four of the agreed minor is Roman Keycard Blackwood so my 5C response showed two keycards plus the queen of diamonds.  South next bid 5NT to see if I had an outside king and my 6D bid said no. 

PLAY:  West was reluctant to give up a trick so he led a trump.  My partner quickly realized he would have to lose at least one spade so the club finesse must be on.  He won the diamond in dummy, drew another round of trumps, and led the queen of clubs ducked by East.  Another club went to the ace followed by the ace of hearts and a heart ruffed in dummy.  Dummy's club jack was now ruffed in hand and his last heart was ruffed in dummy.  Partner now end-played West by leading a low spade to the nine.  West had to return a spade or give a ruff-sluff.

South could have taken two spade finesses needing only one to succeed but by first eliminating the round suits, he guaranteed the contract.  This is another example of taking the finesse you must but avoiding all others.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.