LEARNING CENTER

Splinter Bids (invented in the 1960's by Dorothy Hayden & David Cliff) are a conventional way to show support for partner and shortness (singleton or void) in the suit "splintered" into. The prototype auction is:

West	North	East
1 or 1	Pass	4 of a lower suit

So, these would all be Splinter Bids: 1-4, 1-4, 1-4, 1-4, 1-4

Those "double-jump-shifts" show a singleton or void in the suit jumped into. They also promise at least 4-card support. The range is "enough for game" up to about 15 or so counting distribution. So, a typical hand for 1-4 would be: 

 KJ87  
 K107  
 2  
 A7632.
 

These splinter bids shouldn't be made with something stronger, such as 

 KQ87  
 AJ5  
 2  
 AJ1076.

 -- because after 1-4-4, the Splinter bidder wouldn't know what to do.  Start with Jacoby 2NT with more than the strength for a Splinter Bid.

Splinter bids are also used by opener on an auction such as 1-1-4. Opener is showing a big hand--enough for game. Responder might have only 6 points, so opener would need something like: 

 AQJ6  
 KQ2  
 AQJ76  
 2.
 

In 2/1 GF auctions, most experts use Splinter bids by opener. Since there is no need to jumpshift after, say, 1-2 to 3 (opener would just bid 2 with hearts and a big hand), that bid is treated as a Splinter Bid -- but this area of bidding won't be in this quiz.

When answering, use the general guideline that a Splinter Bid shows slam interest (and enough for game).

More on Splinter Bids in Mike Lawrence Webinar