Voice Service Bridge

North: 1H
South: 3S

The standard meaning for a double jump response in a new suit is a pre-empt. However, after partner has opened, it is not attractive to pre-empt to the four-level. You may miss the best spot of 3NT. In general, it is of limited use to pre-empt opposite an opening bid, since the opponents are unlikely to enter the bidding anyway. Instead of shutting them out, your pre-empt is robbing your own side of valuable bidding space.

Many partnerships prefer to use the double jump responses to show support for opener's suit and a shortage in the suit bid. They are called 'splinters' because the shortage, the thinnest part of the hand, is shown.

A splinter bid shows :
4-card or better support for partner's suit, enough high card values for at least game, and
a singleton or a void in the suit bid.

In response to a major suit opening, the splinters are :

North: 1H
South: 3S

North: 1H
South: 4C

North: 1H
South: 4D

North:
West: 1S
East: 4C

West: 1S
East: 4D

West: 1S
East: 4H

The 1S : 4H response can take a while to absorb as it is such a natural sounding response.

Splinters are not compatible with 4C Gerber or with the Swiss Convention. They do, however, work very well in conjunction with the Jacoby 2NT response . They also work well even without any other conventional method of showing strong raises of partner's suit.

Suppose partner has opened 1H. These hand are worth a splinter raise :
S A J 2 H K J 9 2 D 5 C K 7 6 3 : Bid 4D
S 9 H A 9 7 6 3 D K Q 6 C K 4 3 2 : Bid 3S
S A K 3 H Q J 8 7 2 D A 6 4 2 C 5 : Bid 4C

The playing strength is 7 losers or better. It is best not to splinter with a very powerful side suit. Show this hand by bidding the side suit first, supporting partner later.

Splinters - A Bridge to Slam

Voice Service Bridge