Board 18 Tuesday adds to the list of recent examples of Missed Splinters:
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While reaching small slam at half the tables is not always terribly disappointing, here that half the room missed slam with a combined 32 HCP, eleven-card trump fit, four aces, three kings and non-duplicated shortages was a bit of a letdown, even with Karleta having the bad luck of playing N-S on the board. One pair could be excused both on the grounds of being not fond of slam and of this being their second board of the game; the third seems inexplicable unless its being their last board of the first half caused them to rush because they were behind. The second pair to miss slam was the truly tragic case. Theirs was the only table in the room where West did make a splinter raise, but East missed it. Making matters worse, declarer was so flustered by the missed splinter that only twelve tricks were taken.
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The control-rich East hand is not solid enough for a 2C opening, due to the singleton king. With Ax? AKxxxx? AKQx? x, East could easily open 2C, reaching an almost sure game (indeed, a possible slam) opposite a flat Yarborough. With AK? AKxxxx? AQxx? x, it would be less obvious but still worthwhile. Had East opened 2C, West would have had no trouble driving to 7H opposite four key cards.
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At multiple tables, South overcalled 2NT over East¡¯s 1H opening bid. At this vulnerability, such an overcall becomes considerably less appealing. N-S can only afford to go two down against a slam, which reduces the chance that N-S genuinely want to declare. Declaring is possible; North could hold Kxxx? xxxx? x? AKxx, on which both sides might make game. In a way, the heart void can be considered to work against 2NT, as the chance rises that E-W have a strong enough trump fit that 2NT will not keep them out of a good contract, while it may keep them out of a poor one. Give North, say, J10xx? QJ10xx? Qx? Ax. With 25 HCP and an eight-card major-suit fit, E-W left to themselves will probably reach 4H, which might fail even without the bad trump split, but seems certainly doomed with it. South¡¯s coming in with 2NT, if the E-W point division is something like 18-7, could keep West from bidding 3H on three-card support (if the division is 14-11, West will be able to make a limit raise via cue-bidding) and stymie strong East, effectively trading a defensive plus for an offensive minus.
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Over an unusual 2NT, West is not short of options. 3M is competitive only, with 3m used to show invitational-or-better hands, clubs tied to hearts and diamonds to spades, here 3C showing a heart raise and 3D showing a spade suit. 4M is competitive with more offensive potential than 3M. 3NT is not often seen, as, with both minors covered, one might well be open to doubling to show interest in defending. The only sensible meaning left for 4m is a splinter raise.
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If South passes 1H, West might either splinter or show the spades. Either could prove pivotal to reaching the appropriate contract. East could hold AQx? AKxxx? Ax? Jxx for an easy 7H make, one easier to find after a 1S response (despite the strong support and playing potential, the hand is too jacky for a strong jump shift). 1H-1S; 2NT-3H; 3S-4NT finds the spade queen as well as the four key cards. 1H-4D; 4S-5C; 5D-5S and East has run out of steam. After 2NT, the emphasis on the control of the opponents¡¯ suits emphasizes value in the splinter. East finds West¡¯s key card with the trump queen, and then the spade king (specific kings are necessary if East is asking) ¨C 7H.
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West¡¯s ability to take control of the auction makes it difficult for interference (which is often so effective) to seriously incommode a Precision or Schenken 1C auction. North would have to have the sangfroid to compete immediately to 5C (especially against Jerik, if their West¡¯s call over 1C-2NT would only indicate controls; Precision could bid a natural 3S, over which East would bid 4H if possible and West would be off), which should be set more than small slam and may go down more than grand slam, leaving a narrow margin for gain. If left uninterrupted, the Precision auction would begin 1C-1S; 2H-3C, West showing Qxx or better in hearts but at most three controls. East might be tempted to try 3S next (a winning move if West holds KQxxxx Qxx xx Ax), but loses space if West shows only one top honour, which could be the king or the queen). A 3D question is answered by 3NT to show second-round control, then 4C-4NT showing first-round control. East can then find the spade king with 5S-6D (confirming that the diamond control is a singleton). 7H will face at worst Kxxxx? Qxx? x? Axxx, which should be enough. East¡¯s last alternative would be a general shape check with 3H, but West would go to 4H to show extra trump length. East would like this, but would not have the room to find the club ace, spade king and singleton diamond.
