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Q:
If my partner opens major and I have a Jacoby 2NT hand and a splinter, which is better to bid?
A:
The answer depends are whether responder wants to be in charge and receive information about opener’s hand or wants to just describe their hand and let the opener be in charge. Let’s start by describing these two conventions to see what I mean by being in charge.
Splinter Bid: As responder, use a splinter bid to show 4+-card support for partner’s major with 12-16 points (including short suit/support points). When holding 17+ points, start with Jacoby 2NT. In other words, a splinter bid by responder is a limiting bid, describing their shortness and allowing the opening bidder to take charge and evaluate the value of responder’s shortness.
Jacoby 2NT: Use Jacoby 2NT to show 4+-card support for partner’s major with 12+ points and a balanced (semi-balanced) hand or 17+ points and an unbalanced hand. Responder uses Jacoby 2NT when he wants to know about the opener’s shape to better judge whether to sign off in game or bid on to slam.
With 12-16 points and shortness, responder usually chooses to use the splinter bid and use Jacoby 2NT with all other hands. Having said that, when deciding to ask for aces, you try to have the bigger point hand or the more distributional hand do the asking. Think about this bottom line when deciding whether to use a Splinter Bid or Jacoby 2NT.
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