Any constructive move in the invitational zone is initially a game try, but may subsequently turn out to be the first move in a slam try. Bidding is the same whether a major or a minor is agreed:
| side-suit | usually a splinter, showing a singleton or void in the bid suit, but not a stiff ace, kng or queen; if it cannot be – for instance, if the bidder has already shown more cards in the suit, explicitly or otherwise – it emphasises a good suit within the context of the bidding so far |
| 2NT | an unsplinter, a non-specific raise denying the ability to splinter but promising at least sound invitational values |
| raise | usually pre-emptive, based on trump length. |
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| 2 | pass | 2NT | pass | |
| 3 | | | | |
An impossibility, so a splinter setting diamonds. This is the only case where a splinter can occur below the invitational zone.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | 1 | pass | |
| 3 | | | | |
A pre-emptive raise with at least five trumps. Stronger West can splinter or unsplinter.
