Wednesday, February 07, 2007 6:31 PM

Hand Evaluation – 2/1 ( Jump Preferences )

PITBULLS:

Most experts play fit showing jumps as a passed hand only. In the early days of Bridge , fit showing strong jump shifts were very common. You announced a good suit , a strong hand with a fit simultaneously by making one bid. In today’s game , it is best to look for spots in your system where you can make “pseudo” fit showing jumps. Evaluating fits , of course , is a basic hand evaluation skill.

Partner opens 1♠ , you hold ♠Qxxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AKQJ10x . Bidding anything but 2♣ is silly as this is the main feature of this hand. Partner bids 2♦ so you leap to 3♠ to show a fit showing jump in the modern era. With a weaker hand , go all the way to 4♠ after your 2/1. This is a “picture bid” called the 2/1 jump preference. This is the fit showing jump but the “jump” part comes later. The jump preference after a 2/1 is an idle bid anyway & splinters get in the way of immediate fit showing jump shifts unless a passed hand.

Partner opens 1♥ , they overcall 2♦ so you have ♠AQJxx ♥Qxxx ♦xx ♣xx . Do not bid 3♦ to show limit raise or better or even worse leap to 4♥. Bid a “pseudo fit showing jump” by bidding 2♠ & then leaping to 4♥ when you have a chance. The opponents jam to 5♦ & partner has ♠Kxx ♥AKJ10xx ♦x ♣Axx . You have made life easy for her to bid 6♥.

Forcing pass theory is aided by pseudo fit showing jumps. By showing where you live first , you make partners decision at a high level very easy. Partner has ♠AKxxxx ♥xx ♦KJ10xx ♣void & overcalls 1♠ to the heart opener. They bid 3♥ & you have ♠QJxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AQ1098x . Do not bid something silly like 4♠ or 4♥. Make a “pseudo fit showing jump” of 4♣. This bid is forcing so you will have a chance to bid 4♠. They now compete to 5♥ over your eventual 4♠ contract so you make a forcing pass to partner who doubles on the strength of her club void . Two down , instead of you going one down with the wrong forcing pass decision.

Over T/O doubles , remember there are always opponents lurking. Partner opens 1♥ , RHO doubles & you have ♠xx ♥AQJxx ♦x ♣K10xxx . Some people play fit showing jumps at the 4 level. I would splinter to 3♦ to help partner in her competitive decision if they bid 4♠. A splinter is also a pseudo fit showing jump as you are telling partner how the hands fit. Do not splinter with a weak hand. Jut leap to game as a splinter turns on forcing passes.

How hands fit it is a huge part of the game of Bridge. Showing where you live assists partner in defensive ( forcing pass decisions) or offensive decisions ( game or slam bidding ) . Concealing your hand is a good poker strategy but in Bridge you have a partner. Let partner in on the nature of your hand with fit showing bids.

Steve Lawrence & I had a hand showed a 2/1 jump preference in action. I held ♠xx ♥xxx ♦J10 ♣AKQJxx & Steve opened 1♥ vul. With a mild heart fit & a good suit , I decided to force to game. I bid 2♣ , Steve bid 2♦ & I leapt to 4♥. This was passed out to the last player who doubled. Passed around to Steve who held ♠AQ ♥Jxxxx ♦AKxx ♣xx . Knowing that I had virtually solid clubs, is a great hand evaluation advantage. Looking at Steves hand , the double must be the old fashioned “trump stack” variety. It is an easy pull to 4NT which makes for +630. The doubler had ♥AKQ109 & would take 5 natural heart tricks !!