Friday, November 01, 2002 11:28 PM

Hand Evaluation – Systemic ( Jump Preferences )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Generalizations in Bridge are good because they are easy on the memory . In Standard Goren , jump preferences were always strong and forcing . In modern bidding , jump preferences are never forcing unless in the XYZ structure. This generalization is good in that an alarm should ring whenever they occur at the table . The bid should always have a special meaning . Even playing “serious 3NT” does not mean the principle of fast arrival is dead ,  just modified to show a “picture bid” . Some  examples

 

1♥          1♠

2♣           3♥         not forcing as did not bid 4th suit forcing first

 

1♦           1♠

1NT        3♦        forcing as 2 way new minor forcing understandings are in effect . A picture bid showing exactly 5-5 with a slam try.

 

1♥           1♠

2♣           4♣    ?           This auction has 3♣ as invitational and 4th suit forcing (2♦ ) to possibly show a strong club raise .    In my opinion this is an idle bid that should be put to good use.   Our preference is KCB .

 

1♥             2♣

2♦             4♦    ?           2♣ is forcing to game . 3♦ is absolutely forcing

    so 4♦ is an idle bid   Our preference is KCB.

 

1♦             1♥              XYZ understandings in force ( 3 bids at 1 level ) . This is a slam try .

1♠             3♠                  

 

1♣            2♣

2♦            4♣   ?              3♣ is absolutely forcing with your inverted minor

so 4♣ is idle . Make the bid  KCB

 

1♦             1♥

2♦              4♦    ?             3♦ is invitational so you could have bid a new

suit to force. 4♦ should be RCB  .

 

            In some partnerships these jump preferences are a distributional force instead of a HCP force . Pounding the auction past 3NT with these bids is too single handed for my liking so I prefer to play them as KCB. I will never see the logic of jumping past 3NT to show a forcing raise in a minor . A quiet 2♠ bid then supporting diamonds will do nicely in the above hand.

 

O.K. What about jump preferences in the majors after you have forced to game by making a 2/1 ? As I have mentioned in previous articles, these bids should show 4 trump & a reason you did not Jacoby or splinter in the first place .

 

1♠        2♦

2♥        3♠          2♠ is absolutely forcing so what is 3♠ ?  This should  show 4 trump with good diamonds . This is the popular “fit showing jump”   bid in a different manner as a non passed hand.

 

Jump preferences after reverses are rare so have a special meaning.

 

1♣               1♠

2♦                4♣  ?           3♣ is absolutely forcing after a reverse so 4♣ is KCB   

 

1♦               1♠

2♥               4♥             3♥ is strong after a reverse  , 2NT then supporting hearts is weak

    so 4♥ should have a special meaning . Lots of  distribution with no controls. 

 

2♣                2♦               No outside controls . Control must be in trump suit.

2♥                4♥

 

2♣                2♥               Nothing , so lets get this over with.

2♠                4♠                       

 

1♥                1♠             Principle of fast arrival . no slam interest.

3♦                 4♥

 

1♠                 1NT

3♦                  4♠               Some play this as an exception to fast arrival however most do not.

 

 

Anyway , playing 2/1 , 4th suit forcing , new  minor forcing & inverted minors all make jump preferences as strong forcing to game bids extinct. XYZ brings jump preferences as strong back in vogue . Make sure your partner is on the same wavelength.