Friday, December 16, 2005 4:02 AM

Hand Evaluation – Systemic ( Weak Jump Shifts )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            We like jump rebids by responder to be forcing to game & show a good suit. If you do not have a good suit , you can make a 4th suit forcing to game bid & bid your suit. Partner now knows your suit is not semi-solid or solid. The jump rebid virtually “sets the trump suit” .

 

1♦-P-1♥-P  

2♦-P-3♥   . 3♥ is a game force with a semi-solid or solid suit. ♠Axx ♥KQJ109xx ♦Kx ♣x . This bid replaces the Goren strong jump shift by responder & is referred to as “recovering” the useful form of the strong jump shift ( good suit) .

 

            This understanding comes at a price. Jump rebids by responder in her own suit are no longer invitational. What replaces the invitational bids ? Tom Gandolfo’s solution is to scrap weak jump shifts & play “invitational jump shifts”. Weak jump shifts are just bid by responding at the one level & rebidding your suit. Jumps to the 3 level in a major after a minor opener is a splinter.

 

            My partner & I have had to adjust our Weak Jump Shifts to a more robust HCP range so the negative inference of rebidding our suit at the two level shows invitational hands . Our weak jump shifts can be quite healthy right up to the invitational range. We also use 2NT as the only forcing bid after a WJS. Our responses are graded because the range is quite extensive from a good 4 to a bad 8 HCP.

 

            Our approach to one level rebids is to play XYZ which helps us identify invitational hands. If the auctions stays at the one level , we use 2 way new Minor Forcing. ♠x ♥AQJxxx ♦Kxx ♣xxx  Partner opens 1♣

 

1♣-P-1♥-P

1♠-P-2♣-P

2♦-P-2♥-P

 

            The 2♣ bid shows all invitational hands & partner must relay to 2♦. 2♥ or 3♥ now describes your hand.If partner rebids her suit at the 2 level, you just rebid your major suit so partner plays you for an “invitational jump”. As a passed hand or after overcalls ( partnership agreement) , weak jump shifts automatically turn into fit showing jumps . You have already opened your WJS hand a weak 2.

 

            I think “recovering the strong jump shift” is worth adjusting your weak jump shifts. There are no free lunches for system designers.