Friday, October 15, 2004 6:00 AM

Hand Evaluation – ELC ( Jump Q Bids )

PITBULLS:

There are not enough bids in Bridge to describe solid suits. The gambling 3NT opening or overcall is a good descriptive bid. When opened , there is a solid suit with no outside controls. When overcalled there is a solid suit with a stopper in the opponents suit. What are some other bids that show solid suits ? At unfavourable vulnerability ( vul vrs nv ) a normal pre-empt shows a solid or semi-solid suit or else bidding to the 3 level would be suicidal against nv opponents.

What if you had a solid suit but no stopper in the opponents suit ? This is where the jump Q bid comes into play. In the balancing , direct or sandwich position , a jump Q shows a solid suit & asks partner to bid 3NT when he holds a stopper in that suit. Partner can have outside cards for this bid and quite often does. When you do not have a stopper in that suit & a natural major to bid , you can introduce that suit. The reason is that you are forced to the 4 level anyway so you might as well describe your hand along the way.

The jump Q bid is extremely helpful in making your T/O doubles disciplined so equal level conversion can work. You never make a T/O double with a very strong single suiter if you can help it Not making a T/O double with a single suited hand at any level makes the equal level conversion concept work . With the equal level conversion concept , when you double & convert partner’s bid at the same level , a 2^nd suit is shown. At the one level , make very strong overcalls with one suited hands to make equal level conversion work. If the rank of the suits force you to the 2 level or higher & you have defensive strength with many HCP’s ( no solid suit ) , rules are made to be broken. You make a T/O double & when partner makes a bid you convert or jump to a higher level. This jumping shows an invitational two suiter. Same idea with the rare double with a single suited hand you could have bid at the one level. If game might be missed , double & convert at a higher level by jumping multiple levels. You have the added inference your suit is not solid or you would have chosen a jump Q bid.

♠Ax ♥AQ ♦AKx ♣QJ1098x , they open 1♠. Overcalling 2♣ with this hand is ludicrous bidding. You double & partner bids 2♦. You can bid 3♣ which is at a higher level so you show the strong single suited hand without a solid suit. This sequence is not a two suiter as you would have jumped in hearts . If they had opened 1♥ & partner responds 1♠ after your double, you simply bid 2♣ as you never make an equal level conversion double of one major without the other one. If your club suit were solid with this many HCP’s , choose a jump Q bid initially rather than a double ♠xx ♥AQ ♦Axx ♣AKQJ10x . Bridge is a game of suits so use tools to show solid suits !!

Part of this jump Q bid treatment for strong one suiters is to play “coded minors” to show controls in responders hand. Since you are not playing this hand in 3NT & are forced to the 4 level in a minor anyway ( sometimes even a major) the lower ranking minor shows zero or one controls and the higher ranking minor 2 or more controls. This assists the jump Q bidder in making a game or slam decision. It is like a “pre Blackwood” so sets the stage for partner to use Blackwood.

1♠-3♠-P-? ♠xxx ♥Axxxx ♦xxx ♣xx You bid 4♦ to show your 2 controls so partner with ♠x ♥Kx ♦AKQJxxxx ♣Kx bids 5♦ or even Blackwood. Over 4♣ showing zero controls he just retreats to 4♦ .

When the opponents open a weak 2 bid , a Q bid at the 3 level follows the same one suiter principles directly or in the balancing. Bid 3NT with a stopper but if you do not have a stopper show your controls via coded minors.

Showing a solid suit is the best way to get to 3NT . The auction goes 1♥-P-1♠-? And you are in the sandwich position with ♠QJx ♥x ♦AKQJxxx ♣Jx . You have a choice of jump Q bids. Make a jump Q in the suit that you require the stopper so partner will bid 3NT . The make quite often or end up being a cheap sacrifice. In the balancing spot , the jump Q bid can be a very good hand with 9 tricks available , if partner has a stopper in openers suit. Vulnerability dictates how close to 9 tricks the jump Q bidder has. When favourable vulnerability , the jump Q bidder can just be describing a solid suit for pre-emptive reasons. At unfavourable vulnerability , there is usually 9 tricks available if partner has a stopper in the opponents suit.

When partner has initially bid a suit , the opponents have bid a suit , a jump Q bid is of course a splinter. 1♦-1♥-3♥ is a singleton heart . If we had wanted to grope for 3NT, the western Q bid would be used after making a natural bid of some sort. The THRUMP double or the western Q bid double is another way of showing a solid suit . 1♥-3♠-X ♠x ♥xx ♦AKQJ10xx ♣Jxx . The 3NT double ( Thrump ) invented by Bergen asks partner to bid 3NT with a spade stopper. A 4♦ bid with these hands is lame by driving you to an 11 trick contract going down when 3NT is cold.

Bridge is a game of suits . A solid long minor equates to excellent 3NT games making. The more bids you have that describe solid or semi-solid suits the better off the partnership will be. Sometimes the opponents open with you holding a long solid major too strong to pre-empt to 4 of a major. Having a jump Q bid as natural in a major is a waste of a good bid. You need a bid to describe a super jump to game in a major. I held ♠AKQ1098xxx ♥x ♦KQx ♣void , they opened 1♣. Leaping to 4♠ pre-emptive is a silly bid & a T/O double is worse. You bid 3♣ , partner bids 3NT. You bid 4♠ so that describes a NAMYATS type 4♠ bid. If partner shows controls instead of bidding 3NT , you may be off to a spade slam.

What are jump Q bids after a T/O double either at the one level or two level ? The same thing as the bid describes a solid suit somewhere. Experts add a wrinkle that the jump Q bid denies a control in the bid suit. 1♠ by the opponents , you double with ♠Ax ♥QJxx ♦xxx ♣AKxx . Partner holds ♠xx ♥Ax ♦AKQJ10x ♣QJx so she bids 3♠. Partner bids 3NT with a stopper so you try 6NT.