Sunday, October 08, 2006 11:13 PM

Hand Evaluation - Q Bids ( Past 3NT )

PITBULLS:

Jump Q bids , as discussed previously in articles, have their goal to get to 3NT with a solid suit . What about jump Q bids that go past 3NT ? These are defined by experts also around T/O doubles of one bids & weak twos.

The auction goes 1♠-x-P-4♠ so has partner decided to expose a psyche so is too lazy to pass 1♠X first ? No , partner is trying to tell us something. In Bridge , you do not need two or three bids to describe the same hand type or do you ? 4NT directly bid after a T/O double of a one bid or a two bid says pick a minor partner but does not show values. A jump to 5NT says pick a minor at the 6 level. What if you were slamish in the minors & had a control in their suit. Enter the jump Q bid at the 4 level to show that control.

Here is an auction from an expert pair in the Vanderbilt that impressed me.

2♥-X-P-4♥ The doubler held ♠AQx ♥xxx ♦KQx ♣KQxx , the jump Q bidder had

P-6♣-P-P ♠xx ♥K ♦AJ10xx ♣AJ9xxx

At the other table , the expert just Q bid at the 3 level & raised partners minor to game. The difference in the auction is one bid clarified the partnerships intentions immediately , the other auction did not.

Over weak two’s , this understanding is considered as part of standard Lebensohl. Quoting an article on Lebensohl from the Internet

“immediate jump cuebid (2♥-DBL-P-4♥) = Both minors (if the weak-2 was a major). If the opponent opened 2♦, a jump to 4♦ shows both majors. The jump cuebid shows game values & a control in their suit “

There is a 3^rd jump Q bid defined in this article on Lebensohl

“Lebensohl first, then cuebid at 4-level (4♥) = Two-suited slam-try with both minors. (If the opponent opened a weak 2♦, Lebensohl-then-4♦ is a slam-try with both majors.) This shows slam interest but no control in their suit.”