Monday, March 07, 2005 10:20 PM

Hand Evaluation – Systemic ( 3 ♣ Strong Jump Shift )

PITBULLS:

The artificial 3♣ SJS hand is best when partner responds a major & you have 3 card support for that major or in rare cases 4 card support. These auctions are where the artificial 3♣ SJS are the most useful. The 3♣ SJS after a forcing 1NT is a different animal. The bid can be a specialized bid showing all 5-5 SJS or the strong 1 suited majors.

1♠-P-1NT-P

3♣-P-3♦

3♠ strong spade hands

1♠-P-1NT-P

3♣-P-3♦

3♥ SJS 5♥’s

1♠-P-1NT-P

3♣-P-3♦

3NT SJS 5♣’s

1♠-P-1NT-P

3♣-P-3♦

4♦ SJS 5♦’s

When you open 5 card majors 5-3-3-2 & 15-17 with 1NT you make an idle bid in your system .

The 1♠-P-1NT-P

2NT does not have flat hands in the invitational range so most play 2NT as 18-19 to conserve bidding room. However, if you “bite the bullet” &

play

1♠-P-1NT-P

3NT as the 18-19 balanced hands you have made 2NT a truly idle bid.

A use for this idle 2NT becomes obvious to clarify your 5-4-3-1 SJS hands with clubs exactly & all the 5-4-3-1 diamond hands. All 5-4-3-1 SJS’s are bid with a 2NT raise after a forcing 1NT. Responder has a 3♣ query bid available saying describe your 5-4-3-1 hands.

1♠-P-1NT-P

2NT-P-3♣

3♦ all diamond 5-4-3-1 hands

3♥ 5-1-3-4 stiff ♥

3♠ 5-3-1-4 stiff ♦

3NT 5-2-2-4

3♥ after 3♦ is a further asking bid

3♠ says 3 ♥ fragment

3NT shows 3♣ fragment

The 5-4-3-1 heart hands are shown via a different route on a pending article by Perry Khakar on improving the forcing 1NT.