2007-10-28 04:53
 
Hand Evaluation - Recovering SJS ( Minors )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Back in the early days of Bridge , a strong jump shift by responder showed your slam try intentions with one bid. If partner opened a major & responder had a huge hand with clubs or diamonds,  they made a strong jump shift. Over time this type of bidding became extinct with most partnerships. We think it is still useful to “recover” the strong jump shift in the minors also . This “recovering the strong jump shift” must have a good suit as well as slam going HCP’s. This strong jump shift will only occur in 2/1 auctions.

 

            I screwed up an auction pretty good by not making my intentions clear playing with Dora tonight. Dora opened 1♠ , I held ♠A ♥x ♦QJ10x ♣AKQ1098x  which is an old fashioned strong jump shift in clubs. I bid 2♣ , Dora bid 2♥ so now what ? I should bid 4♣ which is “recovering the strong jump shift” with a minor .   I am showing my slam try so it simplifies the auction for partner. She holds ♠9876xx ♥AKxx ♦Ax ♣J so with all her controls , she can accept the slam try by bidding 4♦.

 

            I think 4NT by opener should be to play so you need a partnership understanding that 4♦ is Kickback or a Q bid. Same with responder jumping to 4♦ ,  after a 2♦ 2/1. A 4♥ bid is a Q bid or Kickback & 4NT to play.  My partners & I play a rebid of a minor 2/1 , as non forcing over a major ,  so we definitely need a jump to recover a strong jump shift. With a lesser forcing to game hand,  we just bid the 4th suit or NT. Anyway on this hand , I bid 3♦ so we ended up in 4♠ making when 6♣ is cold. At least we did better than our opponents who reached 6♠ J

 

       There is a case for making a jump by responder in a minor ( 2/1 auction) to be KCB in that suit. If you just wanted to suggest a slam , you would take it slowly with a 4th suit instead. In the era of jumps to 4NT by responder being quantitative , KCB is probably the best way to play the jump bid in a minor.

 

          Modern bidding still needs fixes. Borrowing from the old days when appropriate is a good idea. If you use a jump shift for a splinter , you need to find a way to recover the useful form of the old fashioned strong jump shift. Jumping to 4 of your minor after responding a 2/1 is not an elegant solution but it is workable. Just remember that partners 4NT is telling you that we are supposed to be in 3NT & now she must play it better L