Saturday, December 02, 2006 8:21 AM


XYZ – Strong Jump Shifts

 

PITBULLS:

 

            If you have bought into XYZ which is triggered by 3 bids at the one level after a minor opening , I feel you do not need weak jump shifts anymore . With XYZ theory , bidding & rebidding your major is “drop dead” & not even an invite ( 2♣ shows all invitational hands ) . In other words , a weak jump shift. If you bought into the Wolffe relay & partner rebids 2NT , weak jump shift hands can be described by the Wollfe relay first followed by bidding your suit if your “weak jump shift” was that bad.  If opener has a 2♣ rebid , rebidding your major is a weak jump shift hand. If you have an invitational major hand , bid 2♦ first  then your major. If partner rebids 2♦ , bid 3♣ as a NMF and retreating into your major shows an invitational hand. In other words NMF is forcing to game unless you rebid your major which is invitational. Of course , a jump in your major by responder is a Goren strong jump shift.

 

 

The strong jump shift by responder is actually a very practical  bid. The bid describes your intentions immediately .  Once you have the bid off your chest , you can let partner be captain of the auction. Unfortunately the strong jump shift by responder just takes up too much bidding room. Experts though are always on the look out to find places where they can recover the strong jump shift & strong jump preference & add it to their system.

 

Here is a hand where my teammates got to a slam off two Aces. Playing XYZ , the hand is simple to bid ♠KQx ♥J10 ♦AKQxxxx ♣J    Partner opens 1♣ , you respond 1♦ . Partner rebids 1♥ so there have been 3 bids at the one level. Natural jump bids by responder playing XYZ are strong jump shift hands. You bid 3♦ to show your slam going hand but partner signs off in 3NT. As you have shown your slam intentions & good suit, you can safely pass.

 

            The fit showing jump was a popular strong jump shift in a bygone era. This bid is recovered by playing XYZ as jump preferences show a strong jump shift hand. You hold ♠AKxx ♥AKQxx ♦xx ♣xx  , partner opens 1♦ ,so you respond 1♥ . Partner rebids 1♠ so you have made  3 bids at the one level. XYZ applies so you bid 3♠ . You have shown the old fashioned strong jump shift hand of bidding 2♥ followed by supporting partner’s suit.

 

            Jump preferences used to be strong & slam going hands in the Goren era. Partner opens 1♦ , you held ♠AKJxx ♥xx ♦AKxxx ♣x  . You would jump shift to 2♠ & support diamonds in those days. A simple way to describe your monster hand. Playing XYZ it is also simple.  

 

1♦-P-1♠-P

     1NT-P-3♦-P  .

 

We have made 3 bids at the one level so 3♦ is a slam try. 2 way NMF is just a special case of XYZ. XYZ is a modern fix for the ugly 4th suit forcing at the one level. Playing 4th suit forcing you would have to bid 2♠ . Yech !!

 

The fit showing jump shift is now part of Bridge World Standard but as a passed hand only. This is because they still want their weak jump shifts. However , playing XYZ with our other understandings do we really need them anymore  ? The fit showing jump after a minor opening is an excellent descriptive bid. As a non passed hand , we could play it as a game force. It has the unique ability to show where you live in your major  showing a fit for partner’s minor at the same time.  2NT by the opener asks responder for a stiff. Superb !  A raise of responders major to the 3 level is forcing to game with slam interests.

 

            I think weak jump shifts are over used indicating a red flag for the opponents to take action. Responding one of a major with a WJS hand has an initial tactical & deceptive value as you have not announced your weakness to the opponents. This fit showing jump shift after a minor opener is still another effort on my part to recover another useful form of the Goren strong jump shift. A strong jump shift in a new suit at the two level & announcing a fit for partner at the same time. This is how the jump shift was used in the early days of Bridge. The bid also announces your intentions early for the elusive minor suit slams. You are trading this bid for the luxury of the weak jump shift that now can be shown by a variety of other means. After a major opener , 1♥-P-2♠ and 1♠-P-3♥ are still weak jump shifts m the minor jumps are still masked splinters.

 

            Lets try an auction .  ♠xx ♥Axx ♦Qxx ♣AKxxx      opposite   ♠Axx ♥x ♦AKxxx ♣Qxxx

 

Normal auction 1♣-P-1♦-P

                           1NT-P-?

 

Our auction    1♣-P-2♦-P                               1)  Stiff asking

                        2NT (1) -3♥ (2) –P                  2)  Stiff heart

                        4♣(3) – 4NT (4) – P                3)  KCB clubs established before 4 level

                        5♥ (5) – 5♦ (6) – P                   4)  2 with the queen

                        7♣ (7) - P- P –P                       5)  Specific king ask

6)     Diamond King

7)     I can count 5♣ tricks , 5 diamond tricks , 1 spade , 1 heart and 2 heart ruffs for 14 tricks

 

            Comments anyone ?