Saturday, September 23, 2006 10:08 PM

 

Hand Evaluation – XYZ Jump Bids

 

PITBULLS:

 

            XYZ is a popular fix for the ugly 4th suit forcing auctions at the one level. The letters stand for 3 bids at the one level which with the rank of suits can only occur if partner opens a minor. The structure is therefore “minor orientated” so works exactly like the Cabay 2 way NMF. If you bid 2♣ that shows all the invitational hands , if you bid 2♦ that is forcing to game. XYZ also frees the jump shifts or jump preferences by responder as Goren like slam tries. We are again recovering the useful form of the strong jump shift by responder.

 

            Here is a hand from the Bermuda Bowl. ♠xx ♥AKJxx ♦AKQJx ♣x  opposite  ♠Axxx ♥Qx ♦10x ♣AQJxx .  Partner opens 1♣ , you respond 1♥ with partner bidding 1♠. All three bids have been made at the one level so XYZ comes into effect ( triggered) . You now bid 3♦ which reverts to Goren showing a strong two suiter with a slam try. Partner likes her Aces & the heart queen so she bids 3♥ rather than 3NT. Getting to 6♥ is now very easy.

 

            Jump preferences playing XYZ are now slam tries. Change the above hand to ♠x ♥AKJxx ♦Ax ♣K10xxx  , the first 3 bids remain at the one level. You now make a forcing slam try of 3♣ . This slam try makes investigation easy for getting to a grand slam in clubs. The beauty of the Goren method of forcing jumps is that you flash your slam interests immediately. Modern bidding does not do this very well. On this auction , you would have to make a phony 4th suit bid before supporting clubs. Even then , you are not necessarily showing slam interest. With the first hand you bid 2♦ , you hear partner alert as 4th suit forcing which may not show diamonds !

 

            Here is another hand where playing XYZ makes bidding easy. Partner opens 1♦ , you respond 1♥ with ♠Kx ♥AJ10xxx ♦AQ10x ♣A  . Partner rebids 1♠ , you bid 3♦ announcing your slam aspirations early. Partner co-operates with a 3♠ bid so you take control with 4♦ KCB . Partner bids 4NT showing 2 without. You bid 5♥ as a suit ask , partner bids 7♦ with her singleton heart. Partners hand ♠AQJ10 ♥x ♦KJ987 ♣Qxx. I hate 4th suit forcing .L