Monday, June 04, 2007 3:02 AM
Diamond
Strong Jump Shifts
PITBULLS:
By
definition , a strong jump shift into diamonds
can only occur after you have opened a major.
If you have found a way to show strong jump shifts in clubs after a major
opener , either by bidding 2NT ( 5-4-3-1) or 3NT ( 5-4-2-2 ) you can include diamonds in the multi purpose club SJS.
This means that a 3♣ strong jump shift would show all strong jump shifts except ironically clubs (unless
distributional with clubs - bid 4♣ after the relay ) . Once you have bid 3♣
& partner takes the relay to 3♦ , there are two types of diamond strong jump
shifts you can show. A 3NT
bid would now show a diamond jump shift with 4 diamonds & 4♦ after the 3♦ relay would show 5♦ & a hand unsuitable for 3NT.
The
advantages of such a scheme should be obvious. This means a jump shift into
diamonds is invitational. This could show a hand ♠AKxxx ♥x ♦AKxx ♣QJx or a 5-5 like ♠x ♥AKxxx ♦AKxxx ♣xx . This means that responder does
not have to stretch after 2♦
as partner can not have an invitational hand. The sequence 1♠-P-1NT-P
2♦-P-2NT-P
3♦-P-
is clarified as being a weak 5-5 as you did not leap to 3♦ originally.
You
hold ♠xx ♥KQ10
♦Qxxx
♣10xxx so after a 2♦
rebid you just pass or bid 3♦
to keep out the balancers. If partner jumps to 3♦ originally , you can take a shot at a 3NT game. Right now a 2♦ rebid is ambiguous. A hand ranging from 10
HCP (5-5) to just under a strong jump shift. An invitational jump shift gets
your side off to a clear unambiguous start.
With
strong 3 card support for partner’s major , you forget about the strong jump
shift into diamonds. You open 1♥
with ♠AKx ♥AKxxx
♦AJxx
♣x and partner responds a spade. I would bid 3♣ and when partner bids 3♦ , I would bid 3♠ rather than 3NT which shows
diamonds. More important to confirm the major fit , in my opinion, anyway.
This
style to
use jumps as invitational or suit oriented fits in with our scheme that jumps
are not strength showing bids. Fast arrival & jumps actually rarely show
strength. They show good suits or invitational values rather than strength.
This diamond treatment takes pressure off the forcing NT which needs all the
help it can get.