Sunday, July 23, 2006 1:35 AM

Invitational Jump Shifts

PITBULLS:

Tom Gandolfo has introduced “invitational jump shifts” . In the Goren days , jump shifts by responder were forcing and slam invitational. Modern bidding prefers jump shifts by responder to be weak or even splinters. Tom prefers the middle ground and has them all invitational & natural. Playing jump shifts Tom’s way has a number of advantages. 1♦/♣-P-2♥/2♠ keeps invitational bids at the two level. This leaves a jump by responder as a strong jump shift type of hand 1♦-P-1♠-P 2♣-P-3♠ .

Tom runs the whole gambit . 1♦-P-3♣ , 1♣-P-2♦ invitational , 1♠-P-3♥ invitational and 1♥-P-2♠ as invitational. A simple response and rebid of the suit is a weak hand. If you pre-empt to the 3 level , it shows a weak pre-emptive type of hand. 1♦-P-3♥/3♠ . There is a 2/1 advantage by playing 1♠-P-3♥ invitational as now 1♠-P-2♥ & a 3♥ rebid is a game force.

As a passed hand , invitational jumps are not needed as you have a 2/1 showing invitational hands. 1♠-P-2♥/2♦/2♣ is obviously invitational (no Drury ) as is 1♦-P-2♣ or 1♥-P-2♣/2♦ . Using the jump shifts as a passed hand as fit showing is more useful for a jump shift. Splinters as a passed hand are a no no. 1♣/♦-P– 2♥/♠ are fit showing jumps. 1♠-P-3♣/♦/♥ are fit showing jumps. 1♥-P-2♠/3♣/3♦ are fit showing jump shifts.

I am not sure if Tom has a built in 2NT after an invitational jump in the major as a specialized bid. You probably do not need it as invitational as you just pass or bid 3NT. 2NT could mean stiff asking or an Ogust type of enquiry . Tom ??