Tuesday, September 10, 2002 1:34 AM

Strong Jump Shifts

PITBULLS:

Strong jump shifts need special understandings in an established partnership .

Lets start with a forcing 1NT auction . 1♠ 1NT

3♦ 3♠ ( forced preference & weak ?, 4♠ stronger - limit raise ? 2 card suit ? )

This is one instance where a jump to game by responders should be strong and violate the principle of fast arrival .. You were planning to give a limit raise with 3 card support when partner jumped shifted so this jump will describe that hand .This is because we all use a forcing NT to show a weak hand with spades or a limit raise with spades . You should bid 3♠ with a weak hand and/or a doubleton spade to suggest that your hand is not suitable for 3NT. If partner bids 3NT after hearing this , it is probably easier to get 9 tricks than 10 . This treatment also clarifies the implied Q bid at the 4 level. Since you did not leap to game in partners major , the Q bid is more likely in support of the second suit . This treatment also validates the 3NT bid as a place to play the contract with stoppers in the unbid suits. If you do not have a stopper in unbid suits and a weak hand , giving preference with two small at the level is safer.

Another ex 1♥ 1♠

3♦ 4♥ In this auction we do not have the "forcing NT confusion" anymore and 4♥ since it jamming room should be a minimum in accordance with the principle of fast arrival. This is how we think in most auctions when giving preference - we just have to realize that the forcing NT (above ) is an exception to the fast arrival rule .

Back to the forcing NT to discuss "implied Q bids". Implied Q bids imply a fit with one of the strong jump shifters suits . It does not matter which , it is just a way of showing extra . The rule of the "implied Q bids" is the 4 level . The strong jump shifter is not interested in your silly suit at the 4 level as you are past 3NT and partner has two suits of her own .

ex 1♠ 1NT

3♦ 3♥ This shows hearts as you are still at

the 3 level

1♠ 1NT

3♥ 4♣ xx KQxx xxxx KQJ this is the 4 level and you

are too strong to bid 4♥ after a strong jump shift !!

1♠ 1NT

3♥ 3NT xx xx xxx AKxxxx bid 3NT not 4 clubs

1♥ 1♠

3♣ 3♦ This is an automatic relay to let partner describe his hand

Be careful , since a number of fix hands exist in standard bidding . The major opener that is too strong to leap to 4 as a rebid is one of those hands. To describe these kind of hands , opener quite often manufactures a strong jump shift in clubs.

1♠ 1NT

3♣ 3♦ automatic relay

3♠ ( bells should start ringing now . 3♠ means that the 3♣

was just a noise and he has a strong spade hand )

1♠ 1NT

3♦ ? You have 3 types of diamond hands , weak , intermediate , strong. Remember that

partner is not interested in your suits at the 4 level. 4♣ is just a “noise” saying you have a strong diamond raise . 4♦ is an intermediate hand with diamonds and 5♦ ( fast arrival) means you probably should not have responded. 3NT is natural.

The strong jump shifter has KCB rights that the responder does not have . If responder supports a jump shifter at the 4 level it is just that – support . However , after a minor fit found at the 4 level , the strong jump shifter is allowed to use “Kickback” as KCB with a minor fit established .

1♠ 1NT 1♥ 1♠ 1♥ 1♠

3♦ 4♣ ( strong ♦) 3♣ 3♦ 3♣ 3♦

4♥(kickback ) 4♣ 4♦ ( Q bid ) 3NT 4NT ( quantitative )

4NT ( Blackwood)

Strong jump shifts quite often force preferences out of partner . Serious 3NT is not used in these auctions .

1♥ 1♠

3♦ 3♥

3NT ( to play , not a serious slam try )