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 ?