Sunday, January 19, 2014

2-Over-1: Major Suit Raises – Part Four


With 13-16 Points and 4-Card Support

Many advocates of the 2/1 system use the "Jacoby 2 NT Forcing Raise" and "Splinter Raises". 

Jacoby 2 NT Forcing Raise:
• 4+ card support
• 13+ support points
• no void, no singleton


Opener, if he has a void or singleton, will bid 3 in his short suit after the 2 NT bid. With no short suit, opener will either bid a second 5-card suit on the 4-level or go back to the original trump suit. To go back to opener's original suit: bid 4 with 12-14 points (good); bid 3 NT with 15-17 points (better); bid 3 with 18+ points (best).

West                               East
♠ 8 6                              ♠ 7 3
A Q J 4 3                    K 10 9 8
K 9 8                           Q J 7
♣ K 5 4                         ♣ A Q J 3
            West         East
            1♥            2 NT (Jacoby 2 NT Forcing Raise) 
            4♥            Pass



If you respond with a Double Jump into a new suit, you are making a Splinter bid:

The Splinter Raise:
• 4+ card support
• 13+ support points
• a void or singleton
Double jump into your short suit

Responder's double jump shows support for the major opening and helps opener figure out if the slam is possible with less points than usual.


West                               East
♠ A Q J 4 2                   ♠ K 9 8 7
 7 6 5                           4
 A K 6 3                       Q J 2
♣ 8                                ♣ A J 7 6 5
            West         East
            1♠            4*
            SLAM!

* Splinter bid: void or singleton heart.

Note: Opener must alert the Jacoby 2 NT and Splinter bid responses.

©2014 Roberta Salob