Stellar Bridge

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Tag: jacoby

Jacoby 2NT

By

On 10 June 2020

In Conventions

So partner opens 1M (so one of a major suit 5+)….and assuming no intervening bids you now bid 2NT which is Jacoby 2NT. This is a game forcing bid showing 4 card Major support and a good 12 points plus.

Just to let you know that some people play different versions of this (see below for nuances)

The responses are:-

  • 3♣ – A hand with singleton/void in clubs – then a cue bid of 4♣ would show a void.
  • 3♦ – A hand with singleton/void in diamonds – then a cue bid of 4♦ would show a void.
  • 3♥ – A hand with singleton/void in hearts – then a cue bid of 4♥ would show a void OR 16+ points if 1♥ was the opening bid.
  • 3♠ – A non-minimum hand with singleton/void in spades – then a cue bid of 4♠ would show a void OR 16+ points if 1♠ was the opening bid.
  • 3NT – Better than minimum hand balanced (14-15 points)
  • 4♣ – A good 5 card suit (2 out of 3 top keycards)
  • 4♦ – A good 5 card suit (2 out of 3 top keycards)
  • 4♥ – A good 5 card suit if 1♠ was the opening bid or a minimum hand if 1♥ was the opening bid
  • 4♠ – A good 5 card suit if 1♥ was the opening bid or a minimum hand if 1♠ was the opening bid. This will show 65 shape in the majors.

One thing you should notice straight away is if you have two 5 card suit then you must have a singleton or void in one of the other two suits…so there must be a priority for these bids:

Priority of Openers Response
  • Bid a 5 card suit (as long as it has 2 out of top 3 honours)
  • Bid a singleton or void
  • Bid 3NT (shows a good 14-15 points)
  • Jump to 4 of a major to show weak (12-13 points)
  • Bid 3 of the major to show 16+

Obviously the last 3 are of equal priority…the point is shape showing bids are most important.

Alternative Versions
  • Some people use the suit bid to show extra length in the trump suit rather than 16+ points.
  • Bidding a second suit with only 4 cards in it rather than 5
  • Bidding a second suit without needing 2 of the top 3…but maybe decent suit such as AJ9xx
  • Playing Swedish Jacoby

Suppose partner gives a positive response then all bids after are considered cue bids or 4NT would be RKCB. It’s possible to play 3NT as ace asking or frivolous/serious 3NT…but when you’ve agreed a 8/9 card fit in a Major….it usually makes sense to play in 4 of the Major therefore you can use the 3NT as non-natural.

For a different version why not check out Swedish Jacoby.

Modified Swedish Jacoby 2NT

By

On 6 June 2020

In Conventions

So this is similar to a Jacoby 2NT bid…but different! It’s Swedish!

It’s also called other things: In Sweden it is called Stenberg 2NT, and in Denmark Bekkasin 2NT.

So partner opens 1M (so one of a major suit)….and assuming no intervening bids you now bid 2NT which is Swedish Jacoby. You can play it either game forcing or non-forcing to three of the major and shows possible interest in slam in that suit.

The responses are:-

  • 3♣ – Any minimum hand
  • 3♦ – A non-minimum with no singletons or voids
  • 3♥ – singleton clubs
  • 3♠ – singleton diamond
  • 3NT – singleton in the other major
  • 4♣ – void in clubs
  • 4♦ – void in diamonds
  • 4♥ – void in the other major

Suppose partner gives the negative 3♣ response…now 3♦ asks for singletons…

Again you bid step responses to keep the bidding as low as possible:

  • 3♥ – No singleton/void OR a void in spades if you’ve agreed hearts.
  • 3♠ – singleton club
  • 3NT – singleton diamond
  • 4♣ – singleton in the other major
  • 4♦ – void in clubs
  • 4♥ – void in diamonds
  • 4♠ – void in hearts

Unfortunately there is no room to show a void in spades if you have it if you have agreed hearts, without going past 4♥.

Again there are different ways of playing this system….this is my modification of Swedish Jacoby.

Any other bids are cue-bids and 4NT would be RKCB (4130).

Lets look at some examples

a)b)c)
♠ KQ1086
♥ 108
♦ 72
♣ AK73		♠ KQ1086
♥ A872
♦ K32
♣ 2		♠ AJ8643
♥ KJ5
♦ K742
♣ Void
♠ AJ54
♥ 62
♦ AQ854
♣ Q2		♠ AJ543
♥ 4
♦ AQ
♣ A9873		♠ K1097
♥ A2
♦ AQJ
♣ 7654

a) 1♠ -2NT – 3♣ – 4♠. The 3♣ shows a minimum and therefore you are no longer interested in slam and just sign off in 4♠.

b) 1♠ -2NT – 3♣ – 3♦ – 3♠ – 3NT – 4♥ – 4NT – 5♠ – 5NT – 6♦-7♠.

  • The 3♦ bid asks for further description
  • 3♠ now shows a singleton club
  • 3NT would be serious 3NT asking partner to cue bid
  • 4♥ would show the ace of hearts and deny the minor aces
  • 4NT would be RKCB (1430)
  • 5♠ would show 2 with the queen of trumps
  • 5NT is a king ask
  • 6♦ shows the King of diamonds
  • You eventually get to the good contract of 7♠

c) 1♠ -2NT – 3♣ – 3♦ – 4♦ – 4NT – 5♣ – 5♦ – 6♣ – 7♠.

  • 3♦ bid asks for further description
  • 4♦ now shows a void in clubs
  • 4NT would be RKCB (1430)
  • 5♣ shows 1 or 3….obviously 1.
  • 4♦ asks for the trump….knowing the partnership has a 10 card fit you pretend you have it and cue bid your kings by bidding 6♣
  • You eventually get to the good contract of 7♠

If you find Swedish Jacoby a little tricky then you mind want to play the normal Jacoby 2NT bid.

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