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Tag: jacoby

Jacoby 2NT

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.

Here is a video of me bidding sample Jacoby 2NT hands.

Here is the Jacoby 2NT convention in video format

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

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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