(512) Thinking and Responding: Jump Shifts After 1-Level Openings - Weak and Invitational

This Week in Bridge

(512) Jump Shifts after 1-Level Openings:  Weak & Invitational

© AiB                                                                 Robert S. Todd
Level:  3 of 10 (1 of 6)                                      
robert@advinbridge.com

 

 

General

When partner opens the bidding at the 1-level and we make a jump shift this is usually used to show a long suit. For a jump shift to the 2-level, the modern approach is to use this as a Weak Jump Shift (WJS).  A WJS is a mix of a preemptive response and a constructive response.  This approach to bidding follows the general rule that “good hands go slow” to preserve bidding space and effectively communicate with partner.  For a jump shift to the 3-level, we are unlikely to want to get that high with an extremely weak hand.  The modern approach is to use this jump shift to the 3-level as an Invitational Jump Shift (3/1 Invitational).  Let’s see how these jump responses work.

 

Non-Competitive Auctions

When Responder makes a 2-level WJS, it is a weak bid, usually showing 0-5 HCP and a 6+card suit.  (Responder can have a bit more when vulnerable, about 3-6 HCP.)

 

Examples of Jump Shift Auctions at the 2-level

  • 1♣          2♦

  • 1♣          2♥

  • 1♣          2♠

  • 1♦           2♥

  • 1♦           2♠

  • 1♥           2♠

 

 

Destructive Weak Jump Shifts

This WJS, showing a long suit, may preempt the opponents out of the auction (the destructive effect of a WJS) when partner has a minimum balanced opening bid.

 

Example 1           

1♣          P             2♠           __?

In this auction the opponents may have a hard time finding their fit or even entering the auction.

 

 

Constructive Weak Jump Shifts

A WJS may also allow the partnership to reach a game that might have otherwise been missed if Responder passes with a weak hand and finds Opener has a good hand with a large fit for Responder suits (the constructive effect of a WJS).

 

Example 2           

1♣          P             2♠           P
__?

♠ KT93
♥ AK82                                                 
♦ AQ                                                     
♣ K83

With this hand, Opener may jump to 4♠ and find a reasonable game that might have otherwise been missed.

 

 

Jump Shifts at the 3-level

It is usually not best to use a jump to the 3-level as a weak bid, both because it is unlikely to be safe to get the auction so high with such a weak hand and because we would rather use these 3-level bids in a different way.  Some of the more useful treatments for 3-level jump shifts are 3/1 Invitational, Bergen Raises over a Major, Fit Showing Jumps, etc.  But the natural common approach is the 3/1 Invitational agreement.

 

 

3/1 Invitational Jump Shifts Examples

After a 1-level opening bids, a jump shift by responder (single jump shift, not a double jump shift) to the 3-level shows a 6+card suit and about 9-11 HCP.

 

Examples of Jump Shift Auctions at the 3-level

  • 1♠           3♥

  • 1♠           3♦

  • 1♠           3♣

  • 1♥           3♦

  • 1♥           3♣

  • 1♦           3♣         

 

 

Jump Shifts in Competition

Weak Jump Shifts at the 2-level are even more effective when the opponents interfere in our auction, either with an overcall or a takeout double.

  • 1♣          X             2♠          

  • 1♣          1♦           2♠          

These WJS fit with the general rule that “jumps in competition are weak.”

 

In competition, jump shifts to the 3-level are not needed as invitational.  Instead, in competitive auctions these auctions return to being weak jump shifts.

  • 1♣          1♠           2♦            Non-jump Freebid, 5+♦ and 10+ HCP.

  • 1♣          1♠           3♦            Weak Jump Shift

  • 1♠           2♦           3♥           Weak Jump Shift

  • 1♥           X             3♦           Weak Jump Shift

 

Notice that we do not need invitational jump shifts in competitive auctions because we do not have 2/1 GF bids in competition.

 

 

Conclusion

The idea of using a jump shift at the 2-level to show a strong hand with a strong suit is not a common agreement anymore because with that hand, Responder can just start with a 1-level response and slowly describe the hand.  Instead, a 2-level jump shift is used to show a long suit and few HCP.  This is an effective tool for showing a long suit while not giving partner the impression of too many values.  We do not use a jump shift to the 3-level as weak, because a weak hand is less likely feel safe going to the 3-level. Instead, we use it to show length and almost enough strength to make a 2/1 GF bid.  Make sure that you have thorough discussions with partner about the meaning of jump shift to different levels and both in and out of competition.