Constructive Bidding
Robert Todd
(577) Jump Shift Structure

When Opener makes a jump shift into a new suit with their second bid, it is a strong bid that creates a game forcing auction. This is a good bid because it ensures we reach game, but it is a bad bid because it eats up a lot of bidding space without fully describing our distribution. This is a problem. One of the most difficult opening hands to describe to partner is the unbalanced single-suited (one 6+card suit) hand with 18-19 HCP.  This is one of the strongest hands that does not open the bidding 2♣.  With this hand we usually open our suit at the 1-level and after partner responds at the 1-level, we lie in a minor suit.  If our one suit is a Major, then we show our strength by making a jump shift into 3♣, even when we have very few ♣ (as few as 2 cards.)  With this bid we create a game forcing auction (showing our values), but we distort our shape (partner expects that we have at least 4 cards in the ♣ suit). This can cause some confusion with partner if they have a large fit for our ♣ suit.  We would like to have a way to let partner know that this jump shift is done on a single-suited hand, not on a two-suited hand.  Let’s look at a system that helps us improve our jump shift methods.

(577) Jump Shift Structure
Constructive Bidding
Robert Todd
(576) Kokish Over Strong 2C

Balanced hand bidding is relatively easy. We can usually describe our hand to partner by opening 1NT or rebidding 1NT. This lets partner know both our points and our hand type with either our first bid (when we open 1NT, the best situation) or with our second bid (when we rebid 1NT).  However, if we have a big balanced hand then we need to have tools for describing our hand as well.  These usually involve the use of 2NT – as a rebid, an opening bid, or even a rebid after having opened the bidding 2♣.  But this does not solve all our bidding problems when we have these large balanced hands.  Let’s look at these auctions in detail, see some of the issues, and then look at a useful gadget called Kokish to help us bid better.

(576) Kokish Over Strong 2C
Competitive Bidding
Robert Todd
(575) Freebids by a Passed Hand

When partner makes a bid and we choose to bid a suit of our own, it is called a freebid. In most normal situations freebids show values (called positive freebids) and are often forcing 1-round. We’ve all heard the saying -- a new suit is forcing by an unpassed hand.  Unfortunately, this is not always true, but it is often our agreement. Let’s look at freebids made by a passed hand and see how the fact that we have already passed changes these situations.

(575) Freebids by a Passed Hand
Competitive Bidding
Robert Todd
(574) Fit-Showing Jumps

Jumping in the auction eats up a lot of bidding space, which is likely to make communicating with partner more difficult.  Since our jump bid may make future communication more difficult, it should have a specific meaning.  When partner opens the bidding, Responder’s jump shifts can be used to show a variety of different types of hands.  We need to decide, as a partnership, which ones we want to use. We will choose different agreements for different situations.

(574) Fit-Showing Jumps
Competitive Bidding
Robert Todd
(573) 2NT Raises in Competition

One of my favorite sayings is “2NT is a convention, not a contract.”  In specific situations, Responder can use 2NT as conventional raise of Opener’s suit.  Sometimes we need to choose between several different conventional methods for competitive auctions.  Here we look at our options for how to best use 2NT.

(573) 2NT Raises in Competition

NT Play Webinar

(121) Declarer Play - Notrump: Length vs. Strength

(121) Declarer Play - Notrump: Length vs. Strength

In all contracts, but especially in Notrump, developing a long suit into winners is a highly effective way to make our contract.  We will look at these options and compare them to establishing tricks the old fashioned way (with our High Cards) and see how we can combine these two skills to improve our play.