Game bids over partner’s opening
bid of 1 of a major
suit.
1. The direct bid to 4
of a major
Shows 4 card
or longer support in the major, with no slam ambitions. Those using the losing
trick count it is a hand of 7 losers, and often around 10- 13pts. The bid can be made on a highly
distributional hand. Opener can ask for aces or cue bid in a new suit if a slam
in the major is likely
2. A Splinter bid
This is a triple jump in a new
suit and shows a singleton or void in the new suit, with at least 4 cards
in opener’s major suit. It’s a better hand than in section 1. It is usual
not to make a splinter bid if the singleton is an ace, and be cautions about
holding a singleton honour such as a king /queen. Partner if interested in
a slam, cue bids aces in order,
or signs off in 4 of the agreed major suit
3. The Jacoby 2NT
convention.
Players learn that a response
of 2NT shows 10-12 pts. It is better first to respond in a new suit, then bid
2NT to shows 10-12pts, and this avoids getting too high if opener has a very
light opening bid. The Jacoby 2NT response is a better use of this bid, and
shows 4 card support plus high card strength, without a void/singleton, with
values for at least a game in the major suit. Partner can sign off in game or
show any singleton at the 3 level. A bid of a new suit at the 4 level shows a 5
card suit, and interest in a slam. Since the 2NT bid is forcing to game, a
simple re-bid of the major suit by opener shows a strong hand, and a jump
to game in the major shows a weak opening
hand
These 3 different raises enable
you as responder to show different game going support hands. The direct raise
shows a distributional hand, the splinter bid shows a shortage, and 2NT shows
high card support but no shortage. If partner’s suit is overcalled, you can
still make a splinter bid, or raise direct to game,
but not bid 2NT