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- THE JUMP TAKEOUT RESPONSE
-
-
- Opener Responder
- 1NT 3C/3D/3H/3S - slam try
-
- The jump takeout shows a good suit of at least five cards, probably
- an unbalanced hand, and slam interest. It is not a slam try in
- competition:
-
- South West North
- 1NT 2C 3D/3H/3S
-
- If the 2C bid is natural, the jump is invitational at match point
- scoring, forcing at IMP scoring. A cue bid is used for game-forcing
- Stayman. See WHEN THE OPPONENTS INTERVENE.
-
- After a jump takeout opener rebids 3NT if he lacks adequate trump
- support for responder's suit. He need not fear missing a slam by
- bidding 3NT with a maximum, because responder will bid again if
- all she needs is a maximum opposite.
-
- With trump support, opener's action is different for majors and
- minors. If the suit is a major, opener raises with a minimum, makes
- a notrumper cue bid or jump raise with a maximum:
-
- Opener Responder
- 1NT 3H - slam try
- 3S/4C/4D - notrumper cue bid, heart support, maximum hand
- 3NT - lacks heart support, may be minimum or maximum
- 4H - heart support, minimum hand
- 4NT - Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB)
- 5H/6H - extra good hearts and extra good hand, good controls
-
- Opener Responder
- 1NT 3S - slam try
- 3NT - lacks spade support, may be minimum or maximum
- 4C/4D/4H - notrumper cue bid, spade support, maximum
- 4S - spade support, minimum hand
- 4NT - RKCB
- 5S/6S - extra good spades and extra good hand, good controls
-
- Notice that opener's action is opposite of that taken when a
- Stayman or UHC bidder shows a major suit. In that case opener makes
- a notrumper cue bid with a minimum, not with a maximum, when he
- has support. Responder can therefore choose the sequence that is
- appropriate for the strength of his major suit slam try, using the
- jump takeout with a minimum hand for slam, Stayman or UHC with
- better hands.
-
- Jumps in a minor suit, however, are treated differently: Raises are
- stronger than a three-level notrumper cue bid (but four-level cue
- bids are strong):
-
- Opener Responder
- 1NT 3D - slam try
- 3H/3S - notrumper cue bid in support of diamonds, may be minimum
- 3NT - denies diamond support, may be minimum or maximum
- 4C - notrumper cue bid in support of diamonds, maximum hand
- 4D - diamond support, good hand
- 4NT - RKCB
-
- The bidding is similar after a jump takeout of 3C. The reason that
- a four-level bid shows a maximum, of course, is that game in
- notrump has been bypassed. With a minimum and trump support, opener
- must make a three-level notrumper cue bid, even when lacking an
- appropriate suit for that action. "Minimum" and "maximum" evalua-
- tion must include a consideration of fit and side suit controls,
- not just HCP.
-
- If responder bids notrump after hearing a notrumper cue bid in
- support of a minor, he probably has a singleton or void in that
- suit--the hand does not fit:
-
- Opener Responder
- 1NT 3D
- 4C 4NT - short clubs, sign-off
-
- Otherwise, 4NT by responder is Roman Key Card Blackwood, even if
- opener rebids 3NT. If responder wants to invite game with a 4NT
- bid, he must start with a transfer instead of a jump takeout. A 4NT
- bid by opener is RKCB unless he has bid 3NT, then 4NT, an obvious
- sign-off.
-
- A notrump bidder is allowed only one notrumper cue bid per auction.
- Any further cue bid shows an ace. See NOTRUMPER CUE BIDS.
-
- The degree of fit is important after responder shows two suits.
- With S-Q3 H-A54 D-AK76 C-K1087, opener rebids 3NT when responder
- jumps to 3S. If responder then bids 4C, this minimum hand becomes
- a maximum. A jump to 6C is quite in order. With KQ of hearts
- instead of the ace (more points, but less fit), opener would just
- sign off with a 4NT bid over 4C.
-
- Opener should bid aggressively with many controls and a ruffing
- value. With S-A3 H-KJ7 D-A10987 C-A103 she should try for slam when
- responder makes a jump takeout of 3H, even though it is a minimum
- notrump opening. A raise to 5H is about right. Conversely,
- secondary strength in side suits should be downgraded.
-
- Strong jump takeouts by a passed hand are necessarily less
- invitational to slam than those by an unpassed hand. In a minor
- suit they tend to suggest that a minor suit game might be safer
- than a notrump game.
-
- Gerber is never used after a jump takeout response.