Weekly Hand Analysis - Mark Olsky - March 4, 2024 - Jump

 

Question: 

Should N jump to 3C (or 2 NT) instead of bidding 2C?

Mark: 

Strong jump shifts have fallen out of favor, in my opinion for very good reasons. When one partner opens the bidding and the other has a hand good for a traditional jump shift, there's usually a good slam to be bid, as here. The jump takes up lots of bidding room and takes away space for a highly descriptive auction. This hand is a perfect case for the "2/1" system. If  N-S are playing this, the original 2 club response means the partnership is forced to game and slow, descriptive bidding can lead to slam. North was much too conservative anyway. Most experienced players would look at the North hand, "hear" partner open 1 spade and make sure of getting to slam. Even a slam invitation is not enough this time. North should re- assess this hand with 18 HCP and realize it becomes at least a 21 point hand in support of a known 5 card spade suit. The 4 spade bid was a closeout, not even inviting a slam. ^ spades directly would be a better bid. 

  For experts, the challenge of this hand is to get to the excellent grand slam. In a very high level game, 6 spades making 7 would be well below average. The magical 2 suited fit means that not only 7 spades, but 7NT has a 90% or better chance of  making. (7 clubs as well) Only experts are likely to have the bidding tools to get there with full confidence, especially the NT. In duplicate, 6 NT making 7 would score above average, because more than half the field will be in 6 spades only.

 Here's how the expert auction would go, assuming they play "2/1": 1S - 2C as was done here. Now South, with 3 clubs to the Q supports by bidding 3 clubs. There's no worry about being dropped at 3 clubs. Remember that both partners are committed not to stop below game. 

This is too complicated for the majority of regular bridge players. Just remember that when you hold a rock of a hand like North in this case, don't try to describe the hand to partner and expect partner to make the decision. The stronger, more complex hand is typically the one that should be the decider, as is the case here.