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.