The Jacoby 2 No Trump Convention
The Jacoby 2 No Trump convention is a game-forcing raise of partner’s major suit (1 or 1) opening bid. The 2 no trump response shows 13+ points, 4-card support and asks partner to describe her hand further so that slam prospects may be judged accurately.
This convention is designed for use with 5-card major systems that use limit raises as a game invitation. Thus, the convention provides a game forcing major-suit raise.
After Partner Opens the Bidding (in 1st or 2nd. Seat) With 1 or 1, the Responder Bids 2 No Trump.
Opening Bidder’s Responses
· If the hand contains a singleton or void, opener bids that suit at the 3 level. (1 or 1 … 2 nt … 3♦ shows a singleton or void in diamonds).
· If the hand contains an additional 5-card suit, opener bids that suit at the 4 level. (1 or 1 … 2 nt … 4♦ shows an additional 5-card suit in diamonds).
· With extra values (17+ points), no singleton or void, and six cards in the opening major suit, opener rebids the major suit at the 3 level.
· With extra values (17+points), no singleton or void and 5 cards in the major suit, opener rebids 3 no trump.
· With minimum opening values (12 to 16 points), opener rebids the opening major suit at the 4 level.
A 2 No Trump Response by a Passed Hand
The convention is on only when the responder is an unpassed hand. Thus after a 3rd or 4th seat major-suit opening, a 2 no trump response loses is conventional meaning. After you have passed and partner opens the bidding with 1 of a major suit, your 2 no trump response is natural. It shows a balanced hand with 11 or 12 points.
Also, the convention is off with an intervening bid by an opponent.
Responder’s Second Bid
· After a 3-level response by the opener, any new suit bid by the responder shows a first-round control.
· First-round controls are shown up the line, with the most convenient suit shown first. By inference, any suit skipped shows no first-round control in that suit.
· A bid of 4 no trump is Blackwood, or key-card Blackwood, with opener’s major suit as the agreed trump.
· A bid of 4 of the opener’s major suit, shows no slam interest.
Here’s An Example
Opener Responder
♠ A K 8 4 2 ♠ Q J 5 3
♥ A J 3 2 ♥ K Q
♦ J ♦ A Q 6 4 2
♣ 10 9 8 ♣ 6 5
1♠ (1) 2 nt (2)
3♦ (3) 4 ♦ (4)
4 ♥ (5) 4 ♠ (6)
Pass (7)
(1) 12+ points and at least 5 spades
(2) 13+ points, at least 4 spades and game forcing
(3) Shows a diamond singleton or void
(4) Shows first-round control of the diamond suit and, by inference, no first-round control of the club suit.
(5) Shows first-round control of the heart suit
(6) Shows nothing further to add. If responder had a sure second-round control of the club suit, she might show it by bidding 5 clubs or simply bidding six of the agreed major suit.
(7) Shows satisfaction with game, knowing that the club suit is not controlled.
Here’s One More Example
Opener Responder
♠ K Q 8 4 2 ♠ A J 5 3
♥ A J 3 2 ♥ Q 10 4
♦ J ♦ A Q 6 4
♣ A 9 8 ♣ K 5
1♠ (1) 2 nt (2)
3♦ (3) 4 ♦ (4)
4 ♥ (5) 4 ♠ (6)
4 nt (7) 5 ♥ (8)
6♠ (9)
(1) 12+ points and at least 5 spades
(2) 13+ points, at least 4 spades and game forcing
(3) Shows a diamond singleton or void
(4) Shows first-round control of the diamond suit and, by inference, no first-round control of the club suit.
(5) Shows first-round control of the heart suit
(6) Shows nothing further to add. If responder had a sure second-round control of the club suit, she might show it by bidding 5 clubs or simply bidding six of the agreed major suit. Note that the king alone is not a sure second-round control, when the opening lead will come through responder 's hand.
(7) Key-card Blackwood in order to find out about the trump ace.
(8) I have two key-cards, without the queen of trump.
(9) The small slam looks like a good prospect.