counttrick

"If you use Invitational Jump Shifts, you can't use the Splinters like you described (at the 3 level). How would you show them in your system? These are NOT fit showing jumps, they are independent suits, not strong enough to make a 2/1. " You are correct that I cannot use both. Sadly, life is always about choices. I'll just have to live without Invitational Jump Shifts.

I'm not sure my answer will help you that much because it is based on a convention that is not widely used called Compressed Bergen. Without boring you to tears, we respond 2NT to a major suit opening with 4+card support regardless of strength (the 9 card fit should make us "Law Protected"). The exception is splinters, but those now occur one level lower (1S - 3C, etc.). As a result, 4 level jumps are now available for new meanings, and the one I like (and it helps your dilemma) is fit-showing jumps. In your sample hand that held AKJT9 of diamonds, I would jump to 4D, promising 4+ card spade support, game values, and tricks in diamonds. I hasten to point out that the suit needs to be quite good in order to make such a bid. I would not bid 4D, for example, with AKxxx. A suit as good as AKT9xx is probably good enough, but I might be more comfortable if my spade support were better than xxxx or Jxxx. If you want more info on Compressed Bergen, you can ask for the complete file by e-mailing me at dgolds1946@aol.com. Dennis Goldston

My partner and I are looking at our follow-on bids after opener begins with 1C/1D, partner responds 1H/1S, and opener jumps to 2NT. We open 14-16 no trumps, and, therefore, our jump to 2NT can be made on a bad 17 to a bad 19 (we usually open any reasonable 19 count, balanced, with 2NT). We have looked at Wolff Sign-off bids (which I understand is Bridge World Standard now), and I'm lukewarm about them. My partner objects to Wolff, primarily on the grounds that he would like the following sequence to be non-forcing: 1C - 1H/1S - 2NT - 3C. His argument is that the modern style of responding with light values combined with our one point range reduction for our 2NT jump makes an "escape" bid necessary. I'm not completely sold on that argument, but it does have some merit. I am looking for suggestions as well as comments on Wolff Sign-off bids from players who have some experience using them. Thanks. Dennis Goldston