Interference over Jacoby 2NT

[jmc]

Do you and partner have good agreements after interference over your Jacoby 2NT auction? We have tried to come up with our own but didn't think of anything too great. Please post some suggestions to handle intereference.

 

Ty!

 

jmc

[ArtK78]

A very simple method which is fairly standard in my area is make the bid you would have made without the interference if that bid is available. Double with shortness in the opponent's suit. Pass otherwise.

[awm]

I prefer the following approach:

 

(1) Double is penalty-oriented. This tends to show values in their suit.

(2) Bidding on shows shortage in their suit, among other things.

(3) Notrump bids show honor control of their suit.

 

1♥ - P - 2NT - 3♠:

 

X = spade values, suggest defending, deters slam if partner is short spades (partner may pull to 4♥); partner normally will leave this in with 2+♠ or a poor hand for slam

3NT = spade cuebid, promises ♠A or K

4m = cuebid, also promising singleton or void in spade

4♥ = singleton or void in spade, likely not a very good hand (or no minor suit control)

Pass = no first or second round spade control, not suited for double, forcing

 

1♥ - P - 2NT - 4♠

 

X = suggest defending, could have spade values or just a low ODR hand

4NT = ace or king of spades, good hand for slam

5m = cuebid, also promising singleton or void spades

5♥ = competitive, not really a slam try, but guarantees singleton or void spades

Pass = neutral, usually partner will X with spade length (2+♠) and bid on with shortness (0-1♠); can be a good hand if no spade control

[hrothgar]

One quick comment:

 

It seems clear that the Jacoby 2NT has established a forcing pass. It might very well make sense to use a Pass - Double inversion where

 

1. Pass is forcing and shows penalty oriented hands [Pass followed by pull shows something special]

 

2. Double shows one set of takeout oriented hands (or flexible hands)

 

3. Bidding shows some other set of takeout oriented hands

[han]

The Martel structure that Arend and I stole from has nice rules over interference. Maybe Jan could post what they play after interference these days.

[jdonn]

The one thing I know is every expert I have ever talked to about this has some way to penalize the opponents (usually double, but sometimes pass with an inversion like Richard mentions.) People come in on the sickest hands on this auction, you need to have a shot to get them.

[kenrexford]

The one thing I know is every expert I have ever talked to about this has some way to penalize the opponents (usually double, but sometimes pass with an inversion like Richard mentions.) People come in on the sickest hands on this auction, you need to have a shot to get them.

One of my partners, who is an expert, notes this as well, with the addition that almost no non-experts have a way to double. Thus, he will overcall four-card suits for a lead (and for preemptive effect) quite frequently.

[gwnn]

double is always takeout unless we have found a fit. we have found a fit. double is penalties. rest is natural. i mean everything is natural

[Mbodell]

A very simple method which is fairly standard in my area is make the bid you would have made without the interference if that bid is available. Double with shortness in the opponent's suit. Pass otherwise.

Another similar very simple method that retains the penalty double but otherwise is similar. Double is penalty oriented while if the bid you would have made is available you can make it. Then the left over bid is pass which shows a response to J2NT that you can't make over the interference and a hand that doesn't look suitable to penalize the opponents. Usually this means you would have bid what the opponents bid at the 3 level.

 

I'm sure there are better methods for pairs that discuss it, but the above is pretty darn easy to remember and keeps the penalty double.

[JanM]

The Martel structure that Arend and I stole from has nice rules over interference. Maybe Jan could post what they play after interference these days.

Sure. I don't think this has changed in a long time. As someone said, one thing that is high on the priority list is penalizing the opponents - it's amazing what people will bid with in this position. So we use DBL as Penalty and Pass to promise 2 cards in the opponent's suit, so partner can DBL. Also, it makes a difference whether their bid is below or above 3NT. So:

 

DBL of an overcall is always penalty.

 

After 1M (P) 2NT (Bid below 3NT):

P shows at least 2 cards in opponent's suit. (step by responder asks for SPL: none, low, high)

Cheapest suit = extras, SPL in opponent's suit

Next two suit bids = some extras, low other SPL, high other SPL

3NT = extra values, no SPL, but not interested in hearing a penalty dbl

4M = minimum, SPL in opponent’s suit

1M-(P)-2NT-(3M): This is treated as if they had made a 3-level overcall in the other major, rules above apply.

After 1M (P) 2NT-(3NT): 4m = SPL

After 1M (P) 2NT (4♣-4M): P shows at least 2 cards in opponent's suit.

4M = minimum, SPL in opponent's suit

Cheapest other suit = extras, SPL in opponent's suit

[ArcLight]

>(step by responder asks for SPL: none, low, high)

 

 

What is SPL? Splinter?

 

>Next two suit bids = some extras, low other SPL, high other SPL

 

Does this mean that over 3♣:

 

3♥ = splinter in Diamonds

3♠ = splinter in other major

[jmc]

A special thanks to awm, Hannie, and Jan for suggesting specific defenses. These seem much better than what we hacked up ourselves. I really appreciate it.

 

jmc

[JanM]

>(step by responder asks for SPL: none, low, high)

 

What is SPL?  Splinter?

Sorry, yes SPL is my shorthand for splinter.

 

>Next two suit bids = some extras, low other SPL, high other SPL

 

Does this mean that over 3♣:

 

3♥ = splinter in Diamonds

3♠ = splinter in other major

Yes

[Trinidad]

My partner and I see the Jacoby 2NT bid as an asking bid: "I have support, what can you tell me about your hand?" Since we like to make our lives as difficult as possible we have a complicated response structure. :)

 

But the agreement on what to do with interference is pretty simple and the same for interference over all these types of bids:

 

We will use PODI, as long as they interfere at the level where PODI will help us to get all the responses in without passing the level that we are forced to.

 

If they interfere higher than that X=PEN, Pass is (obviously) forcing, the rest is natural.

 

Rik

 

P.S. PODI means

Pass: Step 1 response (3♣ in the case of Jacoby 2NT)

Dbl: Step 2 response (3♦ in the case of Jacoby 2NT)

rest: step 3 and higher

[whereagles]

My partner and I see the Jacoby 2NT bid as an asking bid: "I have support, what can you tell me about your hand?"

Opposite a precision 1M, that's totally correct.

 

Opposite a normal 1M opener, that's, in my opinion, a lesser strategy. The idea should be:

 

1M-2NT = "I have support and a relatively flat hand. Is there anything else you'd like to know about my hand or do you wanna pass the bucket to me?"

 

This allows for the player that has extras to do some asking. Be him opener or responder. Example:

 

1M 2NT

3♣ 4M

 

3♣ = I have a min hand, so I'm not really interested in a slam.

4M = sounds fair. let's stick to game then.