Jacoby 2NT

[rogerclee]

I think there is: it's awful to have to jump to game with your most common hand-type opposite an unlimited partner. If you make no other change, you should play either 3NT or 3M as the 12-14 balanced type.

In pickup partnerships I usually play that 3M = 6 trumps non-min, 3N = min balanced, and 4M = terrible min balanced.

[barmar]

In pickup partnerships I usually play that 3M = 6 trumps non-min, 3N = min balanced, and 4M = terrible min balanced.

So what do you use for the good hands with only 5 trumps? Or did you mean 3M = 6 trumps OR non-min?

[kenrexford]

One problem with Jacoby 2NT, BTW, is that it begs for intervention.

 

"We have nine trumps. You should be safe at the three-level in your fit. Please bid it, get your lead-director in, and interfere with our 16 pages of notes on what to do when you do not bid. Our discussion two years ago as to general principles for when you actually do intervene will surely be as sophisticated, and we will remember what we said back then."

[rogerclee]

So what do you use for the good hands with only 5 trumps? Or did you mean 3M = 6 trumps OR non-min?

Yes, sorry, 6 trumps or balanced non-min. I tend to not worry about 17+-19 balanced and just force to slam for better or worse.

[barmar]

I can't remember the last time someone interfered in a J2N auction.

[P_Marlowe]

I don't yet see much on whether the Jacoby 2NT bid is good or bad.

 

1.) What are the arguments IN FAVOUR of Jacoby 2NT? (Law of total tricks and game forcing auction could possibly be the first two).

2.) What are the arguments AGAINST Jacoby 2NT?

Hi,

 

#1 you need a forcing raise for openers major to be able to establish a

game forcing aucton to allow the investigation, if the partnership

has enough strength so that slam has a reasonable chance, i.e. to verify

that the 5 level is safe.

Using a jump to 2NT as the forcing raise only gives up the ability to bid

a natural 2NT, usually this is a bal. 10-12 hand.

Those hands have usually a 4 card minor suit, which can be bid instead of the

immediate 2NT, i.e. giving up the the standard meaning to get the forcing raise

is considered cheap.

#2 If you have another bid for the forcing raise, than you dont need to play Jacoby

2NT.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[mikeh]

I can't remember the last time someone interfered in a J2N auction.

This is an area in which I think the higher the level of expertise, the more likely it is that someone will compete.

 

Espcially at favourable, I think it a huge mistake not to bid at the 3-level, over J2N, with, say, a chunky 6 card suit. It often takes away bidding space, can serve as a lead-director, can allow partner to bounce, and can led to a save. And all but the most practiced partnerships will find themselves guessing as to what various calls mean by opener and responder....and since they know they have a vulnerable game bonus almost assuredly in view, it is difficult for them to settle for a penalty.

 

My experience is that one should strive to bid over J2N, without being insane.

[blackshoe]

Max Hardy argued that the "standard" J2NT, where responder can bid it with as few as 12 HCP, often makes the wrong partner captain. He suggested 2NT only with a good 15 or more, usually but not necessarily balanced. With 12+ to 15- balanced, he suggested inverted trump Swiss: 4♣ with good trumps, otherwise 4♦. He doesn't need those bids for splinters; he used under jump shifts (3♦ in response to 1♥, for example) and over jump shifts (3NT in response to 1♠, for example), dividing the splinters into 9+ to 12- and 12+ to 15-. With the 4m "trump Swiss" bids, opener is still captain.

[barmar]

My experience is that one should strive to bid over J2N, without being insane.

The same thing goes for strong ♣, and even 2♣. Unfortunately, the card gods don't always give you the nice suit to bid, and the vulnerability may be against you as well.

[Finch]

One problem with Jacoby 2NT, BTW, is that it begs for intervention.

 

"We have nine trumps. You should be safe at the three-level in your fit. Please bid it, get your lead-director in, and interfere with our 16 pages of notes on what to do when you do not bid. Our discussion two years ago as to general principles for when you actually do intervene will surely be as sophisticated, and we will remember what we said back then."

 

In one partnership our notes on intervention after Jacoby are nearly as long as our notes on an uncontested auction. People come in all the time.