Invitational Jump Shift

[kriegel]

Does anyone have a good follow-up structure after responder makes an invitational jump to the 3-level? Specifically which bids by opener should be natural and which should set the trump suit? Is there a standard structure?

 

1♠ - 3♥ natural, inv

3♠ is forcing, of course

3NT natural

but what about 4♣/4♦? It seems like there needs to be a way to show minors but also a stronger heart raise. Would a 3♠/3NT inversion have any merit here?

 

It's a little easier after a minor because a raise can be natural with some slam interest, right?

1♠ - 3♦ natural, inv

3♥ natural, 5-5(?)

3♠ forcing

3NT offer to play

4♣ natural(?)

4♦ slam interest

 

Thanks.

[Zelandakh]

I do not play this but how about:

 

3♠ = clubs or a one-suited slam try (then after 3NT: 4♣ shows clubs)

3NT = to play

4♣ = diamonds

4♦ = slam try in hearts

4M = to play

[PhilKing]

After a recent catastrophe, I now play standard Townsend here (I already played it, but had not informed partner).

 

After 1♠-3♥:

3♠ 6+ spades including all very distributional hands. Could be (and indeed was) 6-6 for instance

4♣/♦ Cues agreeing hearts

 

With 55 you just pass or raise hearts, of course. You can still get to the minor fit on freaks. If the 3♥ bidder now bids 3NT, there is no problem - 4m now shows a GOOD five-card suit, and at least 65. If partner bids beyond 3NT you could play that he shows fragments, but I would just play cues, personally.

 

And don't bother playing anything conventional here - it just caters for the wrong hands at an unnecessary memory cost.

[steve2005]

I like the idea of INV JS. mentioned briefly on pg 220 of 2/1 GF by A Grant & E Rodwell. Even 3♣/3♦ can be used as INV at cost of Bergen or STR J/S. However, no follow up is given.

I assume to make this jump you are short in openers suit, otherwise make a 1N forcing response.

 

So, I would say opener's rebid over 1♠-3♥ are:

3♠ - non-forcing 6+ card suit with short ♥

3N - to play

4♣/4♦ - natural and forcing 5-5 or better

4♥/4♠ - to play

4N - 1430 or RKC for ♥ may end up in ♠ with good spades but ask is for ♥

 

If you use 3♣/3♦ as INV, you could use 3M as constructive and 2N as limit or forcing. Thus you would still have the Bergen meanings but would lose 1M-3M as preemptive.

[fromageGB]

If you use 3♣/3♦ as INV, you could use 3M as constructive and 2N as limit or forcing. Thus you would still have the Bergen meanings but would lose 1M-3M as preemptive.

No, this doesn't work. If you use 3♣ to be 7-10 constructive raise with 4 card support, 3♦ by opener is invitational. You lose that if you bid 3M. Also if you currently play 2NT as GF, the follow-ons are different to a merely invitational 2NT so you lose those as well. So that's 3 losses.

[mgoetze]

Also if you currently play 2NT as GF, the follow-ons are different to a merely invitational 2NT so you lose those as well.

In general, this is not a loss, but rather a vast improvement. ;)

[steve2005]

No, this doesn't work. If you use 3♣ to be 7-10 constructive raise with 4 card support, 3♦ by opener is invitational. You lose that if you bid 3M. Also if you currently play 2NT as GF, the follow-ons are different to a merely invitational 2NT so you lose those as well. So that's 3 losses.

Think you misunderstood

3M=constructive raise

2N=limit raise or better (includes forcing raises, yes will need different responses but is certainly playable, take Jordan over takeout X for example)

2M=5-10 pts 3 card support or 5-7 pts 4 card support

[kriegel]

With regard to 1M - 2NT being invitational-plus, Larry Cohen's rebid structure (July 2010 Bridge Bulletin) works very well.

 

1M - 2NT

3♣ any minimum

.......3♦ GF relay

.......3M limit raise (opener can pass or raise)

3♦ non-min w/ shortness

.......3♥ relay

3♥ non-min 5-4-2-2

.......3♠ relay

3♠ non-min 6-3-2-2/7-2-2-2

3NT non-min balanced (or 18-19 balanced if you open 1NT w/ 5-card majors)

4-level 5-5, goodish suits, non-min

 

After the relays, you just pattern out in steps. The full structure is here https://web.acbl.org/BridgeBulletin/showIssue.do on page 12. Obviously you have to modify it slightly with inv+.

[jallerton]

After a recent catastrophe, I now play standard Townsend here (I already played it, but had not informed partner).

 

After 1♠-3♥:

3♠ 6+ spades including all very distributional hands. Could be (and indeed was) 6-6 for instance

4♣/♦ Cues agreeing hearts

 

With 55 you just pass or raise hearts, of course. You can still get to the minor fit on freaks. If the 3♥ bidder now bids 3NT, there is no problem - 4m now shows a GOOD five-card suit, and at least 65. If partner bids beyond 3NT you could play that he shows fragments, but I would just play cues, personally.

 

And don't bother playing anything conventional here - it just caters for the wrong hands at an unnecessary memory cost.

 

This all seems very sensible. The same basic structure can be played after the (uncontested) sequence 1♥-1♠-3♥.

[JLOGIC]

Yep I just play 4m as a cue

[mgoetze]

With regard to 1M - 2NT being invitational-plus, Larry Cohen's rebid structure (July 2010 Bridge Bulletin) works very well.

While widely disseminated by Larry Cohen, I am given to believe that the inventor of this method is Chip Martel. (Reference: http://www.reginabridge.com/conventions/j2nmar.txt )