Responder can make a strong jump-shift (1C by partner - 2S by you) with one of four types of hands:
1 - Strong hand (17+ points) with ONE long, strong suit (at least 2 of the top 3 honors).
2 - Intermediate strength (13-16 points) with a long, solid suit (AKQ) and good controls.
3 - Balanced slam-invitation (17 to 19 points) with a good 5-card suit.
4 - Slam-try-or-better values (16+ points) with a good 5+-card suit AND support for opener's suit (4+-card support for a minor, 3+ cards for a major).
This "four-way" meaning for a jump-shift response was originally proposed by the late Paul Soloway, and the agreement is often called "Soloway Jump Shifts".
Do NOT jump-shift if you hold:
A two-suited or three-suited hand.
A weak suit (missing 2 or more top honors).
A very strong, balanced hand (20+ points).
After partner (responder) makes a strong jump-shift, here are meanings of your rebids:
Raise of responder's suit (1D-2S-3S) = One of the top three honors in partner's suit and at least 2-card support (Qx or better). If you do not raise, you deny a top honor in his suit.
Rebid of your opened suit (1D-2S-3D) = Extra length and good honor strength in your suit.
New suit (1D-2S-3C) = Concentrated honor strength, but not necessarily length.
Notrump rebid (1D-2S-2NT) = Balanced minimum with stoppers in both unbid suits.
The meanings of your second bid – and which of the four hand types above that they show -- are:
Non-jump rebid of your suit (1C-2S-2NT-3S) shows #1 --
17+ points and a long, strong suit.
♠AKJ10854
♥2 ♦AK3
♣K2
Jump to 4 of your major (1C-2S-2NT-4S) shows
#2 –
14-16 points and a long, solid suit.
♠AKQ10843
♥2 ♦AQ4
♣92
2NT or
3NT (1C-2S-3C-3NT) shows #3 – 17-19 pts, good 5-card
suit, semi-balanced distribution.
♠KQJ104
♥AJ4 ♦KQ3
♣Q2
Bid of opener's suit (1C-2S-2NT-3C) shows
#4 -- 16+
points, support for partner's suit and semi-balanced distribution (no singleton).
♠KQJ104
♥A4 ♦AJ
♣Q1092
New suit (1C-2S-2NT-3D) shows
#4 -- 16+ points, support for partner's suit and a singleton in the bid suit.
♠AQJ104
♥AK4 ♦3
♣QJ102
4NT is Key-Card Blackwood for your suit (usually hand-type #1).
For a more detailed discussion of strong jump-shift responses, see Parts 1 & 2 of the ACBL Bridge Bulletin article "The Strong Jump Shift Response: New Tricks for an Old Bid".
A jump shift by a passed hand (Pass–1C–2S) should always show:
Good 5+-card suit – 3 of the top 5 honors for a major, 2 of the top 3 for a minor.
Support for partner’s suit – 4+ cards if he opened a minor, 3+ cards for a major.
Maximum high-card points – usually 10-11, but may be fewer with very strong suits.
Opener usually places the contract after a responder’s passed-hand jump shift. Your options are:
Pass – minimum point-count with a poor fit.
Rebid of your opened suit (1D-2H-3D or 1S-3C-3S) -- Weak hand with no interest in game.
Jump to game (1C-2S-4S) – To play. Can be a minimum with a good fit.
Jump to 3NT (1C-2S-3NT) -- To play. A maximum with stoppers in unbid suits.
Raise of partner's suit (1C-2S-3S) – Strong hand with support, asks for cuebid.
New suit (1C-2S-3D or 3H) -- Cuebid for slam in your opened suit. (To show a slam-try for responder's major, use the direct raise).
JUMP in a new suit (1D-2S-4C or 1H-3C-4D) -- Splinter for the major, showing a singleton in the suit.
For a more detailed discussion of passed-hand jump shifts, see Part 3 of the ACBL Bridge Bulletin article "The Strong Jump Shift Response: New Tricks for an Old Bid".
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