Jacoby 2NT

Suppose partner opens 1♠, and you have the following hand:

♠ K1084

♥AJ7

♦ AQJ6

♣ 83

If you play limit raises (10-12 pts), you can’t afford to bid 3♠ since partner might pass. With 15 HCP plus 1 shortage point for the doubleton club, you want to reach at least the game level, even if partner has a minimum for the opening bid.

In keeping with the raise to 2♠ showing 6-9 points, and the raise to 3♠ showing 10 – 12 points, the most natural progression would seem to be to raise to game with 13 or more points.  This would give up the use of 4♠ as a preemptive raise (5 trumps and 6-9 pts), and would not leave room to explore for the possibility of a slam contract without getting past the game level.

Oswald Jacoby developed the idea of using the 2NT response to show a forcing raise.

This conventional response, known as Jacoby 2NT, is now very popular.

• A response of 2NT to an opening bid of 1♥ or 1♠ shows a game-forcing raise of the major suit and asks for a further description of opener’s hand.

This convention gives up the natural meaning of a 2NT response – a balanced hand with a desire to play in no trump. You are compensated by having more room to explore for slam when you have a fit and at least enough strength for game.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Responder needs 13 or more total points to use Jacoby 2NT

• Responder should have four–card support for the major suit to use Jacoby 2NT. With enough strength for the game level, but only three trumps, responder can start by bidding a new suit and then take opener to game in the major suit.

• Jacoby 2NT is only used in response to major-suit opening bids, 1♥ or 1♠. When partner opens the bidding 1♣ or 1♦, you are usually looking for a major-suit fit, or to play in no trumps, before agreeing to play with the minor suit as trumps.

Opener’s rebid after Jacoby 2NT

The first consideration is for opener to show shape regardless of the strength of the hand – either shortness in a side suit or length in a side suit

• The bid of a new suit at the 3-level shows shortness in that suit, a singleton or void (eg 1♥ p 2NT p 3♣/♦/♠ = a singleton or void in the suit bid)

• A jump to the 4- level in a new suit shows at least five cards in that suit, and a very good suit (eg 1♥ p 2NT p ♣/♦/♠  = a good second suit)

With no extreme distribution to describe (no singleton or void or second suit), opener makes a bid that describes the strength of the hand

• With minimum strength, (12-14), jump to game. It’s the most discouraging bid opener can make in terms of slam interest (eg 1♠ p 2NT p 4♠

• With medium strength, (15-17), rebid 3NT (eg 1♠ p 2NT p 3NT). That’s if you haven’t already described the hand by opening 1NT

• With maximum strength, (18+), rebid the agreed trump suit at the three level (eg 1♠ p 2NT p 3♠)

After opener has described the hand, responder can decide whether to pursue slam possibilities or settle for game in the major suit.