JORDON CONVENTION
Welcome to the
Convention-of-the-Week Club.
May 21, 2002
Preview:
You pick up:
ª Axx
© xx
¨ KQxxx
§ JTx
Partner opens 1D. The next hand
doubles. What is your call?
Convention of the Week: Jordan
------
The jump to 2NT over a
takeout double shows a limit raise in partner's suit.
This allows you to use the jump to
the three level in partner's suit
as preemptive. It also gives room
for partner to make a game try at
the three level or slam try at the
four level (a jump could be used
to show shortness).
ª AKxxxx ª QJxx
© KQx © Axx
¨ x ¨ xxxx
§ Axx § Kx
1S
dbl 2N pass
4D
Over 4D, responder should go to
slam. He has all working values.
After a minor suit opening, the
jump to 2NT has a serious flaw: It
might wrong-side 3NT. For example,
our preview hand:
ª Axx
© xx
¨ KQxxx
§ JTx
Partner opens 1D. The next hand
doubles. What is your call?
If 3NT becomes the final contract,
which often happens after a
minor-suit fit is established, you
want the opening bidder to declare
the hand. Suppose partner holds
something like:
ª QJx
© Kx
¨ AJxxx
§ AKx
3NT is a great spot, but only if
the opening lead is coming up to
this hand. If responder declares,a
heart lead will defeat the contract.
Some people reverse the meaning of
2NT and the jump raise of a minor.
They play:-
1D
dbl 3D = limit raise
1D
dbl 2N = preemptive raise in
diamonds
This is nice, up to a point. One
day you might make a preemptive
raise, and partner, with a giant
hand wants to play 3NT. Again,
you've wrong-sided it!
ª AQJx ª x
© Kxx © xxx
¨ Kxxx ¨ AQTxx
§ AQ § xxxx
1D
dbl 2N
Using 2NT as the preemptive raise
may also backfire!
There are other variations, such as
using a jump to the OTHER minor
as a limit raise and this keeps 2NT
free for some other meaning.
1D
dbl 3C = limit raise
1C
dbl 2D = limit raise
This is preferable, though it does
use up the 3C and 2D bids, which
might otherwise be played as
natural or fit-showing. No matter which
toy you choose, you'll have to give
up something.
What do you lose by
playing Jordan?
---------------------------------------------
You lose the natural 2NT bid, which
isn't much to lose, since you
could start with the redouble when
you hold a strong hand. So you
really lose nothing. You only lose
if you bid 2NT over a minor-suit
opening and wrong-side the 3NT
contract.
Check List:
Jordan 2NT showing a
limit raise in partner's opening bid suit after
a takeout double.
___ Use only after a 1H or 1S opening
___ Play a jump rebid by opener is a
splinter slam try
___ Reverse the meaning of 2NT and 3
of partner's suit when
the opening bid is 1C or
1D
___ Use a jump to a new minor over
partner's minor suit
opening as the limit
raise.