When you have a close call, what is your strategy? Seek more information?  Pray for enlightenment?  Exude a positive mental attitude?  

And how about at the Bridge table, or were those your Bridge-related answers, too?  When bidding or responding to Jacoby Transfer bids on the threshold of game, what’s important?

Visitors – Click here to view Part 1 of the video commentary

Review: Responder Jacoby Rebid Strategy

– With a 5+ card suit, Responder always begins with a transfer, regardless of points (rebid Notrump with invitational+ hand) – With a 6+ card major, Responder insists on trump suit with known 8+ card major suit fit rebidding major with invitational+ hand) – Opener obligated to accept w/o interference

 

Review: Responder Jacoby Rebids

1N – 2H;
2S – ?

With less than 8 points – pass.
– If 5 Spades, invite 2 Notrump
– If 6 Spades, invite 3 Spades
With 10-14 distribution points…
– If 5 Spades, rebid 3 Notrump
– If 6 Spades, rebid 4 Spades

Responder Jacoby Transfer Statistics
100 deals with a 5-2, 5-3, or 5-4 trump fit

Balanced 5-3-3-2                                                   Unbalanced 5-x-x-x
– 2 HCP   7=54%, 8=22%                                               7=65%, 8=27%
– 4 HCP   7=80%, 8=52%                                               7=95%, 8=64%
– 6 HCP   7=94%, 8=79%                                               7=99%, 8=89%
– Valuation of long suits (4+ cards)

Review Summary:

– Transfer & Pass with < 8 distribution points
– Length points based on working honors
– Extra trump matters!
– Responder may ask for more information:
– Invite 2N with 5 trump & 8-9 distribution points
– Invite 3H/S with 6 trump & 8-9 distribution points
– Bid 3N with 5 trump & 10-14 distribution points
– Bid 4H/S with 6 trump & 10-14 distribution points

…

1N – 2H; 2S – P	Q 10 5 4 3 4 3 2 K 3 2 Q 2
Spade tricks / Percentage 7 = 96 percent 8 = 87 percent 9 = 43 percent 10 = 15 percent	15 – 17 HCP	Notrump Tricks / Percentage 7 = 77 percent 8 = 50 percent 9 = 18 percent

Jacoby Transfer: Super-Acceptance

1N – (P) – 2D – (P);
3H

• When Opener has 17 points and 4 cards in partner’s implied transfer suit, Opener may make a “Super-Acceptance” bid jumping 1 level to show extras
• After Super-Acceptance, Responder may still Pass with less than 7 distribution points

…

1N – 2H; 3S – P	Q 10 5 4 3  4 3 2  K 3 2  Q 2	Note: Spread honors are a liability
Hand #1	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (poor spread values), Pass
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 55 percent 10 = 19 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

…

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S;	A Q J 3 2  4 3 2  4 3 2  3 2	Note: 3 working honors
Hand #2	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (honors okay), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 87 percent 10 = 57 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S	A J 10 3 2  Q 3 2  4 3 2  3 2	Note: 4 working honors
Hand #3	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (good working honors), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 96 percent 10 = 66 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

…

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S	A K 10 3 2 4 3 2 4 3 2 3 2	Note: 2 prime honors plus one working secondary honor
Hand #4	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (nice working honors), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 93 percent 10 = 75 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

1N – 2H; 3S – 4S	A K 10 9 8 10 9 8 10 9 8 10 9	Note: 2 prime honors plus 3 sequence suits with 8 body cards
Hand #5	After super-acceptance (3S) with 7 HCP (best working body cards), accept 4 Spade invite
Spade tricks = game opportunity 9 = 97 percent 10 = 79 percent	South opens 1 Notrump with 17 HCP and 4 Spades

    

Recap: On the threshold, evaluate closely:  

• Extra length in trump suit
• Unbalanced (5-5-x-x, 5-4-4-0, 5-4-3-1…)
• Working honors, especially long suit
• Sequence suit (K-Q-J-x, Q-J-9-x, J-10-9-x)

• Body Cards (10, 9, 8 ) 

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Happy Bridge Trails and Tales,

BridgeHands