The Jacoby 2NT bid
(from a lecture by Ray Banks at the HSV Sectional, February 2008)
The Jacoby 2NT bid is used over a bid of 1 heart or 1 spade without interference by the opponents. The bid shows 4 trumps within an opening hand as responder to an opening of bid of 1 of a major in 1st or 2nd seat. The opener is now requested to bid as follows:
The partner of the opener now should bid game or invite slam depending on his hand and what partner has promised. Inviting slam is probably true whenever opener has 2) or 3) above. The way to do this is to cue-bid the cheapest ace in an attempt to get partner’s cooperation in finding the necessary controls to get to or stay out of slam. If partner has no worthless doubletons or tripletons he may want to use Blackwood providing he can bid a slam missing only one ace. If this is not the case, the cue-bidding method should be used.
At times the opponents will bid over the response of the Jacoby 2NT bid. It is important to know how to proceed when this has been done.
d) If we have a singleton or void not in the suit which the opponents have overcalled, we bid it now. If the singleton or void is in the suit which the opponents have bid, we pass [forcing]. If we double the suit which has been overcalled by the opponents, it shows cards in their suit and is for penalty.
e) Bids of 3 NT and 3 or 4 of the major retain their original meaning as shown in item c) above.
When our opening 1 of a major is overcalled before we can make a Jacoby 2NT call, we revert to normal bidding.
f) A bid of 2NT is an invitational bid in notrumps showing probably 2 stoppers in the overcalled suit and approximately 11 HCP. The double stopper might be KJx or better in the overcalled suit.
g) A forcing major raise is shown by a cue bid of the overcalled suit—it shows 4 trumps and an opening hand.
h) A limit major raise is shown by bidding 3 of the major as usual. It is similar to a standard limit raise with 4 trumps and approximately 10-11 HCP. While this method is not universally used, it is the recommended way to treat the limit raise in competition.
i) When we only have 3 trumps and we are in the limit raise zone, we should never give a limit raise. Instead this is shown in 2 bids—we first start with a forcing bid at the one- or two- level and then show the 3-card limit raise by supporting the major at the appropriate level. If we have made a one-level forcing bid, we will now jump to three of the major at our second turn. If we have made a two-level forcing bid, we will now support the major at the two-level.
Ex. 1 1h p 1s p Ex. 2 1h p 2c p Each sequence shows a 3-card limit raise
2c p 3h p 2d p 2h
Ex. 3 1h p 2c p
2d p 3h p
This sequence shows a 3 card forcing raise
in hearts since the 2-over-1 showed a good hand, approximately 10+ to 11 HCP minimum, and the jump to 3h shows extras; hence it is forcing to game now.
j) When the opponents have overcalled, it is sometimes more difficult to show the 3-card limit raise. It is still done with either a new suit being bid first or making a negative double first prior to supporting the opening bid suit.