AJAR: Assume Jumps Are Raises

The problem with this is that we will often miss slam on a double fit opposite as little as:

1S Opener

AQxxx

xxx

Ax

Kxx

The keys here are the double fit and the lack of wasted [face card] values in the two unbid suits. But how does Opener know that Responder really does have Clubs?

Let us consider the requirements for a strong jump shift in standard methods: 16+ points and either a long, strong 1-suiter or a decent 5+ card suit with support for Opener's suit.

Responder C	AKJ109x	x	AKx	Kxx
Responder D	AK109x	KQx	Axx	xx

Both of these hands would jump to 2 opposite a 1 opening bid.

The problem with this approach is that it underuses the "strong" jump shift and often leaves Responder no way to show a real suit when Responder has the luxury of support for Opener's higher ranked suit. European practice gives us the "fit showing jump", but this is generally used only in competition. We also need to retain the ability to jump shift with a great suit and 16+ points, as with Hand C above.

Towards this end, we suggest lowering the requirements for a supporting jump shift (such as Hand "D" above) to 10+ points. This is similar to CARLOS: Cuebids Are Raises (Limit) or Strong. This wide range of responses requires that we employ the Principles of Fast and Slow Arrival and engage in some "new suit forcing" bids whenever we have extras. For example, after 1:2 we might see:

Bid	Explanation
3	Any minimal hand which would PASS 1:3. Note: 3 and 3 are Opener's only non-game-forcing rebids.
--	Holding the supporting hand, Responder may now PASS with the limit raise, bid 4 or move towards slam only with 19+ points. As always, 3 or 4 (16-19 with very good spades) show the Spade 1-suiter.
4	13-15, 6+ good Hearts. 0-1 Spade.
--	4 by Responder is natural now, 16-18 with Spades only. 4NT is RKC with Hearts as the presumed trump suit. 5 or 5 are cuebids, with Hearts or Spades as trumps.
3	Natural, 13 points. Non-forcing.
--	Responder Passes or rebids naturally, with 4 as a sign off holding 5 Spades and 4+ Hearts.
4	Natural, 14-15 points, 4 Spades.
--	Responder cuebids or uses 4NT (Roman Key Card Blackwood) with SPADES as the agreed trump (for now).
3 or 3	Better minor, 14+ points, GF, 0-1 Spade (else 2NT).
--	Responder jumps to 4 (limit raise), 3 with 13-15, 3 with Spades only (16+), or cuebids a minor (16+ points and Heart support).
2NT	Natural, 14+ points, GF. Usually 2-3 Spades.
--	Responder rebids 3 (Spades only), 4 (limit raise), 3 with 13-15, or cues a minor to support Hearts with 16+.
4 or 4	Cuebids with 3+ Spades, 16+ points.
--	Responder can stop in 4 or 4, cuebid or use 4NT (Roman Key Card Blackwood with Spades as trump) to look for slam.

Things are slightly more crowded after a jump shift in a minor. Now Opener will rebid either 3 (any minimum, declining the invite if it is a limit raise) or the unbid major (an "Impossible" major, waiting with any hand that would have accepted a limit raise). Responder will now rebid the minor or 3NT without support for Opener's suit or Responder stops in Opener's suit with any raise. For example, after an auction such as 1:3:3 we may see:

Bid	Explanation
Pass	Limit raise with 3+ Hearts, 10-12 points.
4	13-18, 3+ Hearts. No slam.
3NT	16-19, Diamonds only, no more slam ambitions.
4	Diamonds only, 19+ points. Slam?
3 or 4	Cuebids, 19+ points, with 3+ Hearts.

Similarly, after 1:3:3 (14+ points) we may see:

Bid	Explanation
3NT	Diamonds only, 16-17 points.
4	Diamonds only, 18+ points. Slam?
4	Hearts, limit raise, 10-12 points.
4	3+ Hearts, 13+ points, any Club holding.

The 4 bid here (1:3:3:4) is artificial but should not tax our memory. It is similar to a 4th Suit Force and merely involves bidding a new suit to show some strength. Having forced to game via 3, Opener can now stop in 4 with 14-16 points and little interest in slam.

The most immediate effect of AJAR is that our delayed and limit raises now tend to deny a source of tricks in any minor mentioned in our initial 2-over-1 response. They will now be flat, 3-suited or a hand with a weak 5-card suit.

Opener	Responder	Explanation
1	2	3+ Clubs, 10+ points, or 6+ Clubs, 8+ points.
2	3	GF, denying good, long Clubs (else 3, not 2).

Opener	Responder	Explanation
1	3	Limit raise in Spades. No good 5+ card side suit.

Opposite a minor suit opening Opener will have three ways to sign off: in 2NT, in Opener's suit or in Responder's suit. Hence, 2NT and a bid of either suit (e.g. 1:2:2NT, 3 or 3) will be natural and non-forcing. Again, Opener can force game by bidding a new suit or by jump rebidding. To illustrate, after 1:2 we might see:

Bid	Explanation
2NT	Flat hand, 13 points, declining any limit raise.
3	Sign-off, 4+ Clubs and 0-2 Spades. Usually unbalanced.
3	GF, 14+ points, strength and, perhaps, strength.
3	GF, 14+ points, Heart strength, denying Diamond strength.
3	Sign-off with 3+ Spades. 13 to a bad 14 points.
4	Sign-off with 3+ Spades. 14-16 points.
3NT	14-17 points, at most 2 Spades. To play.
4 or 4	GF, cuebid with 3+ Spades, 17-21 points.

This often gives Responder room to rebid the major with the strong 1-suiter; any other rebid by Responder will support Opener's suit. For example, after 1:2:2 we might see:

Responder	Explanation
3	6+ Hearts, 1-suited, 16+ points.
2NT	Diamond support, likely 2=5=4=2, limit (10-12).
3	Diamond support, 13+ points.
3	Diamond support, limit (10-12), not 2=5=4=2 (else 2NT).

After opening 1 or 1 and hearing a jump shift, Opener may investigate 3NT by showing a guard in one of the two unbid suits. With a guard in both unbids, Opener may jump immediately to 3NT (14-16) or bid the cheaper of the two guarded suits. A bid of the other suit by Responder will now tend to deny a guard there. To illustrate:

Opener	Responder	Explanation
1	2	10+ pts with 5+ s and 4+ s or 16+ with 6+ s.
3	3	Slam try or no Heart guard (else 3NT here).
3NT	--	Heart guard, stronger than an immediate 3NT last round.

At the cost of a little artificial new suit prodding and probing, then, AJAR permits the pair to appreciate any double fit which may exist--even in invitational auctions. The pair will need to discuss and practice the various ways to show the stronger hands. This is especially true whenever there is a minor suit fit; we must endeavour to discern our strengths before going past 3NT.

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