Show y F-y r BETTER J u 4 t M BRIDGE BRIDGEy a ay I y y C G H. H GOREN t Both sides vulnerable South deals Ideals NORTH 4 Q J 9 6 2 K 6 4 K 7 3 K 7 WEST ST EAST 10 8 7 5 4 3 Q 8 7 1 5 S 3 1139 J 9 10 9 J 8 6 5 4 Q 10 8 4 2 4 J 6 SOUTH 4 A AK AKA K KA A 10 2 A Q 4 2 A 9 5 3 The recommended bidding South gouth West Vest North East diamond Pass 1 spade pa le Pass S NT Pass PasH 4 NT Pass 6 5 NT Pass Pass Pass Opening lead Five of or hearts I I Bidding at contract bridge chaos unless I would be complete 0 there were definitely accepted methods for showing strength The most usual way to display power is to jump the bid A jump b by the opener in inthe inthe inthe the same suit is a strong invitation invitation tion but responder may pass if hi his first response was not up to i standard and he was just testing his luck However a jump in a anew anew a anew new suit is the strongest of all and is an absolute demand for tor game and responder must keep going no Io matter how much he regrets his original indiscretion I In in keeping the bidding open I There is a case where a jump does not show a generally strong hand and that is when responder raises an opening bid of one heart or one spade directly to four of 1 that suit without any further adoThIs ado This is popularly known as a shutout bid but I am firmly convinced convinced convinced con con- vinced that it is unfortunate that this term tenn shutout has gained such uch wide currency it has led to some Borne unsound thinking A better way to state tate the case is this Responders Responder's jump from one to four lour is used to show a hand with great trump strength and distribution but not much honor strength It by no means compels partner to shut up If that's all opener needs for a slam he is at perfect liberty to go ahead and bid it but he must not expect to find high cards in the dummy Now Nowa a jump by the opener o to four lour is in an entirely different r category This bid cannot mean lots of trumps but no honor strength Opener cannot deny that he has honor strength which the opening bid automatically identifies therefore there is no such uch thing as a shutout therefore that a jump to to three no trump is stronger than thana r a a. jump to two no trump When today's hand w was 3 played playe L South opened with one diamond his bb h hand d was as too strong for an opening opening open open- ing ng bid of one no trump North responded with one spade and South jumped to three no trump The actual North casually passed with the comment That shuts me out It would have been more fitting for North to have said Partner I promised only one trick on the the strength of which you think you can make game Since I have a great deal more than that you should hould be able to make more than game game I therefore cordially invite you to bid a slam Take it or leave it it South will take it |