AJAR: Assume Jumps Are Raises
In most natural methods, including SAYC and 2/1 Game Forcing, a Jump Raise is limit, showing 10-12 points and virtually any distribution that includes the requisite support.
A 2-over-1 followed by a raise of Opener's suit is forcing, but may or
may not show length in Responder's suit.
| Responder A |  K 10 x
|  A x x x
|  J x x
|  A Q x
|
| Opposite a 1♥ or 1♠ opening, most players would reply 2♣, before raising Opener's major. |
| Responder B | K 10 x
| A x x
| x x
| A Q J x x
|
|
This hand, too, would respond 2
before raising Opener's major.
|
The problem with this is that we will often miss slam on a
double-fit opposite as little as:
| 1♠ Opener | A Q x x x
| x x x
| A x
| K x x
|
|
The keys here are the double-fit and the lack of wasted 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 | A K J 10 9 x
| x
| A K x
| K x x
|
| Responder D | A K 10 9 x
| K Q x
| A x x
| x x
|
|
Both of these hands would jump to 2 opposite a 1 opening bid.
|
The problem with this approach is that it
under-uses 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:
| Responder | Opener | Explanation |
| – | 1
| |
| 2
| ||
| 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 (1) PASS with the limit raise,
(2) bid 4 , or (3) 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 RKCB with Hearts as the presumed
trump suit.
5♣ and 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 (RKCB) 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 cuebids a minor to support Hearts
with 16+.
| |
| 4♣ or 4♦ | Cuebids with 3+ Spades, 16+ points. | |
| – |
Responder can stop in 4 or
4, or cuebid, or use 4NT (RKCB 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:
| Opener | Responder | Explanation |
| 1
| 3
| |
| 3
| ||
| 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:
| Opener | Responder | Explanation |
| 1
| 3
| |
| 3
| ||
| 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: (1) in 2NT, (2) in Opener's suit or
(3) 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:
| Responder | Opener | Explanation |
| – | 1♣ | |
| 2
| ||
| 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:
| Opener | Responder | Explanation |
| 1
| 2
| |
| 2
| ||
| 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 1and
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 (4th) suit by Responder will now tend to
deny a guard there.
To illustrate:
| Opener | Responder | Explanation |
| 1
| 2
|
10+ pts with 5+ s, 4+ s,
or 16+ with 6+ Spades. |
| 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.