JUMP SHIFTS BY RESPONDER by Walt Sturm

The traditional strong jump shift by responder shows 19+ HCP and serves as a sort of skipbid warning, i.e., the next bid you hear will usually be Blackwood. This usage is infrequent and tends to limit exploration by preempting yourself and partner when it is your hand. It does get you to slam, but not always the correct slam. You also miss slams when both partners have a little extra but neither decides to make a slam try.

The modern solution to this problem is to reduce the strength of responder`s immediate jump shift to 16+ HCP. This treatment allows responder to relax with only 16-17 HCP and rely upon opener to go forward whenever he has something extra. This lighter jump shift is only used with one of the three following hand types:

FIRST, great trump support, shown by raising opener;

SECOND, a one-suiter, shown by rebidding it;

THIRD, a NT hand, shown by rebidding in NT.

Opener must not crowd the bidding by his first rebid, allowing responder to clarify the type of jump shift by his rebid. Responder must not jump shift with other hand types, e.g., twosuiters.

Another virtue of this approach is that it helps opener reevaluate his hand quickly and more accurately. Also, you can establish your one-suiter for RKC purposes (partner seldom has a fit).

Some players use weak jump shifts, especially at matchpoint scoring. While I am not fond of this treatment, you should be showing a six-card suit with less than 6 HCP, most of which should be in your suit. You need a playable suit with little support from opener in case you encounter a penalty double.