Weak Jump Shift Bids

A Weak Jump Shift Bid is when a responder jumps in a new suit ( that is to say bids one level higher than necessary) but instead of the traditional strong meaning it is weak showing a weak hand with 6+ cards in the bid suit and about 2-6 points
In modern bidding it is becoming very popular to do this as strong hands can be dealt with in other ways.

There are three situations where this can be used and you can play any or all of them.

1) Partner opens the bidding and the next hand makes takeout Double- For you to have 16+ points is extremely unlikely and so a weak jump bid can be very descriptive and very obstructive

2) Partner opens the bidding and the next hand overcalls.- Although the possibilty of you having 16+ points is greater such hands can be dealt by making continuing forcing bids so once again a weak jump bid can be very descriptive and obstructive.

3) Partner opens the bidding and there is no interference- if you feel more comfortable you can still play a jump shift as strong and only play it as weak when there has been interference but if you are sure that you can cope with strong hands without jumping then you can add this situation. Effectively saying that any jump bid in a new suit is weak.

One example should suffice.

					♠ AK832
					♥ A10
					♦ 106
		♠ QJ1075			♣ K743			♠ 96
		♥ Q452						♥ K
		♦ A2						♥ KQJ954
		♣J6			♠ 4			♣ A1082
					♥ J98763
					♦ 873
					♣ Q95

Whether East Doubles North's opening bid of 1 Spade or overcalls 2 Diamonds a jump to 3 Hearts by South leaves them with problems- on this particular hand West might decide to double and South should make it with careful play losing 2 Diamonds, 1 Heart and 1 Club (one going away on the King of Spades). But the main objective is to cause problems and more often than not you will go off but for a better score than might have been.

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