> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.bernardmageebridge.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.bernardmageebridge.com/bridge-play-guides/bidding-system-help/conventions.md).

# Conventions

### JACOBY 2NT

This is a method of showing **strong support** for an **opening major bid**. I gave a set of **Friday seminars** on the system called **Supporting Majors (parts 1-5)**. These can be found in the **Friday Live Archive (060-064)**.

**When the auction starts** 1<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark> – PASS – ? (or 1♠︎ – PASS - ?)

The **traditional method** was to use a **2NT response** to show **11pts balanced**, but **any hand** that wants to **bid this** can usually **respond with 2-of-a-minor** allowing the auction to **progress naturally**. This **frees up** the **2NT response** to be used as a **convention** to show **support for the major**.

**After 1**<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark> **– PASS -**

2NT shows 4+ hearts and enough strength for game (12+)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** *if you play splinters, then you still use these to show your singletons & voids, so most often the 2NT bidder is balanced or semi-balanced.*
{% endhint %}

The idea of the bid is to allow the **partnership** to investigate **a slam** with plenty of **bidding space**. After the **2NT response** the opener **describes** his hand.

**The standard responses to the Jacoby 2NT are:**

3-level bids = SHORTAGES

4-level bids = STRONG second suit

3-trump suit, 3NT & 4-trump suit = balanced or semi-balanced – the Stronger the hand the lower the bid (of the three choices)

| Hearts                                                           | Spades                                                           |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark> – PASS – 2NT\* – PASS        | 1♠︎ – PASS – 2NT\* – PASS                                        |
| ?                                                                | ?                                                                |
| 3♣︎  singleton (or void) club                                    | 3♣︎  singleton (or void) club                                    |
| 3<mark style="color:red;">♦︎</mark>  singleton (or void) diamond | 3<mark style="color:red;">♦︎</mark>  singleton (or void) diamond |
| 3<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark>  strong balanced hand 17-19  | 3<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark>  singleton (or void) heart   |
| 3♠︎  singleton (or void) spade                                   | 3♠︎  strong balanced hand 17-19                                  |
| 3NT  semi-strong & balanced 15-17                                | 3NT  semi-strong & balanced 15-17                                |
| 4♣︎  strong club suit                                            | 4♣︎  strong club suit                                            |
| 4<mark style="color:red;">♦︎</mark>  strong diamond suit         | 4<mark style="color:red;">♦︎</mark>  strong diamond suit         |
| 4<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark>  weak balanced hands         | 4<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark>  strong heart suit           |
| 4♠︎  strong spade suit\*                                         | 4♠︎  weak balanced hands                                         |

{% hint style="info" %}
**Notes**

* These are the STANDARD (original) set of responses which I believe are the best. Some players might use other methods (e.g. reversing the order of the responses).
* Jacoby is not used when there is an interfering bid (overcall or double).
* A strong suit is a five-card suit with two honours – if it is strong enough then bid this ahead of showing shortage, with a weaker suit, show your shortage instead.
* After the opener describes their hand – responder can cue-bid, or use Blackwood if he likes the news, or sign off in game if he dislikes the news.
* **\***&#x41; 4♠︎ response after 1<mark style="color:red;">♥︎</mark>-2NT- takes the bidding beyond game. It is very rare because to hold 5 spades would mean you have 6-5 shape.
* With a void you show shortage and then can cue-bid the suit again – this is one of the advantages of showing shortages at the lower level.
  {% endhint %}

### Printable Version

Click the PDF link below to open the PDF in a new tab where you will have the option to print.

{% file src="/files/XczosBiYiKTyTgMeZeRh" %}


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