PLAY BRIDGEWest
A 7 6 5 2
9KJ2
KQ73

Jacoby 2NTO

ne of Oswald Jacoby’s best
gifts to bridge was the ideaof using 2NT as a conventional forcing raise in response to a
one-of-a-major opening bid. Using
Jacoby 2NT works like this:OpenerResponder1 or 1
2NT
Responder’s 2NT bid shows agame-forcing hand with four-card(or longer) support in the major.
Why is it advantageous to use thismethod? Consider all of the majorsuit raises available in standard
methods. This table provides anoutline:

Opener’s 3 rebid shows asingleton or void in clubs. This mayhelp responder visualize a possibleslam.
• A four-level response in a newsuit shows a good-quality five-cardsuit. If, for example, opener held
A Q 10 5 3 6 K Q J 7 4 Q 8,
the auction would be 1–2NT; 4.
Yes, you do have a singleton heart
and you could rebid 3 to showit, but telling partner about the nicediamonds is more important, so 4
is the better rebid.
• Jumping to four of the agreed
major shows a minimum opening

Opener Responder Meaning12
Single raise: typically three-card support and 6–9 HCP
1
3
Limit (invitational) raise: four-card support and 10–12 HCP
1
4
Preemptive raise: weak with five-card support
Note that similar meanings apply after a 1 opening and raise.
Looking at this table, it’s clear thatsomething is missing — the gameforcing raise. Jacoby 2NT takes careof this problem and does it at a lowenough level to allow the partnershipto exchange further information incase slam is in the picture.
How opener proceeds after aJacoby 2NT response
After the 2NT response, openermay now continue describing his
hand using the following set of conventional responses:• A three-level rebid in a new suitshows a singleton or void in thatsuit.
For example:
OpenerResponder
1
2NT
3
44bid without shortness or slam interest. In the auction 1–2NT; 4,
opener might have something like
7 4 A Q J 6 2 K 9 5 K 9 2.
• A 3NT rebid shows a soundopening (14 or 15 HCP) without shortness. Note that somematchpoint players consider thispassable.
• Rebidding three of the major
shows slam interest and typicallydenies shortness. With a handsuch asA 2 A K Q 6 5 3 J 5 A 8 3,open 1. After a Jacoby 2NT response, rebid 3 to show a strong
hand without shortness.
This action usually requires a good
16 or more high-card points (HCP).
Example auction:

East
KQ84
 10 7 2
A Q 3
 A 10 2

WestEast1
2NT (1)(2)
3
6 (!)Pass(1) Jacoby 2NT, game-forcing
major-suit raise.
(2) Heart shortness.
East’s final bid is not very
scientific — a grand slam might bemissed if opener had a heart voidinstead of a singleton, or 6 might
be too much if opener has a singleton heart honor such as the king— but it will be on target much ofthe time. When opener reveals theheart shortness, responder knowsthat opener’s values will be in usefulplaces, so the slam should have agood play.
Important points to remember
The Jacoby 2NT response isgame forcing and promises fourcard support. With only three-card
support, responder makes anothercall first and then raises partner’s
major at the his next turn. Forexample, holdingK 6 4 A 3 K Q 10 7 3 Q 10 6,
respond 2 if partner opens 1.
Don’t use Jacoby 2NT, since partner
will think you have four spades.
This can be significant, so be sure
you paint an accurate picture ofyour support length.
Also, many players prefer to use
Jacoby 2NT with hands that do nothave shortness (singletons or voids).
This helps opener evaluate his handbetter. Not every partnership has
this agreement, so it’s important todiscuss this point with your partner.
Variations
The above description of Jacoby
2NT is one that many partnershipsemploy, but you should be awarethat there are many other variations
on the market. This description
should be taken as a starting point
for new partnerships. The Official
Encyclopedia of Bridge has somegood suggestions for alternative
structures.
The Bridge Bulletin