Jacoby 2NT

Four trumps and an opening hand opposite a 1♥ or 1♠ opening tell you two things at once. There is a fit, and there is a game. Whether there is a slam is still unknown, and the obvious bids do not help. A jump to four of the major ends the conversation, and a new-suit response hides the fit. Jacoby 2NT sets the trump suit at the two level and hands opener the job of describing the hand. The partnership then judges slam with the whole three level still to use.

Over a one-of-a-major opening, responder's 2NT is artificial. It promises four or more cards in opener's major and game-forcing values, usually 13 or more points counting shape. Opener then answers in a fixed scheme that shows either a short suit, a strong second suit, or the strength of the hand.

The scheme over 1♥ is the same except that 3♠ shows a singleton or void in spades and 3♥ shows the extra strength. A "good" five-card side suit means one headed by two of the top three honors, a suit that can supply tricks for slam.

• Four or more trumps. With only three, make a forcing new-suit response first, such as a two over one, and support later.
• Game-forcing values: an opening hand or better.
• No singleton or void, as a rule. A splinter bid describes a short-suited hand more precisely, and opener can judge the fit at once. Jacoby 2NT is for balanced or semi-balanced raises, and for hands too strong to splinter.
• An unpassed hand. A passed hand cannot hold game-forcing values. After a pass, raises go through Drury.
• No interference. Most pairs play Jacoby 2NT off in competition. Over a takeout double, 2NT is usually a limit raise or better (Jordan). Over an overcall, the cue bid of their suit shows a strong raise.

Opener's answer splits into three families. Each one tells responder something different to judge.

Shortness: three of a new suit

A singleton or void is the most useful thing opener can show, because it tells responder which honors are working. Honors opposite the shortness, other than the ace, are mostly wasted. Small cards there are ideal, because they can be ruffed. If honors are wasted, responder signs off in four of the major. If nothing is wasted and responder has slam interest, responder cue-bids.

Strength: three of the major, 3NT and four of the major

Without shortness, opener shows strength. Four of the major is the weakest answer, a minimum opening with nothing to add. 3NT shows a sound balanced opening of about 15 to 17. Three of the major shows real extras, usually 18 or more, and is the strongest answer. After it, responder can bid 3NT to ask opener to describe further, or cue-bid.

This is fast arrival at work. The jump to game is the weakest bid, and the cheap bid of three of the major is the strongest.

A good side suit: four of a new suit

A jump to the four level in a new suit shows a good five-card side suit. Responder with a fitting honor in that suit, or shortness elsewhere, is close to slam. Holding nothing there, responder signs off.

Now give South ♦KQ6 and ♣9743 instead. The same 13 points now face a singleton, and five of them, the ♦K and ♦Q, are wasted. After 3♦ South signs off in 4♠, and rightly so, because 6♠ would need a lot of luck.

• Using Jacoby 2NT with only three trumps. The convention promises four, so a three-card raise starts with a new suit.
• Using it with a singleton. Responder's shortness is what opener most wants to know about, and a splinter shows it at once.
• Showing a five-card side suit that is not good. The four-level suit bid is a slam try based on tricks. Holding a weak side suit, show shortness or strength instead.
• Jumping to game with a good hand. After 2NT, the jump to four of the major is opener's weakest bid. With extras, bid 3NT or three of the major.
• Forgetting the passed-hand rule. After a pass, 2NT is natural or a limit raise by agreement, not Jacoby.

There are many versions of opener's scheme. Some partnerships swap the meanings of 3NT and three of the major. Others build the scheme around strength first, with opener's cheapest answer showing a minimum and shortness shown only later, on request. All of them work. The version shown here is the usual club standard and the one in the Bidding Architect library. Jacoby 2NT sits alongside Bergen raises, which handle the weaker four-card raises, so every raise of a major has its own bid.

What is Jacoby 2NT in bridge?

It is a 2NT response to a 1♥ or 1♠ opening that shows four or more trumps and game-forcing values. Opener then describes the hand so the partnership can judge whether to bid slam.

What are the responses to Jacoby 2NT?

A new suit at the three level shows a singleton or void, and a new suit at the four level shows a good five-card suit. Three of the major shows extra strength without shortness, 3NT a balanced 15 to 17, and four of the major a minimum with no slam interest.

How many points do you need for Jacoby 2NT?

Responder needs game-forcing values, an opening hand of about 13 or more points counting shape, plus four-card support for opener's major.

Is Jacoby 2NT on by a passed hand?

No. A passed hand cannot have game-forcing values. Most partnerships use Drury for passed-hand raises instead.

Is Jacoby 2NT on after interference?

For most partnerships it is off. Over a takeout double, 2NT usually becomes a limit raise or better. Over an overcall, a cue bid of their suit shows the strong raise.

Are there different versions of the Jacoby 2NT responses?

Yes, several. Some partnerships swap the meanings of 3NT and three of the major. Others put strength first, so opener's cheapest answer shows a minimum and shortness is shown later on request. The scheme in this guide, shortness first, is the usual club standard.