Fit Jumps
     
 
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Fit jumps in competition

 
 
     
64 You hold this hand and partner opens 1, what do you bid?
J765

This may depend upon your style/system; with 3, 4, 4 (splinter) or 3 (whatever that means in your system) all being possible candidates.

6
AKJ432
     
 
  But now suppose that RHO sticks oar in with a double or a 1 bid, does this change things?  
     
  Yes!  
     
 

The opponents probably have a fit and it is by no means certain that your side will win the auction. If the opponents end up declaring then you want partner to lead 's when he gets in. And if partner also has 's then he can compete to a high level. The solution is the ‘Fit Jump in Competition'. Regardless of what 3 would have meant had there been no intervention (natural weak, natural strong, mini splinter, Bergen raise or whatever) the jump bid now is best used as showing a 4-card fit with partner and an excellent suit (the one bid).

 
 

So the jump shift after partner opens a major and RHO overcalls or doubles is defined as a limit raise or better with 4-card support and a good outside suit.

 
     
 

With the hand given, a 3 bid over the overcall/double is far more descriptive than some sort of splinter. These jump shifts in competition are single jumps, double jumps are splinters.

 
     
 

Fit jumps opposite an overcall

 
 

Jump shifts in competition may also be used if partner overcalls. Suppose LHO opened 1, partner overcalled 1 and RHO bids 1. You can again bid 3 - a jump shift showing good 's and 4-card support.

 
     
 

Fit Jumps by a passed hand

 
 

Fit jumps may also be used by a passed hand when there has been no intervention. You hold the same hand and pass as dealer (or 2 nd seat) and partner opens 1 in 3 rd or 4 th seat. You could use Drury but a fit jump of 3 is more likely to get you to the best spot.

 
     
     
 
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