Jacoby 2NT
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Jacoby 2NT (Swedish: Stenberg 2NT) is a bridge convention in which a bid of 2NT over partner's opening bid of one heart (1♥) or one spade (1♠) shows a hand with both
- opening strength or better - normally at least 12 HCP or a hand meeting the "Rule of 20" criteria, and
- at least four-card support for opener's major suit.
The 2NT response is forcing to at least game in opener's major suit. If the partnership also plays splinter bids, the Jacoby 2NT response tends to deny the shape for a splinter (i.e., no singleton or void). However, it might be the best alternative as prelude to possible slam exploration with unbalanced support in a holding stronger than the agreed range for a splinter bid.
In most bridge literature, the convention is said to have been developed by Oswald Jacoby.[1] However, credit for its development has also been attributed to Leo Baron.[2]
Opener's rebids over a Jacoby 2NT response
With a balanced hand, opener rebids as follows:[3]
- With 16 or more HCP opener rebids three of the agreed suit.
- With 14-15 HCP, the opener bids 3NT.
- With fewer than 14 HCP bids four of the agreed suit.
With an unbalanced hand, there are two common methods of continuing rebidding over a Jacoby 2NT response, the choice of which is a matter of agreement between the partners. These methods differ only in the definition of a bid of another suit.
Method one
The earlier method uses the following bids.[4]
- With a void in spades or a singleton in any suit, the opening bidder cue bids three of the short suit.
- With a void in hearts, diamonds, or clubs, the opening bidder cue bids four of the void suit. (Note that the opening bidder must cue bid 3♠ rather than 4♠ with a void in the spade suit so a Jacoby 2NT responder who judges that slam is not in the cards can sign off at 4♥.)
Method two
The newer method uses the following bids,[3] and is included in SAYC.[5]
- With another *good* five card suit (containing two of the top three honours), the opener bids four of the second suit.
- With a singleton or void in the absence of another good five card suit, the opening bidder cue bids three of the short suit.
Less commonly, these two bids may be reversed.[6] The long suit can then be bid at the 3 level and the shortage on the following round, especially if Italian cue bids (first/second-round control) are in use. However, hands with just a shortage are much more frequent and are shown at a lower level by the SAYC method.