Grant's Hack
I like to make very light preemptive jump raises in minor
suits. I don't like to pass partner's opening bid if I
have any real alternative. On the other hand, there are
some hands with values that don't have any other bid to
make, so the jump raise is fairly wide-ranged. Grant Baze
came up with a solution.
After 1m-3m, the next step is artificial and means,
"I want to bid 3NT. Do you think I can make it?"
The answers are pretty obvious. For example:
- 1
-3; 3
-?
- 3
= Yes, you can. Bid 3NT.
- 3NT = Maybe not, but I'll take a shot at it.
- 4 = Not "no," but "hell, no!"
Jeff Goldsmith,
jeff@gg.caltech.edu,
October 15, 2001