JORDAN TWO NO TRUMP

Since the official name, Two No Trump Response Over Opponent's Takeout Double, is too long, this convention has simply been called Truscott Two No Trump and Jordan Two No Trump and Dormer Two No Trump. This conventional method was devised by Mr. Alan Truscott and described by him in The Bridge World magazine, issue November 1954.

However, the second designation for this conventional method is named after Mr. Robert F. Jordan, of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, who was foremost in bringing the conventional method to the bridge community mainly in the United States, which adopted the concept and where it became popular, and where the bridge community began calling the concept the Jordan Two No Trump. Mr. Albert Dormer from England assisted in making the conventional method popular in England and Europe and, by the nature of things, became designated with his surname.

A bidding example should show the meaning:

South	West	North	East
1	Double	2 NT

The 2 No Trump bid by North is completely artificial. The conventional method is employed once an opponent makes a Takeout Double after partner opens a Major suit. The 2 No Trump response shows a minimum of 4-card Heart support, 9/10-12 points. Some partnerships define this bid as having 1.5 defensive tricks outside the trump suit.

Note: In the original version the 2 No Trump bid by North after the intervening double shows a Limit Raise in the Heart suit of the opener. The meaning of this bid is that a 2 No Trump bid by North shows a 4-card support in Hearts, and a point range, including distribution, of 9 to 11 support points. Some partnerships have the agreement to reduce the support length to a good 3-card suit. Whatever your choice, South will have sufficient information to make the correct decision.

Note: The Truscott / Jordan / Dormer conventional method can and may be employed in bidding sequences when the opener is in a position to rebid when the new suit of the partner is doubled by the third hand opponent, as in the following auction:

South	West	North	East
1	Pass	1	Double
2 NT

See: Extended Truscott

In the bidding example:

South	West	North	East
1	Double	Redouble

North would normally have 10 support points or more, but North would also normally have only a 3-card support in Hearts. The redouble is generally considered to be a forcing action and demands partner to either bid and establish the final contract in Hearts or to double the contract of the opponents if the opponents declare. The disadvantage of this action would be that East has the opportunity to enter the auction on the one level, and once in the auction, it will be very difficult to prevent the opponents from exchanging vital information about their holdings.

South	West	North	East
1	Pass	3

Playing Limit Raises, it would be more advisable if North, having a 3-card support in Hearts, would jump to 3 Hearts, and this bid would show 10-12 support points. Not enough for game, but the bid makes it more difficult for East to arrive at a bid, and South has all the information he needs to make the right decision.

If North were to respond with 3 No Trump, this would signify at least a 3-card support in Hearts, and a point range, including distribution, of 12 to 15 support points.

South	West	North	East
1	Double	3

If the bridge player were to adopt the Jordan Two No Trump convention, then the above example would show a Preemptive Raise, a 4-card length in Hearts, and less than 9 Support Points.

North would have something like:

	76
	KJ86
	J9874
	87

The use of the Preemptive Raise in accordance with the Jordan Two No Trump convention makes it more difficult for the opponents to compete, and that is essential in the auction. North and South, per their partnership agreement, will not bid too high, but make it very difficult for the opponents to enter the auction, and if doubled, the penalty will not be that great.

Opener	LHO	Responder		shows		Example
1	Pass	2		6-9 Support Points At least 3-card support		73 Q76 J9843 K97
1	Double 1 2 2	2		6-9 Support Points At least 3-card support		3 Q764 J9843 K97
1	Double	Redouble		10/11 Support Points and 3-card support in Hearts		K107 K76 J987 A107
1	Double	2 NT		Jordan 2NT shows 10-12 Support Points and 4-card support in Hearts.		5 KJ86 K1094 A1087
1	Double 1 2 2	3 NT		12-15 Support Points and 4-card support in Hearts		A76 KJ86 AQ94 87
1	Double 1 2 2	3		Less than 9 Support Points and 4-card support in Hearts. Preemptive Raise		3 K865 J9874 K106

Some partnerships have extended this convention to include the Minor Suits. Beware, however, that some partnerships, if the opening is in a Minor suit, have reversed the significance of the 2 No Trump bid and the Jump Raise.

Opener	LHO	Responder		shows
1 /	Double	2 NT		A preempt in the suit of the opener showing a weak distributional holding and good to moderate trump support.
		3		A jump raise of the suit of the opener shows a Limit Raise with either 3 or 4 plus trump support and between 9 to 11 support points.

The partnerships playing in this manner maintain that the advantage lies in the fact that when the opener, who holds the stronger values, wishes to play in No Trump rather in a known suit contract, then the opener becomes the declarer and the lead is up to the stronger of the two holdings, which can result in an additional trick.

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