Jump Ball Defense Method

The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The concept behind this conventional method is to employ it after an opponent has opened the auction with 1 No Trump. The range of the No Trump bid should be determined and/or announced before implementing Jump Ball since the values have to be adjusted accordingly by the intervening bidder.The holding of the intervenor should be of a distributional pattern in order to justify an overcall.

The distribution can be a one-suited holding, a two suited holding, or natural. The following outline shows the general guidelines for the Jump Ball defense method. The reader should be aware that, as with all defense methods, there is a certain element of risk inherent if the values are considered minimum. The recommendation is that a consistent evaluation method be applied by the partnership before employment.

Double:

This call is artificial and alertable. When the partner of the No Trump bidder passes, then the advancer is required to bid 2, which is a so-called puppet bid. The intervenor, following a pass by the No Trump bidder, then clarifies his holding according to the following guidelines:

Pass:	Promises a one-suited holding in Clubs.
2:	Shows a red two-suited holding: Diamonds and Hearts.
2:	Shows a two-suited holding in both Major suits.
2:	Promises a one-suited holding in Spades and otherwise additional values in side suits.

Double:

Pass:	Promises a one-suited holding in Clubs.
2:	Shows a red two-suited holding: Diamonds and Hearts.
2:	Shows a two-suited holding in both Major suits.
2:	Promises a one-suited holding in Spades and otherwise additional values in side suits.

This bid is artificial and alertable. It is a multi-purpose bid and promises either a one-suited holding in Diamonds or a two-suited holding in Clubs and an unspecified Major suit. The advancer is required to bid 2. The following rebids by the intervenor clarifies his holding:

Pass:	The intervenor holds a one-suited holding in Diamonds. If passed out the advancer becomes the declarer.
2:	This rebid by the intervenor shows a two-suited holding in Hearts and Clubs.
2:	This rebid by the intervenor shows a two-suited holding in Spades and Clubs.

Promises a two-suited holding with Diamonds and Spades.

Following the required 2

by the advancer, this rebid by the intervenor is natural and promises a long Heart suit with the corresponding values to compete on the two level against a 1 No Trump opening by the opponent. Per partnership agreement the bid is competitive, constuctive, invitational.

Following the required 2

by the advancer, this rebid by the intervenor is natural and promises a long Spade suit with the corresponding values to compete on the two level against a 1 No Trump opening by the opponent. Per partnership agreement the bid is not invitational. The advancer is required to pass unless holding competitive values against a weak No Trump opening.

2 NT:

Shows a two-suited holding in both Minor suits.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.


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