Soloway jump shifts are named for the late American expert Paul Soloway, winner of 5 Bermuda Bowl world championships and the top ACBL masterpoint holder at the time of his passing. They are an alternative to traditional
strong jump shifts. Rather than showing a single-suited 17-19 points, a Soloway jump shift is made on three strong hand patterns: Balanced, single-suited, and double-suited with support for partner.
With any of these hand types, responder jump-shifts into his longest suit.
Details of each hand type:
- With a balanced 18-19 HCP, responder jump-shifts into his longest suit. For example, after partner opens 1:
Playing certain methods like SAYC, your 3NT response may show a balanced 16-18 HCP. If playing Soloway, this treatment should be discussed by partnerships because 18 HCP balanced hands can be handled by either method.
- With a good 15-18 points and a one-suited hand, responder bids his long suit. For example, after partner opens 1:
- The final hand type is a two-suiter with a good 15-18 points. Over a minor-suit opening bid, responder needs at least 5-4 shape, with the 4-card holding being in partner's suit. Over a major-suit opening, responder must be at least 5-3, with the 3-card holding in partner's suit. For example, after partner opens 1:
Note that Bill Root and Richard Pavlicek, in their book "Modern Bridge Conventions", suggest 17+ points for Soloway jump shifts. The exact point range is up to partnership agreement, and requires discussion about how to handle 19+ hands.
Opener's Rebids
The jump shift asks opener to relay to the next-higher bid. Thus, if responder bids 2, opener should rebid 2. If responder bids 2, opener should rebid 2, and so on.
Responder's Rebids
After opener's relay, responder clarifies his hand pattern by one of the following bids:
- Bidding no-trumps at the cheapest level shows a strong balanced hand.
- Rebidding the jump shift suit shows the single-suited hand.
- Bidding partner's suit shows the two-suited hand without a singleton or void.
- Bidding a new suit shows the two-suited hand with a singleton or void in the bid suit.
Examples
| | Opener | | | Responder |
| QT2 | | AK6 |
| K6 | | AQ75 |
| AJT96 | | 532 |
| AT5 | | KQ8 |
|
Opener
1
2 (2)
6NT
|
|
Responder
2 (1)
2NT (3)
Pass
|
- Soloway
- Relay
- 18-19 balanced
- An educated guess with a combined 32-33 HCP
| | Opener | | | Responder |
| KT93 | | AJ5 |
| AJT3 | | Q75 |
| 8 | | AKQ972 |
| AT52 | | 9 |
|
Opener
1
2 (2)
3NT (4)
|
|
Responder
2 (1)
3 (3)
Pass
|
- Soloway
- Relay
- Strong one-suiter
- Signoff
| | Opener | | | Responder |
| AQT943 | | KJ2 |
| A6 | | KQ752 |
| A75 | | 8 |
| 73 | | AKJ8 |
|
Opener
1
3 (2)
4NT (4)
5NT (6)
7
|
|
Responder
3 (1)
4 (3)
5 (5)
6 (7)
Pass
|
- Soloway
- Relay
- 5 hearts, 3+ spades and diamond shortness
- 1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood
- 2 key cards w/out the queen
- Asking for kings
- 2 kings