Jacoby 2NT (Two No-Trump)

The Jacoby 2NT convention is an artificial, game-forcing response to a 1 or 1 opening bid. The 2NT response shows 4+ trump support with 13+ points. The bid asks partner to describe her hand further so that slam prospects can be judged accordingly.

Many versions have evolved over the years. However, in his 1970 book "Win at Bridge with Jacoby Modern", Oswald Jacoby listed a couple caveats for bidding 2NT:¹

• Responder's 13+ points should include at least 11 HCP.
• Strong 3-card support is acceptable, e.g. 2 of the top 3 trump honors

Jacoby 2NT is intended for 5-card major systems that employ limit raises for game invitations. Thus, it fills the need for a game-forcing raise with unlimited strength. The convention doesn't come up often, but is precious in its role.

In ACBL games, Jacoby 2NT is alertable.

A note by Danny Kleinman:
Opener’s three-level rebids became available as a consequence of the extra room created by using 2NT instead of three of opener’s major as a forcing raise. Oswald Jacoby then faced the task of assigning meanings to the newly available rebids of three in a new suit. Oswald thought “Let’s show singletons!” but other schemes may (and have) been devised.

For example, I thought, “Let’s start cue-bidding aces at the 3-level” and devised “Boss Raises” accordingly. Showing singletons and point-count ranges seem less important to me. “Fast Arrival” seems wasteful to me. To discourage slam after a 2NT response to 1♠, opener can bid 3♠ (return to trump suit at lowest level normally discourages) and then bid 4♠, so a direct 4♠ jump can be given a specific meaning (e.g. “second-round controls everywhere and extras in trumps but no first-round controls.

After the auction begins 1/ : 2NT, opener's rebids are as follows.

Opener's Rebid	Meaning
3	Singleton or void in clubs. Bidding 4 next would show a void.
3	Singleton or void in diamonds. Bidding 4 next would show a void.
3	If are trumps, then this rebid shows 16+ points with slam interest. It asks responder to describe his hand further. If are trumps, then this shows a singleton or void in hearts. Bidding 4 next would show a void.
3	If are trumps, then this rebid shows 16+ points with slam interest. It asks responder to describe his hand further. If are trumps, then this shows a singleton or void in spades. Bidding 4 next would show a void.
3NT	14-15 points, balanced. The point range varies by partnership agreement. Oswald Jacoby originally wrote that 3NT required "a trifle" more than a minimum.
4	5+ clubs.
4	5+ diamonds.
4	If are trumps, then this rebid shows a minimum balanced hand (12-14 points). It is a signoff. If are trumps, then this shows 5+ hearts.
4	If are trumps, then this rebid shows a minimum balanced hand (12-14 points). It is a signoff.

Note: In some versions, jumps to four of a lower-ranking suit show voids, not five-baggers. Note that if 1-2NT; 4 shows five diamonds, opener must have a void or singleton in a black suit.

The Priority of Opener's Rebids

Many of the above bids overlap. For example, opener might have 5-5-2-1 shape with 12 points. Should she bid the side suit, show the singleton, or simply jump to game?

Generally speaking, the priority of responses are:

1. Showing a 5-card side suit.
2. Showing a singleton or void.
3. Bidding 3NT with a balanced 14-15 points.
4. Jumping to 4 of the agreed major with 12-14 points.
5. Bidding 3 of the agreed major with 16+ points and no other suitable call.

Opener has a little latitude, some of which is described in the next section.

When Opener Bids a Side Suit

When opener bids a 5-card side suit, how good should it be? Modern bridge literature generally advocates some sort of standard. As the thinking goes, you probably don't want to bid something like Jxxxx and leave responder guessing how to value Kxx.

However, expert opinions differ on minimum suit quality. The following are two philosophies.

David Lindop recommends "two of the top three or three of the top five honors." With less, he advises bidding the singleton or void instead.² This can work nicely in a scenario like

AKxxx  opposite  Qxx

When opener promises two of the top three honors, responder sees that the suit will run, and takes steps toward bidding a magic slam. However, these strong holdings are uncommon; you could wait a long time to benefit from this agreement.

As a more relaxed standard, Larry Cohen recommends a "decent" second suit with the "ace or king".³ Presumably he too would bid his short suit otherwise.

Cohen's approach might be more practical. Promising one top honor still helps partner to judge the fit of the hands, but it allows opener to show side suits more frequently than the former approach.

After any 3-level rebid by opener, responder can bid any suit (besides the agreed trump suit) to show a first-round control - i.e. an ace or void.

Jacoby 2NT can be on or off when responder originally passed.

If playing "on", a hand like A1092 K764 A86 75 is not quite good enough to open in first or second seat, but strong enough to make a forcing raise of partner's 1 opening. Playing this style, 2NT is not forcing to game.

If playing "off", 2NT is natural and non-forcing, showing a balanced 11-12 HCP. For example:

		Opener			Responder
		AK843			QJ52
		A932			KQ
		J			A862
		T98			Q53
		Opener 1 (1) 3 (3) 4 (5) Pass (7)			Responder 2NT (2) 4 (4) 4 (6)

1. 12+ points and 5+ spades
2. Jacoby 2NT showing 13+ points and 4+ spades - game forcing!
3. A diamond singleton or void
4. First-round diamond control
5. First-round heart control
6. A willingness to stop in game, implying concern about the club suit. With a club control, responder would have bid 4 instead of 4.
7. Opener does not have anything extra to show, and is satisfied with game.

Jacoby 2NT can be off when the opponents bid over 1/.

If the opponents make a takeout double over 1/, a 2NT bid by responder is commonly used as a limit raise (the Jordan 2NT convention).

The Jacoby 2NT convention is named for its American inventor Oswald Jacoby. See also Jacoby Transfers.

1. Jacoby, Oswald. Win at Bridge with Jacoby Modern. 1970.
2. Lindop, David. Jacoby 2NT. Better Bridge, Vol 9, No 1, Sept/Oct 2004.
3. Cohen, Larry. Modified Jacoby 2NT.

For additional reading, see Richard Zeckhauser's "Zip Raises" in The Bridge World, May 1991.