Roman Jump Overcalls over pre-empts
Pre-empts are irritating. Among other things they rob you of bidding room to show two suiters. The Italians use jump overcalls over pre-empts to show two suiters. A weak 2
and a jump overcall of 4
/4
shows that suit and the other major. The jump is normally a wasted bid so why not use it to describe the difficult to describe two suiters?
pre-empt:
- 3 is asking for a stopper for 3NT.
- 4 shows clubs and either major.
- 4 shows the majors.
Over a 2
pre-empt:
- 3 is asking for a stopper for 3NT.
- 4 shows clubs and spades.
- 4 shows diamonds and spades.
Over a 2 pre-empt:
- 3 is asking for a stopper for 3NT.
- 4 shows clubs and hearts.
- 4 shows diamonds and hearts.
Eric Kokish also plays Roman jumps over 3/3 pre-empts. The rank of the minors leave enough room for jumps to describe two suiters. Here is how his structure works.
- Dbl = Takeout
- 3X, 3NT = Natural
- 4 = majors
- 4 = any strong one suiter
- 4 = hearts & the other minor strong
- 4 = spades & the other minor strong
Responding to the 4 bid needs some understandings. If you a willing to look for a heart slam but not a spade slam bid 4. A 4 bid says just bid your suit or pass.
A reader sent in this hand AKx KJ10xx AKJ10x void and they opened 3. The reader doubled and they ended up in 6 down 2 cold for 7 or 7. Using Roman jump overcalls you would bid 4 and getting to 7 is a possibility with 10xxx AQx Qxx Axx .
A bid that pin points your suits after a pre-empt is useful. Any help in pre-emptive auctions is gratefully accepted.
Roman jump overcalls can be played over bids at the one level but most prefer the jump to be weak & pre-emptive one suiters, as they come up more often.