Jacoby 2NT

/ Sunil Khanna
Article includes-Truscott aka Jordan

Jacoby 2NT is a game forcing convention to be used only to establish MAJOR TRUMP SUIT game or slam in uncontested auction.

Jacoby 2NT game forcing convention on opening major. Responder bids 2NT over opening bid of 1 !h or 1!s in uncontested auction. 4!s by north opting for game directly, shows no interest in slam investigation.
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Before describing this gadget in detail, we must also know what to do, when opposition interferes with overcall or double.

Whenever opponent overcalls with a suit, CUE BID to show 10+ HCP with 3 card support instead of Jacoby 2NT

Cue bid by North (3!d on overcall 2!D). Shows 10+ points and 3+ card support to opening bid


TRUSCOTT 2NT (aka Jordan 2NT) is similarly used in a competitive bid where opener is DOUBLED by the opponent and responder has 10+ HCP and a FIT in the partner’s MAJOR.

Truscott aka Jordan after takeout double by overcaller


Now let us describe Jacoby 2NT. Bid 2NT on a partner’s level 1 Major (1!S or 1!H). It signals FIT in opening Major with 13+ points in responder’s hand.

2NT response is Jacoby 2NT Alert

The Jacoby 2NT convention is a very useful gadget. It is a game forcing major suit raise by responder in his 1st bid that shows the following:

  • 13+ total points including extra values for distribution. Hand must have at least 11 HCP out of the 13 TP.
  • 4+ Cards of opening Major. (even 3 cards with top 2 of the 3 honours is acceptable).

This bid provides several advantages:

  • It forces the partnership to game.
  • It immediately establishes the trump suit.
  • It leaves bidding space for further slam investigation.

Jacoby 2NT includes an excellent opener’s relay structure. Which allows us ample room to explore the possibility of slam. As both partners have already established a MAJOR TRUMP suit, a new suit bid shows extra meaning:

  • Partner Bids 1!h and your bid is 2NT so HEARTS is established as TRUMP suit
  • Partner Bids 1!s and your bid is 2NT so SPADES is established as TRUMP suit

Partner rebids control cues for more information. for example, when !h Suit is agreed FIT:

3!cVoid or Singleton4!c5+ cards with 2 of 3 top honours
3!dVoid or Singleton4!d 5+ cards of with 2 of 3 top honours
3!sVoid or Singleton4!s 5+ cards of with 2 of 3 top honours
3!hEXTRA VALUE4!hMinimum hand

Similarly, For !S Suit :

3!S will be extra value.

3!H=Void or Singleton. 4!H=5+Cards in Hearts.

Important notes :

  • Above chart shows only single relay bid by opener. Next bid of responder follows regular slam investigation routine via control bids.
  • when opener’s hand has a 5+ cards side suit and a short suit, bid the 5+ cards suit at level 4. Shortness in other suits becomes obvious because opening bid in Major has already shown 5+ cards in trump suit. Keep in mind 5+ Suits are only bid when they have 2 of the top 3 honours.
  • Extra value is not very specific. It could be not a minimum hand or extra trumps. The objective here is to explore more in responder’s hand.
  • when there’s tie between showing extra value or shortness in a suit. Go for showing shortness.
Illustration of 2NT protocol. 3!d shows shortness. 3!s is control bid to show 1st trick control (Ace or void). 4NT is 3014RKBC.


Detailing Truscott aka Jordan

TRUSCOTT 2N (aka Jordan 2N) is used in a competitive bids where opener is DOUBLED by the opponent and you have 10+ HCP and a FIT in the partner’s MAJOR or MINOR. that means 3+ card support to opening Major or 5+ card support to opening Minor.

  • Bid 2N after opponent’s double
  • Opener’s 3 level bid of another suit shows 4+ cards and game force.
  • 3 of the opening suit rebid by opener is sign off

Example 1 – Truscott over 1 Major

2NT by west is Truscott as South doubled over 1!h of east. Shows 3+ card support to opener’s major and also 10+ points.
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Example 2 – Truscott over 1 Minor

2NT by west is Truscott as South doubled over 1!c of east. Shows 5+ card support to opener’s minor and also 10+ points. 3!c by opener is sign off.
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