McCallum/Sanborn Sept 2, 2000 SLOWARR.

290

290 SLOW ARRIVAL

“JUMPS IN TRUMPS SHOW GOOD TRUMPS”

WE DO NOT USE “FAST ARRIVAL” PRINCIPLES IN ANY SITUATION.

Jumps in forcing auctions are precise, descriptive calls, show-

ing interest in higher contracts. In other words, we are
SLOW ARRIVERS unless we have something specific to say.

This means that if there are 2 ways to bid game, then the slower
sequence says you want to play what you bid. The faster se-
quence implies interest in higher contracts and generally
conveys specific descriptive information regarding
a) suit quality
b) high-card strength
c) missing controls

A "fast" jump to 3NT shows extra values. A "fast" game bid in a

suit generally shows concentrated values (i.e., good trumps).

NOTE: There are a couple of specific situations where the con-

cept of “Fast Arrival” makes some sense, and is worthy of
consideration. DISCUSS.
NOTE: Much of this section on Slow Arrival may not apply yet
with Lynn – she is learning it. See note below.

In general:
Suit Bids:
If 3M is forcing, a jump to 4M1 is a “Good Trump Slam Try” (Slow
Arrival)
If either 3m or 4m is forcing, a jump in m1 is SA. (Good Trumps)
If 4th-suit is available (3♣ or below) jumps are SA. (Good
Trumps)
No SA from the one-level.

NoTrump Bids:
If 4th suit is available (3♣ or below) jumps in NT are SA. (Ex-
tra high-card strength)
No SA over 1NT rebid
No other conditions or restrictions in NT sequences.

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In a constructive auction, if 4th suit is available to mark time

(3♣ or below) then the jump to game (in a suit) is SA and
shows extras. (Does not apply if partner's last bid was at
one-level.) Jump rebids are “slow arrival” (good suit and
slam interest) only if the last bid was above 1NT, and there
is a way to mark time or make a lower forcing bid in the
suit.
In general, SA does not apply to jumps when there is no 4th
suit. These are auctions where opener rebids his own suit or
NT, and is therefore fairly narrowly limited.
However, if "Mark-Time" is available at 3-level, and your inten-
tions will later be clear, a jump is SA.
1♥-2♣; 2♥-2♠; 3♦-any; 4♥: Clearly to play; therefore, a jump to
4♥ over 2♠ would be SA - good ♥’s, slam try. REMEMBER: This
requires caution. Must avoid any confusion with COG which al-
ways has 1st priority. (Might be better to throw this idea
out completely.)
1♥-2♣; 2♥-2♠; 4♥: SA. Good ♥’s and slam interest (within the
context of the auction) even though 3♥ is non-forcing. Mark
time with 3♦ if intending to bid 4♥ with a weak suit and/or
without slam interest.
1♦-(2♣)-4♥: SA. 2♥ is forcing (3♥ would be fit-showing); there-
fore, jumping to 4♥ is good ♥’s and at least opening bid
strength with some slam interest, but lack of controls. (The
opponent's 2-level overcall removes the auction from the one-
level category.) Obviously, if the 4♥ bidder had an easy and
clear path to make a slam try he could start with 2♥. There-
fore, he probably doesn't have great extras, nor does he have
a singleton ♣.
1♥-1♠; 2♦-4♥: Slow arrival, extras. 3♣ is available for 4th
suit.

In a constructive auction, if a 4th-suit bid is available (3♣ or

below) to mark time, then a jump to 3NT (even if 2NT would be
NF) shows extras and strong NT orientation. After a SA jump
to 3NT (showing extras), 4-level rebids in old majors are
non-forcing (unless known to be 4/3 fit). 4m is forcing, and
4NS is forcing.
1♥-2♣; 2♦-3NT: Extras, Slam Try. Use 4th-suit (2♠) with minimum.
1♥-2♣; 2♥-3NT: Extras, 2♠ is available as convenient force be-
low 3♣. 2♠ functions as 4th suit.
1♠-2♣; 2♠-3NT: No extras, no convenient force available below
3♣.
1♣-1♠; 2N-4♠: SA (Forcing 3♠ was available.)

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1♣-1♠; 1N-4♠: To play, not SA. (No SA from one-level, and 3♠

would be NF.)
1♣-1♠; 2♣-4♠: SA (NMF 2♦ available to force.)
1♣-1♠; 3♣-4♠: SA (3♠ would be forcing.)
1♠-2♣; 2♥-2N; 4♠: SA. ONE-LOSER SUIT and slam interest. (3♠
over 2NT would have been forcing.)
1♠-2NT; 4♠: SA Good suit, slam interest, no singleton. (3♠ would
be forcing.)
1♣-1♠; 2♥-4♠: SA. ONE-LOSER SUIT and nothing on the side. (2♠
and 3♠ would have been forcing.)
1♥-1♠; 2♦-4♠;: SA. Good suit because could have bid 3♣; some
slam interest, but failed to jump shift.
1♦-(P)-1♥-(2♠); 3♣-(P)-3♠-(P); 5m: Extras, m concentration
1♦-(P)-1♥-(2♠); 3♣-(P)-3♠-(P); 4♣/♦: Forcing - no suit agreed
1♠-2♥; 3NT: SA. Extras. (18-20-)
1♦-1♠; 2♥-4♦: SA. AJxx xx KQ10x Kxx (contrast with delayed jump
below.)
1♦-1♠; 2♥-2N; 3♣-4♦: SA. Interest with bad trumps. Qxxx K10
109xxx xx.
1♣-(X)-2♥-(P); 4♥: SA (3♥ over 2♥ would be F - double fit.)
1♥-2♦; 2♥-4♥: SA. Extras. 3♥ would be NF, 2♠ or 3♣ used for
COG, or sign-off in 4♥.
1♠-2♦; 2♥-4♥: SA. Extras, because 3♥ would be F. Good Trumps.
1♠-1NT; 3♦-5♦: SA. Good ♦’s.
1♥-1♠; 2♣-4♥: SA. Good ♥’s.
1♥-1♠; 2♣-2♦; any-4♥(jump): SA. Slam try, good ♥’s.
1♥-1♠; 2♣-2♦; any-3♥: Either COG, or just on the way to 4♥, or
slam try without good ♥’s. (Opener is invited to Q-bid)
1♣-1♠; 2♥-3NT: SA. Extras, ♦’s double stopped. Slam try. (12-13)
1♣-1♠; 2♥-3NT; 4♥: 6-5, Forcing. (Note that 4♥ is normally NF,
but 2♥ was a reverse. Both sides have extras - must reach at
least 4NT.)
1♥-1♠; 2♦-3NT: Extras. (3♣ available for slow auction)
1♠-2♦; 2♥-3NT: Extras (3♣ available.)
1♣-1♥; 1♠-3NT: Extras (We use 4th-suit even from one-level in NT
SA auctions.)
1♠-2♦; 2♥-3NT: Extras (Can bid 3♣ forcing over 2♥ if no extras)
1♠-2♦; 2♥-3NT; 4♣/♦: Forcing one round. Opener may pass re-
sponder's 4M rebid. (Limited hand cannot make a forcing bid)
1♠-2♦; 2♥-3NT; 4♥/♠: NF.
1♠-2♦; 2♥-3NT; 4♣-4♠: NF.
1♣-1♥; 1♠-2♦; 3NT: Extras.

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1♣-1♥; 1♠-2♦; 3NT-4♥/♠: Forcing to 4NT

1♥-1♠; 2♦-3NT: Extras
1♥-1♠; 2♦-3NT; 4M: Forcing
1♥-2♣; 3NT-4♥: Forcing
1♥-1♠; 2♣-3NT: Extras because 4th-suit easily available
1♣-2♣; 2♠-3NT: Not SA, since 2NT would not be forcing.

New Suit Jumps In Competition, especially in passout seat, are

SA over opponents' bids of 2NT or higher:
1♣-(P)-1♠-(3♦); P (P)-4♥: 5-5 with some slam interest (3♥ would
be forcing).
1♠-(3♣)-4♥: ONE-LOSER SUIT, some slam interest (xx AQJxxxx Axx
x), because 3♥ would be forcing.

Jump-To-Game Rebids After Trumps Have Been Established Are Also

Slow Arrival.
1♥-2♣; 3♠-5♣: SA. Good Trumps.
1♥-2♣; 3♠-4♣: Forcing. May be slam interest with weak ♣’s, or on
the way to 5♣.
1♠-2♣; 2♦-2♠; 4♠: SA. 3♠ = force.
1♠-2♦; 3♦-5♦: SA. Good ♦’s, slam interest, nothing to Q-bid.
1♣-1♥; 1♠-2♦; 2♥-3N: Extras. Although 2NT is normally NF, it is
forcing after the preference.

There Is No SA Facing A Passed Hand:

P-1♠; 2♣-4♠: To play. No SA facing PH.

Lynn is not at all familiar with the less common SA auctions.

She uses the general principle of NO FAST ARRIVAL in it’s ba-
sic form, and clearly understands (in theory) the concept
that JUMPS IN TRUMPS SHOW GOOD TRUMPS and slam interest, but
is inconsistent at the table, which makes it a dangerous area
for us. (She’s not yet 100% with even the basic sequences
and does not always remember at the table. Definitely does
not handle the NT SA auctions well, and is extremely unlikely
to jump in her own suit to show slam interest in competitive
auctions where a non-jump bid in her suit would be forcing –
nor does she always recognize these situations when ktm makes
the SA bid.)