The origin of the delayed game raise concept is unknown. The conventional method addressed those partnership agreements, which did not include the Jacoby 2 No Trump limit raise to show a 4-card plus support for the Major suit opening by partner. The bidding sequence, generally without competition, is equivalent to a forcing standard jump raise.

Fundamentals

The partner may not be a passed hand and must hold game values in order to employ this conventional method. An example should illustrate and clarify this method:

South		West		North		East		Meaning
KJ108 AQ864 KJ J4				A65 KJ75 75 AQ86
1								Shows an opening bid in a Major suit. The bid suit is a Major suit and contains at least 5 cards.
		Pass		2		Pass		Normally a natural response. With the inclusion in the partnership agreement of the Jacoby 2 NT method or other limit raise conventional method, then the responder is forced to bid on the two level to force partner to continue bidding.
2 NT								The opener is forced to make a rebid. Some partnerships might consider a reverse bid, but the responder has shown no interest in Spades. The rebid of 2 No Trump is considered to be preferable.
		Pass		4				This is the Delayed Game Raise method. By forcing the opener to rebid the responder is able to bid game.

The hand of the responder is too strong to raise a 1 Heart opening to 4 Hearts in any average bidding system. Using Limit Raises, a substitute for the forcing double raise is absolutely necessary. 2 Clubs followed by 4 Hearts is the usual procedure.

But this auction becomes completely unsatisfactory if the rebid by the opener is 2 Hearts since the responder has not had a chance to describe his hand accurately.

This conventional method enjoyed some popularity, but soon became replaced with other conventional methods, which did not convey unnecessary, additional, and perhaps helpful information to the opponents.

Note: Also, in modern bidding styles, a bid of 1 No Trump, which would be forcing, followed by a jump to game in the suit of the opener, would show a balanced holding with 13-15 support points and at least 3-card support, also a delayed action.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.