The source of the following information can be found online at the website of Jeff Goldsmith. The following is an idea conceived by Mr. Grant Sheridan Baze, born in the year 1943 in San Francisco, United States, and died January 11, 2009, and is of San Diego, California, United States. His peers described him as an experienced bridge professional, who was known as a tenacious competitor, a true gentleman at the bridge table and in the bridge room, and also as one of the most ethical bridge players in local, national, and international tournaments.

Information about the Player

Mr. Grant Sheridan Baze was a four-time world champion on the international stage, and owing to his comportment, his ethics, and his much imitated sportsmanship as well as his desire to continually dress in suit and tie while playing at the bridge events the American Contract Bridge League renamed the Senior Knockout Teams in the year 2009 to the Baze Senior Knockout Teams. The trophy was donated by his many colleagues, peers, and bridge partners for the event. The photograph below was taken in the year 1984.

Principle of the Concept

Mr. Jeff Goldsmith admitted to partner Mr. Grant Sheridan Baze that a huge interest was present to bid very light preemptive jump raises in both Minor suits if partner opened either Minor suit. The reason provided for this particular interest is that passing the opening bid of partner would be perhaps more uncooperative if there were no other alternative.

The realization that some holdings contain value-ranges, by which there is no alternative bid other than to make a preemptive jump raise led to the question as to how best to determine the value of the preemptive jump raise. The conclusion was that a jump raise can be indeed rather fairly wide-ranged. As this conclusion raised questions, which required further investigation and analysis of the situation, it was Mr. Grant Sheridan Baze, who indeed devised a solution, which was henceforth designated as the Grant's Hack. (Note to the reader: in English the word hack has, in this instance, the colloquial meaning of to cope and manage with successfully.)

The Concept

When one partner opens the auction with a Minor suit, either Clubs or Diamonds, the responder makes a preemptive jump raise of the same suit on the three level. The following illustration outlines the Grant's Hack solution.

South		North		Meaning
1		3		This is a jump raise, which has not been clarified as to the strength of the holding. However, the agreement is that the length of the suit is at least a 5-card suit or else a 4-card suit with 2-2.5 winning tricks such as KQ109.
3				This continuation with the cheapest possible bid inquires about a possible game in No Trump. (Note: if the opening Minor is Diamonds, then the next cheapest bid is Hearts.)
		3		The responder assures the opening bidder that game in No Trump is more than worth a gamble and sufficient values plus entries are present. The responder promises the preemptive jump raise is not weak.
		3 NT		North, in this bidding example, with a certain holding and correctly placed keycards informs South that South most likely will not be successful in declaring a No Trump game contract. However, the chances that North declares a game contract in No Trump are greater and could quite possibly be achieved.
		4		This is the part of the Grant's Hack solution, which informs South, in this bidding example, that any attempt at a No Trump game contract will be entirely impossible and that the partnership must sign-off in a partscore.

Note: As the concept is quite straight-forward and indeed uncomplicated no examples have been provided.

 

 

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.