Alternative Designations
However, the second designation for this conventional method is named after Mr. Robert F. Jordan, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, who was foremost in bringing the conventional method to the bridge community mainly in the United States, which adopted the concept and where it became popular, and where the bridge community began calling the concept the Jordan Two No Trump.
Mr. Albert Dormer from England assisted in making the conventional method popular in England and Europe and, by the nature of things, became designated with his surname, thus Dormer Two No Trump.
Principle of the Concept
A bidding example should show the meaning:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
|
Meaning |
1  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Double |
|
|
|
|
|
Takeout Double. |
| |
|
|
|
2 NT |
|
|
|
Communicates suit length and support points for partner's suit. |
The 2 No Trump bid by North is completely artificial. The conventional method is employed once an opponent makes a takeout double after partner opens either Major suit. The 2 No Trump response following the double by the nest player in rotation shows a minimum of a 4-card support, and about 9/10-12 support points.
Note: Some partnerships define this bid as having 1.5 defensive tricks outside the trump suit.
Note: In the original version the 2 No Trump bid by North after the intervening double shows a limit raise in the bid Major suit of the opener. The meaning of this response is that a 2 No Trump bid by the responder shows a 4-card support in the bid Major suit, and a point range, including distribution, of 9 to 11 support points.
Note: Some partnerships have the agreement to reduce the support length to a good 3-card suit.
Note: The Truscott / Jordan / Dormer conventional method can and may be employed in bidding sequences when the opener is in a position to rebid when the new suit of the partner is doubled by the third hand opponent, as in the following auction:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1  |
|
Double |
| 2 NT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
See also: Extended Truscott
Examples
In order to make the Jordan Two No Trump convention method clearer to the bridge player, the following examples serve to demonstrate the strategy behind it. They should illustrate the effectiveness of the conventional method in connection with other bids. Distinguishing between the different bids after an overcall or a double is essential in understanding the mechanism of this convention. The meaning given to each of the different possible bids is important to remember and essential in the partnership agreement.
In the bidding example:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Double |
|
Redouble |
|
|
North would normally have 10 support points or more, but North would also normally have only a 3-card support in Hearts. The redouble is generally considered to be a forcing action and demands partner to either bid and establish the final contract in Hearts or to double the contract of the opponents if the opponents declare. The disadvantage of this action would be that East has the opportunity to enter the auction on the one level, and once in the auction, it will be very difficult to prevent the opponents from exchanging vital information about their holdings.
In the bidding example:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
3 |
|
|
If the partnership agreement is to employ limit raises, then it would be more advisable if North, having a 3-card support in Hearts, would jump to 3 Hearts, and this bid would show 10-12 support points. This response shows insufficient values for game, but the bid makes it more difficult for East to arrive at a bid, and South has all the information he needs to make the right decision.
If North were to respond with 3 No Trump, this would signify at least a 3-card support in Hearts, and a point range, including distribution, of 12 to 15 support points.
In the bidding example:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Double |
|
3 |
|
|
If the bridge player were to adopt the Jordan Two No Trump conventional method, then the above example would show a preemptive raise, a 4-card length in Hearts, and fewer than 9 support points.
North would have something like:
The use of the preemptive raise in accordance with the Jordan Two No Trump conventional method makes it more difficult for the opponents to compete, and that is essential in the auction. North and South, per their partnership agreement, will not bid too high, but make it very difficult for the opponents to enter the auction, and if doubled, the penalty will not be that great.
For clarification purposes, following is a short summary:
Note: Some partnerships have extended this convention to include the Minor Suits. Beware, however, that some partnerships, if the opening is in a Minor suit, have reversed the significance of the 2 No Trump bid and the jump raise.
Variation
Some partnerships have agreed to reverse the meanings of the following responses after the double, and this variation has become known as Flip Flop:
| Opener |
|
LHO |
|
Responder |
|
Meaning |
| 1 / |
|
Double |
|
2 NT |
|
A preempt in the suit of the opener showing a weak distributional holding and good to moderate trump support. |
| |
|
|
|
3 |
|
A jump raise of the suit of the opener shows a Limit Raise with either 3 or 4 plus trump support and between 9 to 11 support points. |
The partnerships playing in this manner maintain that the advantage lies in the fact that when the opener, who holds the stronger values, wishes to play in No Trump rather in a known suit contract, then the opener becomes the declarer and the lead is up to the stronger of the two holdings, which can result in an additional trick.
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.
