[mikl_plkcc]

I have read that a Soloway jump shift can be performed with a 17 to 19 HCP balanced hand.

GiB opened 1♥, I jump shifted into 2♠ with ♠8762 ♥AT ♦KJT7 ♣AKJ

Robot raised to 3♠ with ♠AKT, I rebid 3NT.

We ended up in 5♠ with a 7-card fit, losing to both the Q and the J in the 4-2 fit and a side A.

Was this hand not good enough for a balanced jump shift? What kind of hand is needed for a balanced jump shift?

[smerriman]

A balanced hand in that range, yes, but it still also shows a strong 5 or 6 card suit.. which 8762 is not.

[thepossum]

Not even strong enough overall, let alone such a terrible suit

[mikl_plkcc]

 smerriman, on 2025-September-21, 13:46, said:

A balanced hand in that range, yes, but it still also shows a strong 5 or 6 card suit.. which 8762 is not.

How can a balanced hand contain a 6-card suit? Even with a 5-card suit are you expecting something like AKJxx and 3-2-2 in the other 3 suits?

[smerriman]

Yes, the balanced version means 5332 or 6322. And yes, all Soloway jump shifts require a good suit, as one of the points of making it is so that opener can "fill in" the gap in your suit, significantly upgrading a holding like Qx (or sometimes even a singleton queen). If you bid the hand without jumping originally, you can show your strength, but not where your values lie.