Trustcott Convention

Note: This text concerns its usage in Betaacol ONLY
This convention is also known as Jacoby

It is used to show a solid raise of partner's opening suit bid or overcall to at least the 3-level  ONLY when following an intervention by your RHO. It will imply 4+ card support and solid values - it does not imply anything at all about the opponents intervention suit

Trustcott is NOT used in these 3 cases of support showing:
  1. Not used if opponents did NOT intervene 
  2. 2N o'call is TRUSTCOTT signals holding trump support  4+ cards & states that bidding may terminate at the 3 or 4 or 5level or even a slam
  3. This allows other possible bids to be more specific too:-
    1. Direct raises in partner's suit to 3 or 4 level are now likely to contain distributional values.
    2. A double is Negative: showing values and interested in unbid suits.
    3. Bidding a new suit is forcing and shows a 2nd suit  4+ cards
    4. 4N is Blackwood - not recommended, Trustcott prefers getting the overcaller to bid as above
    5. Responder may bid further alone over opponents bidding.
This convention is considered as an essential part of BETA.

Ex:  1H - 2D(opp) - 2N trustcott - 3D(opp) - Any new suit by partner is at least game forcing.

Attention: a direct response, i.e. no intervention by opponents with a 2|3N is a natural bid - shows 16+HCP. This is BARON and commits both  partners to bid other 4+ card suits up-the-line. Likely contract will be 3N.