Maryland Jump Bid, also known as the Maryland Convention or simply the Maryland, is a popular bidding convention in the game of bridge. It is primarily used in the game of duplicate bridge and is designed to convey specific information about the bidder's hand to their partner. The Maryland Jump Bid is a preemptive bid used by the opener after an opponent has made an opening bid. It is a jump to the three-level in a suit that has not been previously bid, showing a long, solid suit within a certain point range. The purpose of this bid is to disrupt the opponents' auction and make it difficult for them to find the right contract. There are different types of Maryland Jump Bids, each indicating different hand qualities and point ranges. The most common types include: 1. Weak (preemptive) Maryland Jump Bid: This type of Maryland Jump Bid is made with a weak hand, typically consisting of a long, solid suit (usually six or more cards) and a specific point range (around 6-9 high card points). The objective is to hinder the opponents from finding their optimal contract. 2. Intermediate Maryland Jump Bid: This variant of the Maryland Jump Bid is used with an intermediate hand. It typically consists of a long, solid suit (usually six or more cards) and a higher point range than the weaker version (around 10-13 high card points). This bid aims to create confusion and make it harder for the opponents to accurately evaluate the hand. 3. Strong Maryland Jump Bid: The strong Maryland Jump Bid is the highest-level form of the convention. It is made with a very strong hand, usually with a long, solid suit (often seven or more cards) and a higher point range (around 14+ high card points). The main objective here is to disrupt the opponents and potentially push them into an unfavorable contract. Overall, the Maryland Jump Bid is an effective tool for disruptively bidding in bridge. It allows the opener to convey specific hand information to their partner based on the level of the jump bid, thereby enabling them to make more accurate judgments during the auction phase of the game.