INTRODUCTION

D25 INTRODUCTION TO TRANSFER BIDDING

INTRODUCTION

Transfer bidding is one of the most useful recent additions to bidding theory for more experienced partnerships.

1. Over an opening bid of 1NT

2 § is still the Stayman convention to look for 4/4 major fits, no change at all

2 ¨ says. 'Partner I have at least 5 hearts, please bid 2©,' a transfer' bid.
After the mandatory 2 © transfer by opener, responder may;

a) Pass with a weak hand, i.e. less than about 10 points

b) Bid 2NT or 3NT showing a balanced hand with 5 hearts

c) Bid a second suit, forcing for at least one round showing 5/4 shape

d) Bid 3 © to show a 6 card suit and to invite game

e) Bid 4 © if he wants partner to play this contract!

2 © says, 'Partner I have at least 5 spades please bid 2ª' a 'transfer bid

After the mandatory 2 ª transfer by opener, responder may;

a) Pass with a weak hand, i.e. less than about 10 points

b) Bid 2NT or 3NT showing a balanced hand with 5 spades

c) Bid 3 ª to show a 6 card suit and to invite game

d) Bid a second suit, forcing for at least one round showing 5/4 shape

e) Bid 4 ª if he wants partner to play this contract!

2 ª says, 'Partner I have about 6 clubs or 6 diamonds, please bid 3§ . (see note 1)

After the mandatory 3 § transfer by opener, responder may;

a) Pass the 3 § with a weak hand with long clubs

b) Bid 3 ¨ with a weak hand with long diamonds. Opener passes this.

c) 2NT is natural showing a balanced hand of 11 to 12 points, no change.(see note 1)

d) All 3 bids are natural and game forcing, no change

2. Over an opening bid of 2NT (or the sequence 2 § 2¨ 2NT, 23-24 points)

3 § is still the Stayman convention to look for 4/4 major fits, no change at all.(note 1)

3 ¨ says. 'Partner I have at least 5 hearts, please bid 3©, a 'transfer' bid.

After the mandatory 3 © transfer by opener, responder may;

Pass with a very weak hand (rare)

Bid 3NT showing a balanced hand with 5 hearts

Bid a second suit, forcing, showing 5/4 shape

Bid 4 © if he wants partner to play this contract

3 © says, 'Partner I have at least 5 spades please bid 3ª,' a transfer bid

After the mandatory 3 ª transfer by opener, responder may;

Pass with a very weak hand (rare)

Bid 3NT showing a balanced hand with 5 spades

Bid a second suit, forcing for at least one round showing 5/4 shape

Bid 4 ª if he wants partner to play this contract!

3 ª says, 'Partner I have 5 Spades + 4 hearts, please bid the final contract.(note 1)

3NT is natural and to play

4 § and 4¨ shows a desire to proceed to game with a long minor. (Note 1)

Note 1. Some partnerships play a different interpretation of the bids noted. If you agree to play transfers with new partners, you must also agree the meaning of these bids.

3. Advantages

a) On weak hands, the stronger hand is now usually playing the contract making the defence more difficult and the lead comes around 'into' openers honours. This is particularly important over the opening 2NT.

b) For invitational hands, there are some very ugly sequences in simple Acol. For instance, your partner opens 1NT (12-14) and you hold;

ª A 3 2
© K Q 10 5 3
¨ Q 3
§ 10 4 3?

This is an invitational hand. Traditionally the bidding goes; 1NT 2§ 2¨ 3©
Opener now passes with 12 points or converts to 4 © or 3NT with 14 points. But if opener has 12 points and a doubleton heart, you are likely to be too high already. Using transfers, however the bidding would go;

Now you have shown a hand with 11 points and 5 hearts economically below the 3 level. With 12 points, opener can pass 2NT with a doubleton heart or bid 3 hearts with 3 card heart support.
With 14 points, opener will bid 3NT with a doubleton heart or bid 4 hearts with 3 or more hearts.

c) For strong hands, it is much easier to investigate alternative suit games below the level of 3NT. For instance, your partner opens 1NT (12-14) and you hold;

In simple Acol, the bidding would go;

1NT 3© ??
Opener raises to 4 © with three card heart support or bids 3NT with a doubleton heart. Now 3NT might be a very silly contract. It might even fail if opener also has diamond weakness when 6§ might be a good contract!.

Using transfers, the sequence would go;

Responder has shown a strong hand with 5 hearts and clubs and the bid of 3 § is forcing. So opener can now support hearts with three, bid 3NT with a doubleton heart and no interest in clubs or support the club suit with a bid of 4§ .

4. Disadvantages

Over 1NT, you cannot make a weak take out of 2 ¨. This bid is rather feeble anyway in that you are advertising weakness and it is easy for opponents to chip in over such a low call.And occasionally, opponents have the chance to double your artificial transfer bid to secure the best lead.