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Transfer Bids BETTER BIDDING by BERNARD MAGEE Transfer Bids do not recommend many conventions, 1. When you are weak, you can When the 1NT bidder hears a transfer but there are two which you should arrange for partner to become bid, he responds by bidding his Iconsider adopting if the weak no- declarer, thus concealing the partner’s suit, e.g. 1NT – 2♦ – 2♥. trump is part of your bidding system. stronger hand. Responder shows five or more hearts; The 12-14 1NT opening bid does come 2. Transfers offer more flexibility in opener bids hearts for his partner, and up an awful lot and therefore you will the bidding: there are many types of now responder has a second chance to find yourself responding to it quite hands that you might like to show bid. Herein lies the essence of transfers: frequently. This makes it very important after 1NT, and this method enables by being given a second chance to bid, that you have an efficient method of you to show several different ones. responder can describe his hand fully. responses that allow you to get to the There are three types of hand best contract most of the time. A full set of responses to 1NT is responder can hold, in each case My opinion is that Stayman and outlined below: including a five-card, or longer, major: Transfers are the best set of conventions to play in response to 1NT; they are not 2♣ = Stayman 1 Weak: fewer than 10 points; no too difficult and yet they are extremely 2♦ = Transfer to hearts chance for game flexible. 2♥ = Transfer to spades 2 Invitational: 10 or 11 points; a Here we are going to look at how the 2♠ = As the bid is not needed chance for game system of transfers works. to show spades, it can be 3 Strong: 12 or more points; sure of assigned other meanings a game What Are Transfers? (see next month’s issue) 2NT = 11-12 points How Do You Show A ‘transfer’ is a bid in a suit ranking 3♣/3♦/ = Natural and strong below the suit you actually hold; it tells 3♥/3♠ } Weak, Intermediate, your partner that you hold the suit and Strong Hands? ranked above the one you have bid. It When Should You Use sounds a very strange idea (after all why Transfers? WEAK HANDS don’t we just bid the suit we hold?) but With a weak hand you simply transfer you will see how the method works as A very useful little rhyme is: and then pass. e.g. 1NT – 2♦ – 2♥ – you read on. Pass. The transfers that we will be using in Stayman is used for four This is just like the old-fashioned response to 1NT will be in the red suits Transfers for five or more ‘Weak Take-out’, except that playing – 2♦ to show hearts, and 2♥ to show transfers the stronger hand is kept hidden. spades. Whenever you hold five or more cards in a major suit, you can use transfers. How INTERMEDIATE HANDS Why Use Transfers? many points you have does not matter, as Transfer and then either: you will see, you can make a transfer bid (i) Rebid 2NT with a five-card major There are two basic reasons for using on 0 points or on 19 points – hence the or: transfer bids: flexibility of the method. (ii) Rebid three of the major with a Stayman, on the other hand, is used six-card major when you hold at least one four-card e.g. major in an attempt to find a 4-4 fit. either: (i) 1NT – 2♦ – 2♥ – 2NT NOW ♥ ♠ ♠ PLUSREADY or: (ii) 1NT – 2 – 2 – 3 How Do Q 7.1 Transfers Work? The idea in these sequences is that you are inviting your partner to game in the The very best In response to a 1NT opening bid: same way as 1NT – 2NT would invite Acol-playing Software him to game, but with transfers you can ♦ £79.95 from the Mail Order Service 2 shows five or more hearts show your long major on the way. 2♥ shows five or more spades Continued on page 23 Page 21 TRANSFER BIDS continued from page 21 A nice and strong hand, easily described by making a transfer bid first, to show your five spades, and then rebidding in STRONG HANDS describe your hand perfectly: “Partner I your second suit, clubs – denoting a Transfer and then either: have five hearts and about 11 points.” strong and distributional hand with five (i) Jump to 3NT with a balanced spades and four or more clubs. hand including a five-card major, or: ♠ Q J 9 8 6 5 (ii) Bid a new suit if you hold a five- ♥ AK ♠ AK 6 card major and a second suit, ♦ 4 2 ♥ Q J 10 9 6 2 or: ♣ 7 6 3 ♦ 4 (iii) Jump to four of your major if it is ♣ A6 3 six-cards long. e.g. Opener Responder either (i) 1NT – 2♦ – 2♥ – 3NT 1NT 2♥ Opener Responder or (ii) 1NT – 2♥ – 2♠ – 3♣ 2♠ 3♠ 1NT 2♦ or (iii) 1NT – 2♦ – 2♥ – 4♥ 2♥ 4♥ Once again you start with a transfer bid, Here the idea is that we show our five- this time 2♥, showing five or more Lastly, we have a strong hand with a card major and then our strength by spades. Partner bids your suit, 2♠ and solid six-card suit. You could respond jumping to game or changing the suit. now with ten points and a six-card suit, 4♥ to 1NT and get the auction over there has to be a chance for game, so with, but with no tenaces in your hand Transfers in Action you would like to invite your partner. you would much prefer the lead to go Because you have a six-card suit you up to your partner, so let him play the Let us see some examples of all this. should bid spades again to show extra contract: transfer to show your hearts Your partner opens 1NT and you hold: length: 3♠. Once again you have given and then jump to game with 4♥. a perfect description of your hand: “Six Enough about the responder to 1NT, or more spades and 10 or 11 points.” what does the opening bidder do? ♠ 5 4 ♥ Q J 10 9 6 5 How to Respond ♦ ♠ J 2 AK 6 to Transfers ♣ 7 6 3 ♥ Q J 10 9 6 ♦ J 2 There are various complicated systems, ♣ K 6 3 but mine is very simple: when partner Opener Responder makes a transfer bid close your eyes and 1NT 2♦ bid his suit! It does not matter what you 2♥ Pass Opener Responder hold in your hand, just bid partner’s suit. 1NT 2♦ This is how the system works: by bidding Without transfers, you would have made 2♥ 3NT partner’s suit, you allow him to describe a simple weak take-out, but playing his hand on the next round. I really do transfers you bid the suit below your You transfer to show your hearts and recommend closing your eyes, because major suit, 2♦. Your partner obediently your partner responds obediently 2♥. this will stop you from going wrong. bids 2♥ and now you pass. This time you have the strength for Yes, you might find it difficult when game, so with a balanced hand you playing with bidding boxes, but I am should jump to 3NT – remember, you sure you will get round it! ♠ A7 6 have already shown your five hearts! That was the easy part. Now let us ♥ Q J 10 9 6 This does take some getting used to – it consider what happens when partner has ♦ J 2 is always tempting to bid your suit described his hand. As we saw, he could ♣ K 6 3 again, but once you understand that you have three types of hand: (1) Weak, have shown five cards already, you will (2) Invitational, (3) Strong. get out of the habit. Continued on page 24 Opener Responder 1NT 2♦ 2♥ 2NT ♠ Q J 10 8 6 Bernard Magee’s ♥ AK Once again you start with a transfer bid, ♦ 4 widely acclaimed 2♦, showing five or more hearts. ♣ A 7 6 3 2 Partner bids 2♥ and now with 11 points ACOL BIDDING you have a chance for game, but don’t forget that you have already shown your Opener Responder SOFTWARE five hearts, so there is no need to bid 1NT 2♥ £59.95 from the Mail Order Service them again. Instead you rebid 2NT to 2♠ 3♣ Page 23 TRANSFER BIDS continued from page 23 This time the transfer bidder jumps to 3NT. Be careful not to pass without thinking! Why has partner made a (1) Opposite weak hands you will not Opener Responder transfer bid? To show you his five-card get another chance to speak. 1NT 2♦ major. Therefore you need to ask yourself 2♥ 2NT whether you want to play in his major (2) Opposite intermediate hands you 3NT (hearts) or in no-trumps. With three-card must decide: support and a doubleton in a side suit, (i) Whether game is on or not, You complete the transfer as required there is no doubt that you should play in depending on whether you and then your partner rebids 2NT. You hearts; bid 4♥. have 12 or 14 points; have two decisions to make: (ii) Whether to play in the major (i) Game or not? (Yes – with 14 points or in no-trumps.
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