FOUR SUIT TRANSFERS

Your partner has opened 1NT, so when do you use transfers?

Remember, just because you have a 5-card suit does not mean that it is the best spot. Partner may have only 2 cards in the suit, so a NT contract could be best.

1NT-2♦ --2♥ --and now 2NT. You will have told partner you have 5 hearts and 8 points inviting him to go on if he has maximum. You have a minimum of 23 points, so 2NT should not be in any danger if he passes with a minimum.

You always use transfer with a 6-card suit, weak or strong.

Your partner has introduced transfer sequence and you have FOUR CARD SUPPORT.

At this stage you do not know if partner is weak, strong, or even invitational. In view of the huge fit with you having 4-card support for his 5 or 6-card suit it makes sense to tell partner this, rather than tamely just completing the transfer at the 2 level. Why not give him a complete picture of your hand and show not only how many points you have, but also whether you have any doubletons? This should assist him in evaluating his hand, including showing how many possible losers there are in a suit, and fixing the level of the contract. For example partner may have Axxx in a side suit, and if you show a doubleton in this suit then the maximum losers in this suit will be ONE! Now having shown the reason, let us proceed.

You now break the transfer sequence, and make the following responses

1) Minimum points---bid 3 ♥

2) Maximum points

With a doubleton -- bid the suit with the doubleton

1nt -2♦ -3♣ shows max points, 4-card ♥ support and a doubleton ♣

1nt- 2♦ -2♠ shows max points, 4-card ♥ support and a doubleton ♠

1nt- 2♦ -3♦ shows max points, 4-card ♥ support and a doubleton ♦

3) Maximum and no doubleton--Bid 2NT.

Don’t worry about getting too high. You have a nine-card fit! Opponents will surely have a fit somewhere. The risk is minimal.

SUPER ACCEPTS TO MINORS

When should you use transfers to a Minor?

If you hold a long weak broken suit and no chance of game, you would want to play in 3 of a Minor.

OR……

You have a goodish 6 card suit missing a Top honour. If partner can fill in then you have a chance for 3NT

OR

You want to investigate a slam in the minors.

Playing 4 card transfers you use 2♠ a transfer to Clubs, and 2 NT as a transfer to Diamonds.

You open 1NT, and your partner bids 2♠ . Now you can bid 3♣ , or you can break the transfer to show you have an honour and 2 small cards in Clubs. You do this by bidding the "step in between"

The "step in between" is 2NT. As you can see this has cost nothing in terms of raising level of bidding. If partner is just very weak he will bid 3♣ , which will be to play.

OR

He will bid 3NT

OR

Make any another bid which will be a slam try in Clubs.

In the same way as 2NT requests a transfer to 3♦

a bid of 3♣ is the step in between.

How do you show a genuine raise to 2NT?

You do this by going via Stayman. You bid 2♣ ,even without a major, and bid 2NT over his response.

Care has to be taken with one particular sequence

Partner with MINIMUM hand and 4 spades will pass

OR

With minimum hand and no 4 card spade suit will sign off in 2NT.

Other bids are showing maximum