ACBL04A – Notrump: 5/5 Major & Minor Transfers Ward Trumbull
Nov 3, 2008
Page 1 of 4
In response to a one notrump opening, the responder has several options:
Bid Response Comment Game
------------ ----------------- -------------------------------------- ----------------
1 notrump 2 clubs Stayman try for 4/4 major fit Optional
2 diamonds Jacoby Transfer to 2 hearts Optional
2 hearts Jacoby Transfer to 2 spades Optional
2 spades Minor Transfer to 3 clubs No – Drop D
2 NT 8-9 HCP Optional
3 clubs Minor Transfer to 3 diamonds No – Drop D
3 diamonds See Below
3 hearts See Below
3 NT 10+ HCP Game
4 clubs Gerber Slam try
4 diamonds Texas Transfer to 4 hearts Game
4 hearts Texas Transfer to 4 spades Game
3 Diamonds – Major 5/5 Transfer
When you hold 5/5 (or more) in the majors opposite a one notrump
open by your partner, it’s difficult to bid and achieve an 8+ card major
fit. For this reason the 3 diamond response can be used to indicate
this type of hand. Since the standard notrump hand distributions are:
4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2
you are relatively sure that your team will have that 8+card fit in at
least one of the majors. With 3+ cards in a major and 15-16 HCP
the notrump bidder responds with 3 in that major, and with 17-18
HCP the response is 4 in that major.
The points for this type 5/5 hand should be 5+ HCP (preferably in the
majors) plus 3 for distributional points. With 5-6 HCP you can pass
partner’s major 3 bid. With more, go to game. With less, use the
Stayman/Transfer technique.
ACBL04A – Notrump: 5/5 Major & Minor Transfers Nov 3, 2008
Page 2 of 4
3 Diamonds – Major 5/5 Transfer (continued)
Example Hands HCP Bidding
--------------------------------------- ------- ----------------------------------
K J x x x Q x x x x x x x 6 1NT, 3D, 3H/4H, pass
x x x x x x x x x x A J x 5 1NT, 3D, 3S/4S, pass
x x x x x K x x x x J x x 4 1NT, 2C, 2D, 2H, 2S, pass
2H, pass
2S, pass
A x x x x K x x x x x x x 7 1NT, 3D, 3 H/S, 4 H/S
AQ x x x A K x x x x x x 13 1NT, 3D, 3/4 major, 4NT
(slam try)
3 Hearts - Minor 5/5 Transfer (Slam Try)
In this case you have 5/5 (or more) in the minors opposite a
one notrump opening bid by partner. The goal here is slam in
a minor. DO NOT SETTLE for 4 in a minor.
The points for this type 5/5 hand should be 15+ HCP in the
minor suits plus 3 distributional points. After your 3 heart bid,
the notrump opener can choose his/her better looking minor
suit (i.e. by bidding 4 clubs or 4 diamonds).
You then continue with 4NT (Blackwood) for a slam try. If
your pair is short on controls (Roman Keycard), you can:
1. pass a 5 club or 5 diamond response if that is the
agreed upon minor suit.
2. bid 5 spades for partner to close out at 5NT.
ACBL04A – Notrump: 5/5 Major & Minor Transfers Nov 3, 2008
Page 3 of 4
3 Hearts - Minor 5/5 Transfer (continued)
Example Hands HCP Bidding
------------------------------------------ ------- ----------------------------------------
x x x K Q x x x K Q x x x 10 1NT, 3NT
x x x A Q x x x A K x x x 13 1NT, 3NT
Q x x A K x x x K Q J x x 15 1NT, 3H, 4C, 4NT,
5C (3 controls), 6 clubs
Q x x A K x x x K Q J x x 15 1NT, 3H, 4C, 4NT,
5D (1 control – can’t be 4),
5S, 5NT
Q x x K J x x x Q x x x x 8 1NT, 2NT (3NT optional)
Q J x K Q x x x Q x x x x 10 1NT, 3NT
A x x x x x x x Q x x x x 6 1NT and pass
5/5 Options over Opponent Overcalls
Open Overcall Your Bid Meaning
-------- ----------- ------------- --------------------------------------------------------
1NT 2 clubs double Stayman (not penalty)
2D – 2H Transfers to hearts/spades
2NT 8-9 HCP (hopefully with club stopper)
3C Transfer to 3 diamonds
3D Major 5/5 Transfer
* 3H Minor 5/5 Transfer for slam try
3NT 10+ HCP (hopefully with club stopper)
2 diams double Transfer to hearts (not penalty)
2H – 2S Transfers to spades/clubs
2NT 8-9 HCP (hopefully with diam stopper)
3C Stayman (not diamond transfer)
3D Major 5/5 Transfer
* 3H Minor 5/5 Transfer for slam try
3NT 10+ HCP
* Important to show 5/5 in the minors even though the opponent
bid one of the minors.
ACBL04A – Notrump: 5/5 Major & Minor Transfers Nov 3, 2008
Page 4 of 4
5/5 Options over Opponent Overcalls (continued)
Open Overcall Your Bid Meaning
-------- ----------- ------------ ------------------------------------------------------
1NT 2 hearts double Transfer to 2 spades
2S Transfer to 3 clubs
2NT 8-9 HCP (hopefully with heart stopper)
3C Stayman for spades
3D Invalid
3H Minor 5/5 transfer for slam try
3NT 10+ HCP (hopefully with heart stopper)
2 spades double Transfer to 3 clubs
2NT 8-9 HCP (hopefully with spade stopper)
3C Stayman for hearts
3D Transfer to hearts
3H Minor 5/5 transfer for slam try
3NT 10+ HCP (hopefully with spade stopper)
Note: In both examples, a direct transfer to 3 diamonds (0-7 HCP) is
not possible. However, you could transfer to 3 clubs and then
bid 3 diamonds yourself and hope partner is paying attention.
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