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.

                                                      ------------------------------------------------