ACBL04H – Notrump: Understanding Transfers Ward Trumbull
Jun 10, 2012
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What
Transfers are conventions used by a responder to attempt to get his/her partner to be declarer in responder’s long suit when partner:
opens 1 notrump 15-18 HCP
overcalls 1 notrump 15+ HCP (could be more than 18)
* doubles opponents 1 notrump 15+ HCP
opens Trumbull 2 clubs and 19-21 HCP
rebids 2 notrump
opens 2 notrump 22-24 HCP
* See ACBL04J on Notrump Systems On.
Why
The purpose of a transfer is to have the notrump bidder play the hand. Thus normally, by transferring, the stronger declarer hand (the notrumper) is hidden, and the weaker dummy hand (the responder) is displayed.
How
The responder tells (not asks) partner to bid the responder’s long suit by bidding the suit below responder’s long suit. The notrump partner must
bid that suit at the indicated level. For example, responder would bid:
2 diamonds when he/she has 5+ cards in the heart suit
2 hearts when he/she has 5+ cards in the spade suit
Example: 1. The opener bids one notrump.
2. Responder with long hearts, bids 2 diamonds (the suit
below 2 hearts).
3. The notrump partner bids 2 hearts, as told.
4. The bidding may or may not continue. (explained below)
ACBL04H - Notrump: Understanding Transfers Jun 10, 2012
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Transfer Conventions
There are several kinds of transfers over notrump.
1. Jacoby Transfer - used for majors
2. Minor Transfer - used for the minors
3. Texas Transfer - used for majors at the 4 level (game)
4. 5/5 Major Transfer - used when responder has 5+/5+ cards in
the majors
5. 5/5 Minor Transfer - used when responder has 5+/5+ cards in
the minors and enough HCP for a slam try
Requirements for ONE Notrump (opened, overcalled or doubled)
To invoke (bid) the first 2 transfers above (Jaboby/Minor) you need no HCP. That is, with few (if any) HCP the responder can transfer and then pass. This is known as a “Drop Dead” transfer. You also may transfer when you have some or a lot of HCP.
A. Jacoby Transfer: 2 diamonds to 2 hearts or 2 hearts to 2 spades
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1. You need 5+ cards in a major suit to transfer
2. After the transfer, responder must:
a. Pass with 0-7 HCP (drop dead)
b. Bid 2 notrump with 8-9 HCP and only 5 cards in the major
c. Bid 3 notrump with 10+ HCP and only 5 cards in the major
B. Minor Transfer: 2 spades to 3 clubs or 3 clubs to 3 diamonds
-------------------------- ------------------------------
1. You need 6+ cards in a minor suit to transfer
2. After the transfer, responder must:
a. Pass with 0-7 HCP (drop dead)
b. With more, he/she shouldn’t have transferred.
8-9 HCP should have bid 2 notrump
10+ HCP should have bid 3 notrump
ACBL04H - Notrump: Understanding Transfers Jun 10, 2012
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Requirements for ONE Notrump (continued)
C. Texas Transfer: 4 diamonds to 4 hearts or 4 hearts to 4 spades
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1. You need 6+ cards in a major for this transfer.
2. You need 6+ HCP.
Note: That seems like not enough HCP, but these type games
are made more often than they are set.
Also note that with 6+ cards in a major but less than 6 HCP, you
should make a Jacoby Transfer and pass (drop dead).
Think of the Texas Transfer as the 6/6 transfer.
D. 5/5 Major Transfer – responder bids 3 diamonds
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1. You need 5+/5+ cards in the majors.
2. You need 5+ HCP (preferably in those majors).
Note: You will also have 3 distribution points when partner
names one of your majors.
Think of this as the 5/5/5 transfer.
This convention is covered in ACBL04A.
E. 5/5 Minor Transfer – responder bids 3 hearts
-----------
1. You need 5+/5+ cards in the minors.
2. You need 15+ HCP (preferably in those minors).
Note: After your partner names one of your minors at the 4
level, responder should bid 4 notrump (Blackwood) for
a slam try in that minor.
Think of this as the 5/5/15 transfer.
This convention is covered in ACBL04A.
ACBL04H - Notrump: Understanding Transfers Jun 10, 2012
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Requirements for TWO Notrump Openers (19-21 or 22-24 HCP)
A. Jacoby Transfer: 3 diamonds to 3 hearts or 3 hearts to 3 spades
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1. With 5 cards in a major suit make the 3 level transfer.
After the transfer, responder must:
a. 19-21 HCP notrump - Pass with 0-4 HCP (drop dead).
Bid 3 notrump with 5+ HCP.
b. 22-24 HCP notrump - Pass with 0-1 HCP (drop dead).
Bid 3 notrump with 2+ HCP.
2. With 6+ cards in a major suit:
a. 19-21 HCP notrump - With less the 3 HCP, make a 3 level
transfer and pass (drop dead).
With 3+ HCP see Texas transfer
below.
b. 22-24 HCP notrump - See Texas Transfer below.
B. Minor Suit Transfer is not applicable
C. 5/5 Major Transfer is not applicable.
D. 5/5 Minor Transfer is not applicable.
E. Texas Transfer
Responder needs 6+ cards in the major and:
ACBL04H - Notrump: Understanding Transfers Jun 10, 2012
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Novice Mistakes
responder’s suit, the responder bids 3 or 4 of the major.
Note: The notrump bidder only promises 2 cards in a major.
2. Makes a minor suit transfer with 8+ HCP when he/she should
have just bid 2 or 3 notrump.
3. Bids Stayman (2 clubs) when he/she has only one 5+ card
major or has two 5+ card majors. He/she should have
transferred.
Alerts
All transfer bids must be alerted by the notrump bidder (not the responder who is making the transfer). The notrumper should say:
“Transfer”
You don’t explain an alert unless one of the opponents asks for an explanation.