Bidding and conventions
Jacoby transfers
Jacoby transfers are responses to 1NT in which 2♦ asks opener to bid hearts and 2♥ asks for spades. The 15–17 point hand becomes declarer, so the opening lead comes up to it, and responder gets a second bid to describe strength.
Why transfer instead of just bidding the suit?
There are two reasons.
The strong hand declares. If responder bids 2♠ naturally and plays it, the opening lead comes from responder's left, through the 15-count and up to the weak hand.
Any tenace in the strong hand, such as an ace-queen, is exposed to the opening lead.
Transfer, and opener declares. The lead comes up to the strong hand, so with the king on opener's left, a ♥ A Q in opener's hand wins two tricks where it would have won one.
Responder gets a second call. A natural 2♠ is a weak sign-off, and it has to cover every weak hand with spades.
After a transfer, opener's reply is forced, and responder gets another bid with the two and three levels free to describe strength.
When to transfer
Five or more cards in a major, any strength at all, from a bust to a slam try.
Unlike Stayman, which needs about 8 points because you must have a plan for every answer, a transfer is safe with no points at all: opener's reply is forced and you may pass it.
Bid 2♥, opener bids 2♠, you pass. 2♠ usually plays better than 1NT with this hand as dummy.
Bid 2♥ first, then show your strength on the next round.
What responder bids next
Opener has bid your major. Now you place the contract, or invite.
- Pass: 0–7 points. You play in two of your major.
- 2NT: 8–9 points, exactly five in the major. Invitational, and it offers opener the choice: pass, bid 3NT, or return to your major with three-card support.
- Three of your major: 8–9 points, six or more. Invitational, and it takes notrump off the table.
- 3NT: 10–15, exactly five. Offers opener the choice of 3NT or four of the major.
- Four of your major: 10–15, six or more. No choice to offer; just bid it.
- A new suit: game-forcing, showing a second suit and at least 5-4 shape.
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2♥ | Pass | 2♠ |
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | 4♠ |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
Super-accepts
Opener has one way to say more. Holding four-card support and a maximum, opener may jump to three of the major instead of completing the transfer at the two level.
It shows a better fit than responder can expect and the top of opener's range. Responder passes with a very weak hand and bids game with almost anything else.
Only super-accept with both. On a minimum, the jump takes away the chance to stop at the two level when responder has a weak hand.
Transfers to the minors
Partnerships extend the idea to the minors, and agreements vary, so settle yours with partner:
- 2♠ as a transfer to clubs, with 2NT then showing diamonds. This is a common scheme.
- 2♠ as "minor suit Stayman", asking opener to show a four-card minor.
- Nothing at all: 2♠ stays natural.
Minor-suit transfers matter less than major-suit ones, because a minor-suit game needs eleven tricks and 3NT needs nine. With a long minor opposite a 1NT opening, 3NT is often the right game.
Over a 2NT opening
The same convention, one level up. After 2NT, 3♦ transfers to hearts and 3♥ to spades. It also applies after a 2♣ opening followed by a 2NT rebid.
Right-siding matters even more here, because the hand you're protecting is stronger still.
Stayman or transfer?
Count your major.
- Five or more: transfer. Opener needs only three-card support for an eight-card fit, and Stayman can't find that, because opener only answers with four.
- Exactly four: Stayman, if you have the values for it.
- Five in one and four in the other: transfer to the five-card suit first, then bid the four-card suit, which is forcing and shows exactly that shape.
Learn these two together. Between them they cover most hands with a major suit opposite a 1NT opening.