TRANSFERS AND OTHER RESPONSES TO A 1NT OPENING

WHAT IS A TRANSFER?
A transfer is an artificial or ‘conventional’ bid. The most well-known examples is the
Jacoby Transfer bids of 2 or 2 over 1NT to show the next suit up. In response to a
1NT opening bid, responder with a 5 card or longer major suit, bids the suit ranking
immediately below the one he holds. Opener is obliged to bid the next suit up which is
responder’s actual suit.
WHY USE TRANSFERS?
1. By forcing opener to bid again it gives responder the opportunity for a second bid. This
gives us many more options for describing our hand after a 1NT opening.
2. It can be beneficial for opener, rather than responder, to play the hand when
responder is weak and even when responder has a game going hand.
WHEN TO USE TRANSFERS
We use transfers to show a 5+ card major suit or 6+ card minor suit. First we’ll look at
transferring to a major suit.
HOW TO TRANSFERS TO A MAJOR SUIT
After a 1NT opening, a bid of 2 or 2 is a transfer bid.
WEST EAST EAST We bid the suit ranking immediately below the suit we
1NT 2  K 9 8 7 2 hold. Opener MUST bid the next suit up at the lowest
2 8 level (with one exception see Page 4 ‘Super Acceptance’).
653
J642 Here we bid 2. Opener MUST bid the next suit up: 2.

HOW DO I KNOW MY PARTNER’S BID IS A TRANSFER?

Before you start to play you will agree with partner whether or not transfers are part of
your bidding system. If you decide to play transfers then bids of 2, 2 and 2 in
response to 1NT are always transfer bids.
WEST EAST EAST With this hand, if playing transfers, we can no longer
1NT Pass  J 7 2 make a sign off bid of 2 to show a weak hands. With
8 only five diamonds we just have to pass.
KJ653
J642

TRANSFERRING TO A MAJOR SUIT WITH WEAK HANDS (0-7 POINTS)

When partner has opened the bidding with 1NT and we have a weak hand, transfers
are used so that the opening lead come round to the stronger hand. With 0-7 points:
bid 2 to show 0-7 points and 5+ hearts
bid 2 to show 0-7 points and 5+ spades
Partner must ‘transfer’ to the correct suit and we follow with a Pass to end the bidding.

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American Style Five Card Majors
TRANSFERRING TO A MAJOR SUIT WITH INVITATIONAL OR
BETTER HANDS (8+ POINTS)
One Suited Hands
Transfers come into their own with invitational or better hands as they allows us to
give opener a precise description of our hand.
EAST We are East. Using transfers the bidding will go as follows.
Q84 West East
KQ876 1NT 2 ‘Please transfer to hearts’
42
2 2NT ‘I have got exactly 5 hearts and an invitational hand’.
J76

Now opener knows more about our hand he has 4 choices:

1. Pass with minimum hand and only 2 hearts.
2. Bid 3NT with maximum hand and only 2 hearts.
3. Bid 3 with minimum hand and 3 or more hearts.
4. Bid 4 with maximum hand and 3 or more hearts.

Using transfers responder is able to able to differentiate between various invitational

and game hands. Here are our options:

With exactly five cards in a major:

8-9 transfer then bid 2NT With 17 points partner bids 3NT or 4
10+ transfer than bid 3NT Partner converts to 4 with 3 or more hearts

With six or more cards in a major:

8-9 transfer then bid 3/3 With 17 points partner raises to game
10+ transfer then bid 4/4 Partner passes

A Two Suited Hands with 5 Hearts and 4 Spades

The sequence is 1NT-2-2-2 is forcing for one round showing 8+ points and at
least 5-4 shape in hearts and spades. It allows opener to choose the best contract.

WEST EAST EAST This sequence shows a responding hand of 5+ hearts and
1NT 2 Q842 4+ spades and at least invitational points. It is forcing for
2 2  A Q 8 7 6 one round. Now that opener has a good picture of
4
responder’s hand any of the following bids are possible:
J76
2NT, 3, 3, 3NT, 4, 4.

In our example responder has only an invitational hand. If responder’s hand was
stronger he would continue to game if opener bids 2NT, 3 or 3.

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American Style Five Card Majors
Two Suited Hands – Transfer Then New Suit at the Three Level
Since opener will be forced to reply at a higher level, a new suit at the three level
requires 10+ points and is forcing to game.

WEST EAST EAST This sequence shows a responding hand of at least 5-4
1NT 2 QJ542 shape and at least game points. It is game forcing. Now
2 3 KJ87 that opener has a good picture of responder’s hand he will
4
choose game in hearts, spades or no trumps.
A76

Notice that if our second suit is lower ranking than our first suit we will need to bid
our second suit at the three level. What if we only have invitational points?
1. If the first suit is a major and the second suit is a minor just show the major suit
and rebid 2NT or 3NT with 5 of the major as shown on Page 2 under ‘One Suited
Hands’.
2. If the first suit is spades and the second suit is hearts we can use Stayman followed
by an invitational bid. See More Stayman.

SOME EXAMPLES OF RESPONDERS 2ND BID AFTER 1NT 2 2

Bid Points Shape Further Info

1NT 2 0-7 5+card  suit Weak take out (Sign Off)
2 Pass
1NT 2 8-9 exactly 5 hearts Invitational. Partner to choose
2 2NT game or part score in NT or .
1NT 2 8-9 6+ card  suit Inviting partner to game in .
2 3
1NT 2 10+ exactly 5 hearts Asking partner to choose game in
2 3NT NT’s or ’s.
1NT 2 10+ 6+ card  suit Sign Off.
2 4
1NT 2 8+ 5+card  suit & Forcing for 1 round. Partner will
2 2 4+ card  suit choose the best contract.
1NT 2 10+ 5+card  suit & Forcing to game.
2 3 4+ card  suit

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American Style Five Card Majors
Super Acceptance
Normally opener must complete the transfer at the lowest level. However, when
opener has four card support for responder’s transfer suit AND maximum points he is
permitted to complete the transfer by jumping to the three level.
WEST EAST WEST With 17 points and 4 spades, West completes the transfer
1NT 2 QJ54 by jumping to 3. This is called ‘Super Acceptance’.
3 KJ87
Responder will have the useful information that partner
A7
AQ6 has maximum points and the partnership has a nine card
spade fit.

TRANSFERRING TO A MINOR SUIT WITH WEAK HANDS (0-7 POINTS)

Playing Stayman and transfers it is no longer possible sign off in a minor suit
(2 being Stayman and 2 being a transfer to hearts). However, we can use a 2 bid
to transfer to 3 of a minor.
A 2 response to 1NT shows 6+ cards in clubs or diamonds and a very weak hand.
Opener must bid 3 and responder will pass if his suit is clubs or bid 3 if his suit is
diamonds.

WEST EAST EAST WEST EAST EAST

1NT 2  Q 8 4 1NT 2  9 8 4
3 Pass  8 7 6 3 3  Q 7 6
4 J96543
Q97643 6

Note: With only a 5 card minor and a weak hand, we should usually cut our losses and
just pass 1NT rather than attempting to play at the three level in a minor.

DO TRANSFERS APPLY AFTER INTERVENTION?

After an Overcall
Transfers do not apply after opponents have overcalled the 1NT opening.
WEST NORTH EAST EAST The 2 bid by East is a natural weak
1NT 2 2 K82 sign-off bid.
QJ762
42
964

After a Penalty Double

Systems are on. This means 2 is Stayman and transfers still apply but there are some
differences in the way Transfers are used. See Bidding After 1NT is Doubled

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American Style Five Card Majors
OTHER AUCTIONS WHERE TRANSFERS CAN BE USED
If we play transfers (and Stayman) over a 1NT opening it is logical to play them in
other sequences where the opener has opened or overcalled with a natural NT bid.
The appropriate adjustments are made to the point counts for responding depending on
the point range of the No Trump bid.
1) 2NT Opening (20-21 points)
We follow the same principles as after a 1NT opening:
 Transfer then 3NT show exactly five cards in responder’s suit.
 Transfer then 4 or 4 shows 6 cards in responder’s suit
 Transfer then a second suit below 3NT shows at least 5-4 shape.
WEST EAST EAST East transfers to hearts and then bids 3NT showing
2NT 3  Q 8 4 exactly five hearts. With two hearts, West will pass.
3 3NT  K Q 8 7 6 With three or more hearts West will convert to 4.
42
J76
After a 2NT opening, transfers allow us to sign off in three of a major with a very
weak hand which would not be possible if not playing Transfers.
WEST EAST EAST East’s hand is unlikely to contribute much if
2NT 3 J98765 partner plays in 2NT and game in spades has little
3 Pass 6 chance, however, East can sign off in 3 using a
432
transfer followed by Pass.
976

2) 2 2 2NT (22-24 points)

Follow same principles as after a 2NT opening. We need very little to bid to game!
3) 1NT Overcall (15-18 points)
Following a 1NT overcall the Transfer responses will be nearly the same as after a
1NT opening. Bid to game with 9 points, invite with 8 points (or good 7 or bad 9).
Note that in ‘traditional’ SAYC Transfers are off when responding to a 1NT overcall.
Make sure to discuss with partner whether you are playing Transfers ‘on’ or ‘off’ in
response to a 1NT overcall!
4) 2NT Overcall After a Weak Two opening (16-18 points).
Follow same principles as after a 2NT opening. Bid to game with 9 points or good 8,
otherwise pass.
Transfers Are NOT Used When Opener Starts With One Of A Suit
WEST EAST Transfers are NOT played after a No Trump rebid that follows an
1 1 opening bid of 1 of a suit.
1NT East’s next suit bid (if any) is a natural bid not a Transfer.

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American Style Five Card Majors