Jacoby Transfers
Why? Various kinds of transfer bids are commonly used after opening No Trump bids to keep the No Trump opener hand concealed, and for other reasons. The most common of these is Jacoby Transfers.
They are very simple -- when responder to a 1 NT or 2NT opening holds a 5 card major suit and can bid, he bids the suit BELOW the true suit held and the opener then bids the real major. (Opener is known to have at least two, and conceivably as many as 5 of a major suit.)
¨* P "North, please bid Hearts."N E S W
1NT P 2
2
© . . . "OK, you're in charge, South"P P p "That's where we belong, North"
In this example, the responder may be very weak but still can transfer to 2 of a major with 5 of them, confident that opener will bid as directed and not take any independent action. 1 NT and 2 NT are limited bids and responder is in complete control.
Moving On. If the Jacoby Transfer responder bids again, it is always in context of having shown the five major suit cards first:
Jacoby Transfer Examples
N E S W 1NT P 2©* P "I have 5 Spades, North." 2ª . . . "OK, I'll bid them, South." P 3NT P "I have enough stuff for game, too. 4ª P P P "We have 9 Spades - it's a better game than 3 NT."
1NT P 2¨ * P "I have 5 Hearts, North 2© P 2NT P "Choose: NT or Hearts, North" 3© P P P "Hearts sounds better to me"
2NT P 3© * P "I have 5 Spades" 3ª P 3NT "Choose: Spades or NT game". P P "No Trump, I think"
1NT P 2©* P "I have 5 Spades again". 2ª P 3§ P "I also have Clubs !". 3NT "OK, but 3 NT is still our best shot".
Strength. Any hand with 5 or more cards in a major suit. With zero points, but with 6 Spades or Hearts, wouldn't you rather tell your partner to play in your long suit rather than try to make 1 NT?
1NT P 2¨* P "5 Hearts this time, North" 2© P 2ª P "And 5 Spades! You choose" 4ª P "Spades it is, South."
This is the equivalent of the "drop dead" 2
© or 2ª bid in Standard American.Subsequent bidding is in context -- a jump to game shows the 10 points necessary, given the 15 - 17 point NT opener. Opener is often given the choice of the major game or 3 NT. Usually opener, with 3 of responders suit, should choose the suit contract, as it scores 420 vs. 400 for 3NT.
Usage. Virtually universal in advanced play. In combination with Stayman, it makes responses to NT easy. Alertable. The ability to bid 2 Diamonds as a "drop dead" bid is lost using Jacoby Transfers.
Example Jacoby Transfer responder hands: Your partner open 1 NT. What do you do then with these hands?
ª xx ª xxxx ª xx © Axxxx © Axxxx © Axxxx ¨ Qxx ¨ x ¨ Kxx § xxx § Kxx § Kxx
Bid 2¨, Pass 2© Bid Stayman, not Jacoby Bid 2¨, then 3NT over 2©
ª xxx ª Jxxxx ª AQxxx © AJxxx © Axx © Axxxx ¨ Qxxxx ¨ Jx ¨ Kx § x § Kxx § x Bid 2¨, then 3¨ Bid 2©, then 2NT Bid 2©, Then 4©, showing both majors.
ª Qxxxx ª Jxxxxx ª Qxxx © xxxxx © xx © Axxxxx ¨ x ¨ Jx ¨ Kx § Kx § Kxx § x
Bid 2¨, then pass Bid 2©, then Pass Bid 2¨, then 4©