When Partner opens the bidding 1NT (15 to 17 HCP) what do I do with this hand?
♠QJT53
♥98
♦A86
♣Q62
I don't have the values to force to game. Partner might only have 15 HCP. I only have 9 HCP. That's not enough for a game. I could invite game by bidding 2NT. Partner will then bid 3NT if they have a maximum (17 HCP) for their bid. If Partner only has 15 HCP they know to Pass. We won't get too high.
That's nice, but I do have a five card major suit I would like to tell Partner about. We might easily have an eight card ♠ fit and we would be better off playing there. I want to tell Partner about my ♠ suit.
Right now the only two ways I have of telling Partner about my ♠ suit is to bid either 2♠ or bid 3♠.
If I bid 2♠ this shows a weak hand with at least 5 ♠ and Partner is supposed to say Pass.
If I bid 3♠ this shows a strong hand and I have forced the partnership into game.
I don't want to bid 2♠. We could easily have a game.
I don't want to bid 3♠. We might not be able to make game.
HELP! How do I show this hand?
Jacoby Transfers to the rescue.
It is easy to show an invitational hand with a five card major using Jacoby Transfers. Let's see how.
Jacoby Transfers occur after Opener opens the bidding 1NT (or 2NT but that will come later). Responder if they have a five (or more) card major will now bid the suit UNDERNEATH their major suit.
So if Partner opens the bidding 1NT and I have five ♥ I bid 2♦. That is the suit underneath my five card major.
OR if Partner opens the bidding 1NT and I have five ♠ I bid 2♥. That is the suit underneath my five card major.
How does this help?
When you bid the suit UNDERNEATH the major suit you have this FORCES Partner to bid your suit.
So after the 1NT bid, if you bid 2♦ you force Partner to say 2♥.
OR after the 1NT bid, if you bid 2♥ you force Partner to say 2♠.
You can now (after Partner's forced response) bid 2NT. This will show an invitational hand with a five card major.
You can also make other bids to show other hands. We will talk about them next post.
If your partnership plays duplicate you are required to do several things.
First of all, when someone opens the bidding 1NT their partner is required to state out loud the point count they are showing. So when I open the bidding 1NT my partner says "15 to 17" out loud so everyone at the table can hear.
If you are playing Jacoby Transfers, when the responder makes a transfer bid the 1NT opener is required to state "transfer". So after I open the bidding 1NT and my partner says "15 to 17", if my partner then bids 2♦ I say "transfer" out loud so everyone at the table can hear.
Question: Do I need a five card suit? Can I transfer with a four card suit?
Answer: You need at least a five card suit to make a transfer. You can have more. With a four card suit bid Stayman.
Question: How many points do I need to make a Jacoby Transfer?
Answer: We will talk about your responses in a later post but to make a Jacoby Transfer you don't need any points at all. Yep. Zero.
Question: What happens if I forget to say "Transfer"? Are we in trouble?
Answer: No. Most people will ask if they care. It is something you want to remember to do but not a problem if you forget.
Question: Partner opened the bidding 1NT and I bid 2♦ as a transfer but Partner bid 2♠ instead of 2♥. What does that mean?
Answer: It means Partner forgot you were playing Jacoby Transfers. They made a mistake.
Question: My partner and I are always forgetting these transfer bids. Why should we play them?
Answer: You shouldn't if you are always forgetting them. Try them for a little while. If they don't work for you, stop playing them. You can always try playing them in a year or so. You don't ever have to play them if you don't want. Only play them if BOTH you and Partner remember them consistently.
Opener opens the bidding 1NT:
If Responder bids:
This shows:
1NT Opener must:
2♦
A five or more card ♥ suit
State "Transfer" out loud and bid 2♥
2♥
A five or more card ♠ suit
State "Transfer" out loud and bid 2♠
So let's practice these transfer bids. On the following hand Partner opens the bidding 1NT. You are playing Jacoby Transfers. What is your bid and what are you telling Partner?
Hand 1
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