Real Life Jacoby Transfer

Here is your hand:

♠AT864
♥Q
♦QJ6
♣JT72

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. You and your Partner have agreed to play Stayman and Jacoby Transfers over NT bids. The Opponents are silent throughout the auction. What will you respond?

This one is pretty easy. Respond 2♥.

Now Partner bids 2♠ like the good Partner they are. It is your turn to bid. What is your call?

Show Answer

3NT.

Yes, even with the singleton. Partner is balanced. You don't have to be.

First of all you have to realize that you have a very nice hand and need to get this partnership to at least a game.

Bidding 2NT allows Partner to "Pass" with a minimum with no fit for your ♠.

Bidding 3♠ GUARANTEES a fit for ♠. Partner only has to have TWO ♠. They do not need three ♠ to open the bidding 1NT.

"But they bid 2♠!" you can argue.

"But YOU FORCED them to bid 2♠. They might not have wanted to!" I counter.

So bidding 3♠ is out. That bid is especially bad because Partner is allowed to "Pass" this bid also if they have a minimum.

4♠ has the same "not sure if there is a fit" problem. But at least you bid game.

If you bid 3NT remember PARTNER will take you OUT of 3NT and bid 4♠ IF they have a FIT with you. You will end up in 4♠ if it is right.

P.S. On this hand Partner does indeed have a fit and will bid 4♠ over your 3NT bid.