Jacoby Transfers - Competition

 

We saw, in the Introduction to Jacoby Transfers, that, after the transfer, Responder has all sorts of descriptive ways to progress the auction.  But, opponents are not always that obliging, sometimes they like to throw a spanner in the works.

 

After They Double the Transfer

 

Opener             Resp

1NT     Pass    2♥     Dbl                 

 

After the Double (which, presumably, shows something in Hearts), Opener has two extra options available, namely Pass and Redouble.  Standard practice is:

-         Pass shows just 2 Spades

-         2♠ shows 3 Spades

-         With 4 of them, Opener still has available the Super Accept options that we discussed before. 

-         Redouble suggests that the opponents may have blundered with their Double, and, if Responder has some values (especially if they are quick tricks), and 2 or 3 Hearts, he may well want to pass our Redouble, in the hopeful expectation of an unusual (and large) plus score.

 

Opener             Resp

1NT     Pass    2♥     Dbl

Pass     Pass    Rdbl   

 

No attempt at an unusual plus score on this one.  Responder’s Redouble is the only way whereby he can get Opener to declare the hand in 2♠.  In accordance with the spirit of transfer auctions, Responder wants the strong hand to be Declarer.

 

After They Overcall

 

Opener             Resp                                                           

1NT     Pass    2♦     2♠

 

As usual, Opener’s rebid is largely governed by the number of cards he has in the transfer suit.  Here are the possibilities:

-         Double … this should show two or three trump tricks, ideally not more than a doubleton in Hearts, and some quick tricks outside.

-         2NT … we previously suggested that this should show a good hand with 4 Hearts, the so-called “Super Accept” … no reason to abandon that treatment in this situation.

-         3♥ … same story (as in showing 4 Hearts), but not such a great hand.

-         Pass … a hand which is not overly blessed with Hearts, nor loaded to the gills with defensive tricks against a Spade contract.

 

The intriguing situation occurs when Opener has 3 Hearts.  Should he take a chance and bid 3♥?  Or should he lie low?  Check out these two extreme examples:

 

♠ 83                We would bid 3♥ here, although the bid does have risks.  Partner could

♥ AK6            5  tiny Hearts, and nothing else.  But, even so, it’s worth a try, our hand

♦ KJT6           has so much more potential helping our side make a Heart contract than

♣ AJT6          it does in trying to beat their Spade contract.

 

♠ KQJ           What an ugly hand, in the circumstances!  We have such modest

♥ Q96           modest potential that even to think about bidding 3♥ would be an

♦ KJ97          overbid!

♣ QJ5

 

Transfers after Interference

 

When they double our 1NT opening, it may be strength-showing or it may be purely artificial (such as DONT, showing a one-suiter somewhere).  After such a bid by the opponents, there are various complicated and highly scientific methods which can be invoked by the opening side.  Maybe one day we’ll get to these methods, but, in the meantime, there’s nothing wrong with the simple approach.

 

Opener         Resp

1NT   Dbl    ??               You can ignore the Double and just bid as if it had never

                                        happened.  So, transfers are still on, likewise Stayman. 

                                        And, you have the option of redoubling, which, in the

                                        absence of specialized agreements, just shows a good                                                       hand, typically 7 HCPs, or thereabouts, or more.

 

1NT    2♣     ??             Again, you can (almost) ignore this bid.  Transfers are                                                       still on, and you can use Double as a surrogate for Stayman.

 

1NT    2♦      ??              Some players use Double here as a transfer to Hearts, and,

                                        if the overcall had been 2♥, they would use Double as a

transfer to Spades.  It’s the so-called “Stole My Bid” convention.  We are pretty open-minded about conventions, there is merit in most of them, and personal preference is what matters.  But this one is a real clunker, it seems to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.  In this situation, just bid naturally if you merely want to compete to two of a major.  And, if you want to get out in 3 of a minor, or if you have higher aspirations, then use Lebensohl.

 

Texas Transfers

 

If they compete any higher, there is no room left for Jacoby Transfers.  But there is still the possibility of a Texas Transfer, please check our link.

 

Further Link:         Jacoby Transfers - Slam Bidding

 

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