What is a Transfer?

A transfer is an artificial or ‘conventional’ bid.  The most well-known examples are the ‘Red Suit Transfers’ of 2♦ or 2♥ in response to a 1NT opening bid, which show the next suit up. 

Why bother with Transfers?

Why use transfers, rather than just bidding your hearts or spades? 

There are two answers to this:

1. You can use transfers for hands of different strengths, and they are very flexible.  They help you to find your best contract.  You can use transfers with very few points or with quite strong hands.  Playing transfers allows you to give your partner, the 1 No Trump bidder, a clear picture of your hand.

2.  If you have a very weak hand with long hearts or spades, you do not want your partner's stronger hand to be on show – because this will give the defence clues about how to defend.  

When do we use Transfers?

Transfer to show a 5 plus card major suit.  Please note that when playing transfers, Stayman is still used for hands with only a 4 card major and the appropriate point count.

What point range does responder need to transfer?

Transfers can be made with any point range.

How do I make a transfer bid?

After a 1NT opening, a bid of 2♦ or 2♥ is a transfer bid. The 1NT opener then bids the next suit up i.e. 2♥ and 2♠ respectively.

Responding.

When responding to a 1NT opening bid we have three types of hands: -

Weak Hand 0 – 10 High Card Points

Invitational Hand 11 – 12 High Card Points

Strong Hands 13 plus High Card Points

Weak Hands.

With a weak hand and five or more cards is a major suit you should transfer to the major and then pass.

Invitational Hands.

With an invitational hand there are two options available and we can provide partner with a very accurate description of our hand. With an invitational Hand (11 – 12 HCP) and a five card major you transfer to the major and then rebid 2NT, so the bidding sequence is 1NT – 2x(Transfer to the major) 2M (Opener bids the major) 2NT (This says partner I have an invitational hand (11-12 HCP) and a five card major you decide on the final contract.

With an invitational Hand (11 – 12 HCP) and a six plus card major you transfer to the major and then rebid 3 of the major, so the bidding sequence is 1NT – 2x(Transfer to the major) 2M (Opener bids the major) 3M (This says partner I have an invitational hand (11-12 HCP) and a six card major you decide on the final contract. [If you have six or more cards in a major you may want to play in game even though you only have 11 or 12 HCP]

Strong Hands.

With a strong hand you know you want to play in game and now you just need to find the best game. So with five cards in a major we transfer to the major and then bid 3NT to tell partner the good news that we have enough points for game and will he pick the best game to play in. So the bidding will go along these lines 1NT 2x(Transfer) 2M(Opener bids the major) 3NT(Partner we are going to game where do you want to play?).

With six or more cards in a major we want to play in that suit as we know we have an 8 card fit. So the bidding will go along these lines 1NT 2x(Transfer) 2M(Opener bids the major) 4M(Partner I know this is where we should play, good luck). [In some instances it may be better if the responding hand plays the contract, this is a matter of judgement, this being the case and no chance of a slam just bid 4 of the major, this says partner I know we should be in 4M and I think it will be better played from my side of the table].

One more scenario for a responding hand that holds 5 cards in one major and 4 in the other, remember this applies to strong hands only. If you hold 5 cards in one major and 4 in the other, you can use transfers to accurately describe your hand. So with five hearts and four spades the bidding goes: 1NT 2♦(Transfer to hearts) 2♥(Completing the transfer) 3♠(Partner I have enough points for game and five hearts and four spades where would you like to play). With 5 spades and four hearts it goes like this 1NT 2♥(Transfer) 2♠(Completing the transfer) 3♥(Partner I did not forget we were playing transfers I have 5 spades and four hearts and you can now choose where to play).

Examples.   

Other bidding sequences where transfers apply: -

It makes sense to play transfers over a 2NT opening bid, a 1NT overcall and 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT (where this shows a balanced 23 – 24 HCP)

2NT (20 – 22 HCP) Opening Bid – The same applies to a 2NT opening bid as a 1NT opening bid. If you transfer to show a five card suit and then rebid 3NT this shows a 5 card suit and enough points for game (4+ HCP). If you transfer and then rebid the suit at the 4 level this shows a six card suit. Playing transfers over 2NT also has the advantage of allowing us to sign off in 3 of a major with a very weak hand, if you don’t play transfer this would not be an option. You are also able to show hands with 5 hearts and 4 spades below game level. 2NT - 3♦(Transfer) -3♥(Completing transfer) -3♠(Partner I have 5 hearts and 4 spades and enough for game). You can't show 5 spades and 4 hearts playing transfers over 2NT below game level BUT some partnerships play the a bid of 3♠ after 2NT as showing enough for game and 5 spades and 4 hearts. 

1NT Overcall (15 – 18 HCP) You can play transfers over a 1NT overcall just the same as you would over a 1NT opening bid but need to adjust the point count. 10+ High card points would be a strong game going hand, 7 – 9 High card points Invitational and less than 6 or less High card points would be weak and wanting to sign off in a major.

2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT (23 – 24 HCP) The same applies as to the 2NT opening bid only you need less points.