Alerts and Transfers!
by Mary Smith

The purpose for saying “Alert” and displaying the Alert bid card at the same time (both should happen simultaneously) is to warn your opponents that partner’s bid has a special meaning.

You don’t say “Alert” to reassure partner that you understood the bid, just like you would never stare at your partner to signify he/she should Alert your bid. Since the “Alert!” is for the opponents’ benefit (and never to awaken, reassure, or alert partner!) it is important that partner not take any action based on your having said “Alert!” or based on the fact that you failed to “Alert!” which might imply that you did not interpret the bid correctly.  Partner needs to act as if he/she did not hear the “Alert!”.  You should “Alert!” every time partner’s bid is listed or underlined in red on your convention card.  However, it is confusing, because many agreements or common conventions are not alertable.  For example, cuebids of the opponent’s suit: 

• Michaels, showing 2 suits, is not alertable.
• Any cuebid to show limit raise or better of partner’s suit, is not alertable.
• A cuebid that asks for a stopper, is not alertable.
• But if you play 1C 2C as natural, showing clubs, then that is an alert!

Some people are saying “Transfer!” when they should be saying “Alert!”

Example 1: Many players use the auction 1NT-P-2S as a relay to 3C.  After opener bids 3C, responder may pass to show clubs and a weak hand, or bid 3D to show diamonds.  Look closely at your convention card: In the 1NT responses, 2S is black, but the line after it is red, not blue. In this case, opener should say “Alert!” not “Transfer!” and never, “I’m taking that as a transfer.”  Just “Alert!”.  If asked by the left hand opponent opener would explain, “It’s a relay to 3C, could be a club suit or a diamond suit.”

Example 2: Some players use “4-suit transfers,” so the auction 1NT-P-2S is a transfer to 3C, showing clubs, and the auction 1NT-P-2NT (or 3C) is a transfer to 3D, showing diamonds.  In this case, opener still says only “Alert!”, but when asked, he/she should respond, “It is a transfer to 3 clubs or 3 diamonds, (or whatever your agreement is.”)

So, why does it matter? In the first place, you should only make the announcement “Transfer!” if the bid is printed in blue on your card, as with Jacoby Transfers, 2D or 2H, or Texas Transfers, 4D or 4H.  Making such an announcement with other bids is prohibited and might be unauthorized information.  In the second place, if your bid of 2S shows either 6+C or 6+D, it is not a “Transfer;” it is a “Relay.”  You see, “Transfer!” guarantees that the suit you are asking partner to bid is really your suit.  “Relay,” in this case, says your suit may be C or D.  Since relays and transfers are different, your opponents are entitled to know your agreements.

Note:  This article is heavily revised from an article that I received years ago.