Learn To Play Transfers

Learn all about Jacoby Transfers (Transfers to the Majors) in this free bridge lesson

[@rogerpalmer5891]

That's brilliant, thank you very much. This is the first time I have ever managed to fully understand transfers.

[@penneyhanson6553]

Thank you for sharing this. We are trying to learn new tricks even though we are old dogs.

[@philipcolebatch4067]

This is a terrific post for one, me, who is trying to get his head around Transfers Many thanks

[@AadamSheikh]

Thanks Peter I learnt a lot with this much love from bangladesh

[@guyredares]

Thanks!!

[@benthomas3395]

Excellent explanation; as I have said before I wish you had been around when I was learning although in those distant days transfers were not even a twinkle in their inventor's eyes. Out of interest how do you transfer to a 6 card minor with a weak hand?

[@jyutzler]

Unfortunately there is not a single way. On BBO, the bots play it simply: 2NT -> 3C and 3C -> 3D. Others use a two step (2S -> 3C and 2NT -> 3D) and there is expert disagreement on whether the intervening bid should show good support (preaccepting) or not. A method that is gaining popularity is 2S as a two-way "range ask". Opener bids 2NT with a minimum and 3C with a maximum. Responder then corrects to 2NT to 3C with the weak club hand and 3C to 3NT with the invitational hand. In this style, 2NT is a transfer to 3D. Given all of this confusion, I would be reluctant to play any of these methods without discussion, especially if they are new to you.

[@benthomas3395]

@@jyutzler Thanks. I think for the kitchen bridge I play I will forget about it!

[@peterdixon6807]

Thanks. Keep it simple[ish]. I notice Jacoby is mentioned in the notes - does this equate with ‘major transfers’? Once I played a pairing who used 2S as a transfer to minors, but then my brain failed to follow exactly what ensued [a lot of bidding] and they got confused as well.

[@BridgeWithPete]

Yep I just covered transfers to the majors.

[@jyutzler]

The most unusual transfer I have ever seen was after 1X - p - p - 2NT. In their system, this showed 19-21 and transfers were on! I've only seen it once.

[@d95mback]

Normally you'd have a lower point range in the balancing spot but definitely transfers after that bid regardless.

[@jyutzler]

@@d95mback That would be 1X - p - p - 1NT, not 2NT. Around these parts, the 1NT balancing overcall shows 12-15 give or take and you would double then 1NT to show the 16-18 hand.