Bridge 101 Lesson 7, Jacoby Transfers Presented by Eire1

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1 Page 1 of 8 Bridge 101 Lesson 7, Jacoby Transfers Bridge 101 Lesson 7, Jacoby Transfers Presented by Eire1 Both STAYMAN and JACOBY TRANSFER conventions help a partnership find a major suit fit after a NT opening. JACOBY TRANSFERS are used when partner has opened NT, opponent passes AND you hold a 5+ card suit. There are ways to deal with responding to NT openings when an overcall has been made by the opponent, but that is not today s lesson. Today we will focus when our opponents pass. Your partner opens 1NT, your RHO (right hand opponent) passes and it is your turn to respond to your partner s opening 1NT bid. You will use Jacoby Transfer when you have a 5+ card major suit REGARDLESS of how many points you have. The exception is when you are 5/4 in the majors with at least 8 HCP. For this hand you start by bidding the Stayman convention. If you are 5/4 in the majors but do NOT have at least 8 HCP, you use Jacoby Transfer. Why? Because it is a requirement of the Stayman convention that you do have 8+HCP. To repeat: If partner opens 1NT, opponent passes and you are 5/4 in the majors, you use Stayman convention if you have 8+HCP. If <8HCP, use Jacoby Transfer. In response to a 1NT opening: 2D is a Jacoby Transfer. It shows 5+H s and forces opener to bid 2H. 2H is a Jacoby Transfer. It shows 5+ S s and forces opener to bid 2S. There are no other requirements other than to hold a 5+ card major. There are NO point requirements. Both the responder bids of 2D or 2H are artificial bids, are forcing, and are alertable. On each of these hands, partner opened 1NT (15-17 HCP). Opponent passed. What will you bid with the following hand? S A8642 H 76 D 9652 C 32

2 2H is the correct answer. It tells opener you hold 5+ S s. What is Opener s next bid? 2S is the correct answer. The Opener must complete the transfer by bidding 2S. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Second example: Partner opened 1NT. Opponent passed. What will you bid with the following hand? S H 4 D J875 C Q7 2H is the correct answer. Again, it signals opener you hold 5+ S. What is Opener s next bid? 2S is the correct answer. The Opener must complete the transfer by bidding 2S. Neither of these hands above held many HCP, but they did hold 5+ S s, so even with few HCP, you use Jacoby Transfer. Remember, this is when partner opens 1NT, opponent passes, and you have 5+ H/S. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Third example: Partner opened 1NT (15-17HCP). Opponent passed. What will you bid with the following hand? S KJ5 H AQ753 D J73 C 84 2D is the correct answer. It signals opener you hold 5+ H s. What is Opener s next bid? 2H s is the correct answer. Opener must complete the transfer by bidding 2H When Jacoby Transfers are employed, the contract frequently ends up playing in the major suit to which the responder has TRANSFERRED, always transferring his preferred suit to the 1NT Opener. Page 2 of 8

3 This is helpful for two reasons: 1) The strong NT hand is concealed from the opponents which makes defense more difficult. 2) The opening lead comes up to the strong hand which many times results in an extra trick Now onto our next concern: Once the transfer has been completed, what does responder do next? The guidelines are: 1) WEAK (0-7 HCP) Pass. The contract will be played in 2 of the major. 2) INVITATIONAL (8-9 HCP) Bid 2NT if your major is a 5 card suit OR... Page 3 of 8 Bid 3 Major if your major is a 6+ suit. 3) GAME FORCING (10-14 HCP) Bid 3NT with a 5 card suit. There is enough for game. Opener can choose between 3NT if holding a doubleton in the Major OR 4H/S if holding 3 card support of the Major. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Following is your partnership s bidding. Assume the opponents passed. Let s consider a weak (0-7HCP) responder s hand and the following auction: 1NT : 2D : 2H : Pass 1NT bid says, I have HCP and am balanced The 2D bid says, I have 5+ H s The 2H bid says, Transfer completed The Pass bid says, Partner, I have only 5H s AND I am WEAK (0-7 HCP). We ll play a 2H contract. GL! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now let s consider an INVITATIONAL (8-9 HCP) responder s hand and the following auction: 1NT : 2H : 2S : 2NT :? You know what the 1NT bid says.

4 The 2H bid says, Partner, I have 5+ S s The 2S bid says, Transfer completed. The 2NT bid says, Partner, I only have 5S s but I do have 8-9 HCP. Do you want to play in game? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * With an INVITATIONAL (8-9 HCP) hand. Let s look at the following auction: 1NT : 2H : 2S : 3S :? 1NT is balanced HCP 2H says, Partner I have 5+ S s. Again the 2S bid says, Transfer completed. The 3S bid says, Partner, I have 6+ S s (remember for partner to open 1NT, the allowed doubleton might be in S s; = 8 card fit for sure!) AND 8-9 HCP. Do you want to play 4S? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Let s now look at a GAME FORCING (10-14 HCP) responder s hand and the following auction: 1NT : 2D : 2H : 3NT :? 1NT you know it The 2D bid says, Partner, I have 5+ H s. The 2H bid says, Transfer completed. The 3NT bid says, Partner, I only have 5 H s BUT have enough points for game. We ll play 3NT if your doubleton is in H s OR we ll play 4H if you have at least 3-card H support. The choice is left to the 1NT opener because the responder doesn t know if the opener s possible doubleton is in the transferred suit. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1NT : 2D : 2H : 4H 2D says, Hey!!! I have 5+H s over here. 2H says, Transfer completed! Page 4 of 8

5 Page 5 of 8 Bridge 101 Lesson 7, Jacoby Transfers 4H says, Well, now you know I have at least 6 H s AND enough points for game in H s. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Another GAME FORCING bid from responder s hand. 1NT : 2D : 2H : 3C/D :? 2D again promises 5+ H s 2H again completes the transfer. 3C/D promises the 5H s I ve already shown AND 5 C/D (could be a strong 4+ C/D) Depending on Opener s holding, opener will choose from 3NT, 4H or 5C/D game. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Remember: Weak (0-7 HCP); Invitational (8-9 HCP); Game Forcing (10-14 HCP) Examples for your practice: Example 1. You are responder. Assume opponent passes. Bidding thus far is: 1NT:2H:2S:? S A8642 H 76 D 9652 C 32 Pass is the correct answer. You have 0-7 HCP points and a 5+ card suit. Contract will play in 2S. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 2: You are responder. Assume opponent passes. Bidding thus far is: 1NT:2H:2S:? S H 4 D J875 C Q7 Pass is the correct answer. You have 0-7 HCP points and a 5+ card suit. Contract will play in 2S

6 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 3: You are responder. Assume opponents Pass. Bidding thus far is: 1NT : 2H : 2S :? S KJ853 H Q7 D Q105 C 874 2NT is the correct answer. You have 8-9 HCP and exactly 5S s. This is Invitational. With 2S s, and 15 HCP Opener will then pass. With 2S s and HCP, Opener will bid 3NT. With 3+ S support and 15 HCP, Opener will bid 3S. With 3+ S support and HCP, Opener will bid 4S * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 4: You are responder. Assume opponents Pass. Bidding thus far is: 1NT : 2D : 2H :? S KJ5 H AQ753 D J73 C 84 3NT is the correct answer. You have HCP and exactly 5 H s. With 2 H s, Opener will pass. With 3+ H support, Opener will bid 4H. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 5: You are responder. Opponents Pass. Bidding thus far is: 1NT : 2H : 2S :? S Q H 4 D A643 Page 6 of 8

7 C Q6 The correct answer is 3S. You have 8-9 points but have 6+ S s. Opener will pass with a minimum (15) or bid 4S with a maximum NT (16-17) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * Example 6: You are responder. Partner opened 1NT. Opponent passed. What do you bid with the following hand? S AQ753 H KJ63 D J7 C 84 The correct answer is 2C. Please remember when you are 5/4 in the majors and you hold 8+ HCP, bid Stayman first. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 7: Now you are the 1NT opener. Opponents pass. Bidding thus far has been: 1NT : 2H : 2S : 2NT :? What will be your next bid holding the following hand? S H D C KQ5 A5 KJ73 Q1095 The correct answer is 3S. Partner s 2NT bid showed invitational (8-9) values and exactly 5 S s. With a minimum NT (15 HCP) opening, you will not accept the invitation, but as you do have 3 card S support, you will convert to partner s S s. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 8: You open 1NT. Opponents pass. Bidding thus far has been: 1NT : 2D : 2H : 3NT : What will be your next bid holding the following hand? S H D C KQ5 A5 KJ73 Q1095 The correct answer is pass. Partner s 3NT bid showed Game Forcing (10-14 HCP) and exactly 5 H s. As you do not have 3 card support in H s, leave game in 3NT. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Example 9: You have opened 1NT. Opponents pass. Bidding thus far is: 1NT : 2H : 2S : 3NT :? Page 7 of 8

8 S H D C KQ5 A5 KJ73 Q1095 The correct answer is 4S. Partner s 3NT bid showed Game Forcing (10-14 HCP) and exactly 5 S s. As you have 3 card support in S s, bid game 4S. Concluding remarks: You may transfer the opener to minors if you hold 6+ C/D. Minor transfers are mentioned here because there is more than one way to do that. One way is to bid 2S as responder forcing Opener to transfer to C s by bidding 3C. 1NT : 2S : 3C :? Responder will pass if the 6+ card minor is C s or correct to 3D if the 6+ card minor is D s. Transferring to minors really should be done when responder has a weak hand and wants to sign off at the 3 level. 1NT : 2S : 3C : Pass OR 1NT : 2S : 3C : 3D You need 6+ of a minor to transfer because the auction will be forced to the 3 level something you don t want to try with a 5/2 fit (if Opener s doubleton is in your minor). Transferring to minors can get dicey. But you should be aware of this option. Another hand to mention is a responder s 5/5 S/H holding. This is a special case. What you bid depends on how strong your hand is. Here are your choices when partner opens 1NT, opponents pass and you hold 5/5 S/H: WEAK HAND (0-7HCP), transfer to your stronger major then pass after transfer is completed. INVITATIONAL HAND (8-9 HCP), transfer to H s and then rebid 2S after the transfer is completed. (With a minimum NT, Opener will bid at the 3-level in the non-doubleton major, or game if at maximum point count.) GAME FORCING HAND (10-14 HCP), transfer to S s and then rebid 3H after the transfer is completed. (Opener will choose game in her non-doubleton major). Last thing to mention is that Jacoby transfers are also used over 2NT openings. 3D transfers to 3H; 3H transfers to 3S. Good cards at the bridge table! Page 8 of 8