[jdonn]

I was having a little love affair with transfers in another thread and thought to post a thread where we could all suggest auctions that benefit from the joys of playing transfers. I'll start off with a bunch, most of which are probably well known, just to get the ball rolling.

General auctions...
1 major opening - double
1 major overcall - double
Any low level overcall (starting with the cuebid)
Interference over your 1NT opening (transfer lebensohl)
2NT rebids

Specific auctions (just our side bidding)...
1♥ - 1NT - 2♠
1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣
1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦ - 2NT
(last two from the other thread)

Anyone got more good ones that could easily be applied to (otherwise) standardish auctions?

[awm]

1m - (overcall) - transfer

Sam and I play this in our strong club system, but there's no obvious reason it doesn't apply to standard methods, especially over the opening that's very often a weak notrump (1♣ in standard). It gets a lot of the advantages of negative free bids without many of the disadvantages, although you do lose a bit when responder has the cheapest transfer suit (i.e. if 2♦ is the first transfer, then when responder has diamonds).

1M-2♣-transfer (unobstructed)

Actually I thought transfers here was one of Josh Donn's favorites... or maybe I'm misremembering. Anyway it lets you get two-level suit agreement quite a bit more often than otherwise.

1M-1X-2M-transfer (unobstructed)

Got this one from Noble and Mike Gill actually. Assuming you're willing to play 3M on all declined invitations here rather than 2NT, you can use this method to get out in 3-minor or to locate side suit values for an accurate invite, or to initiate a slam try in opener's major.

[jdonn]

awm, on May 10 2010, 08:58 PM, said:

1M-2♣-transfer (unobstructed)

Actually I thought transfers here was one of Josh Donn's favorites... or maybe I'm misremembering. Anyway it lets you get two-level suit agreement quite a bit more often than otherwise.

I forgot that one. The most important thing about transfers here is the cheapest bid should also include balanced hands, so 1♠ 2♦ 2♥ is balanced or 6+ spades, etc. Btw no reason to limit to 2♣, you can do it after 1M 2♦ also.

In fact (brainstorming outloud) why not after 1♦ 2♣ as well? There might need to be a little rearranging but it could be very helpful on a traditionally difficult auction.

[akhare]

Are transfer after our 1m - (1M overcall) - allowed only under Midchart?

I thought someone mentioned that playing Ambra style transfers aren't GCC kosher, i.e.,

1♦ - (1♠) - 2♣ -> transfer to ♦s

isn't allowed..

[rogerclee]

I think it is good after

(1Y) 2X (2Y) ?

Starting with 2N where Y is a bigger suit than X.

Also, transfers after transfers after a 1N opener.

[blackshoe]

Transfer advances of overcalls are GCC legal. Transfer responses to an opening bid of one of a suit are not GCC legal, even after an overcall. I'm not sure that makes sense, but that's how I read it.

[Cascade]

They work well as opening bids either 1-under - 1♦=hearts 1♥=spades - or two under 1♣=hearts 1♦=spades are playable.

[Cascade]

I have also played transfers as direct responses to 1-level opening bids starting at 1NT.

They might work in response to a takeout double but I don't have any experience there.

[Free]

What about transfer extentions?
1NT-2♦-2♥-2NT+ = transfer
1NT-2♥-2♠-2NT+ = transfer

Or are they not popular/good enough?

[Siegmund]

Let's not forget responses to a natural and limited 2C opening.

[Tomi2]

I play transfers after every overcall after our 1Suit opener in Spades by opps from the next club bid = dias to the next heart bid = clubs up to 3 spades

after 1m opening and jumps to 2 level as well starting with cuebid-1=ask for stopper

after 1m opening and 1 level overcall 3 levels are transfers as well, cuebid -1= stopper? and in both cases 3sp=>3NT

with my father I play transfers after doubles on our weak twos to be able to intodruce a new suit either natural or values with fit and have a constructive raise to 3M, don't know if thats better than standard...

then I play transfers after 2Cl opener (6+♣, no 4 Card major, 10-15)

hope I didnt forget some now

[kgr]

1♣-(Pas)-T-Walsh
1♣-(DBL/1♦/1♥)-transfer starts with RDBL/DBL
1♦-(1♥)-DBL=transfer ♠
1x-(Pas)-1y-(Pas)-1NT-(Pas)-2♦ till 2NT transfer
1x-(Pas)-1y-(Pas)-2NT-(Pas)-transfer
(1x)-1Y-(pas)-Transfer advances
1M-(DBL/1♠)-transfers

[gordontd]

With one partner I play transfer rebids after a 1NT (NF) response to 1M openings. I think the idea originated with Gold/Townsend. It allows you to handle various kinds of strong problem hands.

[kgr]

gordontd, on May 11 2010, 09:54 AM, said:

With one partner I play transfer rebids after a 1NT (NF) response to 1M openings. I think the idea originated with Gold/Townsend. It allows you to handle various kinds of strong problem hands.

We play 1x-(p)-1NT-(p)-2♣ as artificial and inquiring to handle this.

[bluecalm]

We play transfers after 1♦ precision opening in the following fashion:

1♦ - (1♥/1♠) - and now:

-dbl = transfer to ♠ (4+) after 1♥ and 4♥ after 1♠ (or 5♥ if 7-11)
-NT at any level is always natural
-1♠ is transfer to 1NT or ♣
-jumps to 3 level below overcaller suit are natural and inviting
-all other bids are transfers, if there is space they are weak/GF
-transfer to opponent suit is ask for stopper

For example:

1♦ - 1♥ - 2♠ = transfer to ♣ weak or GF (3♣ would be invite)
1♦ - 1♥ - 2♥ = transfer to 6+♠ weak or GF

We play the same idea after polish 1♣, transfer are used after 1♦/1♥/1♠ overcalls.

After 1NT overcall we play 2♣ majors, rest natural but I guess playing transfers here is good as well (we don't like losing ♦ suit)

We got those ideas from Martens' ebook.

[Free]

A few more.

Namyats 3NT openings: 3NT-4♣ asks to transfer the Major

2NT structures:
3♠ = transfer to 3NT (to play or strong minor 2-suiter)
3NT = transfer ♣
4♣ = transfer ♦
(or you can swap 3NT and 3♠ if you prefer to have 3NT natural and give up on minor 2-suiters/♣ 1-suiter)

Some play:
1m-2♦ = weak or GF with 6+♥
1m-2♥ = weak or GF with 6+♠

If opps intervene with 1♠ (it's more like a swap instead of transfer). Example 1♦-1♠-?
2♣ = ♥ (can be wider range)
2♥ = ♣ (strong)

And another swap:
1♠-2♦ = ♥
1♠-2♥ = ♦

[jdonn]

Not so interested in swaps or non-standard systems. But hey whatever...

Also
1♦ (1♥) transfer (playing something like double 4-5 spades, 1♠ 0-3)

[Phil]

Roger listed transfers in an auction I usually play G/B: (1x) - 1y - (2x) -?.

I suppose another common G/B auction could use them as well:

1x -(pass or 1y) - 1z - (2y)

[kgr]

Also: (1♣)-Transfer
And:
(1♣)-DBL-(Pass)-2♣
(Pass)-Transfer

[gwnn]

jdonn emphasis mine said:

Not so interested in swaps or non-standard systems.

huh? What forum did you post in?