[counttrick]

My partner and I are looking at our follow-on bids after opener begins with 1C/1D, partner responds 1H/1S, and opener jumps to 2NT. We open 14-16 no trumps, and, therefore, our jump to 2NT can be made on a bad 17 to a bad 19 (we usually open any reasonable 19 count, balanced, with 2NT). We have looked at Wolff Sign-off bids (which I understand is Bridge World Standard now), and I'm lukewarm about them. My partner objects to Wolff, primarily on the grounds that he would like the following sequence to be non-forcing: 1C - 1H/1S - 2NT - 3C. His argument is that the modern style of responding with light values combined with our one point range reduction for our 2NT jump makes an "escape" bid necessary. I'm not completely sold on that argument, but it does have some merit. I am looking for suggestions as well as comments on Wolff Sign-off bids from players who have some experience using them. Thanks.

Dennis Goldston

[Stephen Tu]

Your partner's argument is backwards I think.

Wolff signoff is designed for light responses -- you will respond light way more often with a 5+cd major & want to escape in the major, than with some say 4M 5+ in clubs and escape to clubs.

It's far more useful to be able to sign off in the major than in the minor, due to scoring issues, and possible lack of entries to the long suit. If you have a minor fit for opener, if opener has promised 3+ there is some chance you can run the suit in NT, and at MP +120 outscores +110.

The main drawback of Wolff is more when you have a slam try in one of the minors, since you are using the minor suit rebids artificially, those auctions suffer a bit.

[glen]

Transfers after Opener rebids 2NT to show 18-19 balanced.

When opener rebids 2NT to show 18 to 19 balanced, responder can use transfers on the three level to describe hand.
There are two cases when this applies:

1) Opener starts with one of a suit, responder bids one of suit, and opener jumps to 2NT, which shows 18 to 19 balanced.
2) Opener starts with one of a major, responder bids 1NT semi-forcing (or forcing, or not-forcing as per agreement), and opener bids 2NT, which shows 18 to 19 balanced.

After opener’s 2NT bid to show 18 to 19 balanced, all suit bids on the three level by responder are transfers. So, 3♣ shows ♦s, 3♦ shows ♥s, 3♥ shows ♠s, and 3♠ shows ♣s. Of course 3NT directly over 2NT would be just to play there, and 4♣ over 2NT would ask for aces.

The transfers can be used just to play at the three level in a suit contract when having a weak hand and holding a six card or longer suit, or a good five card suit. Simply transfer to the suit and then pass opener’s completion of the transfer.

After a minor suit opening, if responder has both four spades and four hearts exactly, responder will bid 1♥ first. If opener jumps to 2NT to show 18-19 balanced, responder can find a 4-4 spade fit by next bidding 3♥, transfer to ♠s to show four spades also.

Example: 1♦-Pass-1♥-Pass--2NT-Pass-3♥(transfer)-Pass--3♠-Pass-3NT(4-4 in majors, choice of game).

If responder has a five card or longer major, responder’s first task is to transfer to that major. The only exception is when responder has five or longer spades, and four or longer hearts, with spades at least as long as hearts: in this case responder has bid 1♠ already, and next transfers to hearts over 2NT, showing then five or longer spades and at least four hearts. In this one case, where responder has shown five or longer spades and at least four hearts, opener’s task is to pick the major where the better fit is, as in these example sequences:
1) 1♦-Pass-1♠-Pass--2NT-Pass-3♦(transfer)-Pass--3♥: opener likes ♥s better.
2) 1♣-Pass-1♠-Pass--2NT-Pass-3♦(transfer)-Pass--3♠: opener likes ♠s better.

Example hands:

West -------- East
♠ AQ986 --- ♠ 2
♥ KQ9 ----- ♥ JT43
♦ K4 ------ ♦ QJT862
♣ KJ8 ---- ♣ 75

1♠-Pass-1NT-Pass-2NT-Pass-3♣-Pass-3♦-All Pass. Using transfer to signoff.

West -------- East
♠ AQ8 ---- ♠ T5
♥ K6 ----- ♥ AQJ42
♦ AQ43 --- ♦ KT82
♣ QJT8 --- ♣ 75

1♦-Pass-1♥-Pass-2NT-Pass-3♦(transfer)-Pass-3♥-Pass-3NT-All Pass.
Here responder transfers, then bids 3NT to offer opener choice of contract – now opener knows responder has five hearts (for using transfer first), and can bid 4♥ when right.

West -------- East
♠ K98 ---- ♠ AQT53
♥ AJ ----- ♥ T4
♦ KT4 ---- ♦ AQ832
♣ AQJ83 -- ♣ 7

1♣-Pass-1♠-Pass-2NT-Pass-3♥(transfer)-Pass-3♠-Pass-4♦-Pass-4♥-Pass-4NT-Pass-5♥-Pass-5NT-Pass-6♥-Pass-6♠-All Pass.
Responder transfers to ♠s to show five or longer spades, then bids 4♦ to show ♠s & ♦s, good hand. Opener cuebids 4♥ to show control of ♥s and likes hand. After finding out aces and kings, responder bids 6♠.

West -------- East
♠ AJ96 --- ♠ KQT2
♥ KQ9 ---- ♥ JT43
♦ K2 ----- ♦ Q862
♣ AJT8 --- ♣ 7

1♣-Pass-1♥-Pass-2NT-Pass-3♥(transfer)-Pass-3♠-Pass-3NT-Pass-4♠
Responder uses the transfer to show four spades, so partnership finds 4-4 spade fit.

West -------- East
♠ AQ ----- ♠ KJ982
♥ KQ92 --- ♥ JT43
♦ K42 ---- ♦ QJ8
♣ KJT3 --- ♣ 7

1♣-Pass-1♠-Pass-2NT-Pass-3♦(transfer)-Pass-3♥-Pass-3NT-Pass-4♥
Responder uses transfer to show four or longer hearts with five or longer spades. Opener picks hearts, responder offers choice of contract with 3NT, and opener places contract in 4♥. If opener had one more spade and one less heart, opener would bid 3♠ instead of 3♥ so that responder would know opener liked spades better than hearts.

[kenrexford]

My preference:

3♦ is a slam try for Opener's minor. Cuebids follow, except that 3NT declines.

3♥/3♠ are natural and forcing. If hearts were bid first, 3♥ shows a fifth heart and does not deny a fourth spade; 3♠, instead, shows a fourth spade but denies a fifth heart.

3♣ is a soft relay to 3♦. The sole exception is that Opener, after the specific auction 1♣-P-1♥-P-2NT, can bid 3♥ with 2♦/3♥. Responder may pass 3♦. Responder may convert 3♦ to his major, which is passable. Responder may convert 3♦ to the other major, which is an artificial slam try in the unbid minor.

A great example of this latter concept. 1♦-P-1♠-P-2NT-P-3♣!-P-3♦!-P-3♥. Responder is showing slam interest with long clubs. What else do you bid with 5-5 in the blacks?

[skjaeran]

I prefer transfers at 3-level after a jump rebid of 2NT showing 18-19.

After 1M-1NT I play 2NT as a conventional GF and the"standard" Norwegian structure thereafter (like played by Helgemo-Helness).

[pclayton]

Transfers work well, and so does 'extended' Wolff.