[pclayton]

1x - 1y - 2N

Does anyone have a good structure for transfers here? In my experience, they don't operate the same as 1M - 1N - 2N (which is much simpler). Thanks.

[fred]

I use transfers in this auction in my regular partnership with Brad Moss. Here are some suggestions:

- Use 3C as either a signoff in diamonds or a hand with support for partner's minor (as opposed to 3C always shows diamonds regardless of what partner's minor is).

- Use 3S to show 5+ in both your major and the other minor. This leaves some hands unbiddable, but I think the alternatives are worse.

- Opener almost always has to accept the transfer back to responder's major especially if you have a tendency to respond light. If opener has a great hand with 3-card support, he should bid 3NT if he has a notrump-oriented hand and otherwise cuebid in case responder has slam interest.

- Transfer back to your major then new suit is a cuebid in support of yourself.

- Transfer back to your major then 3NT is a choice of games, but it is dangerous for opener to Pass with 3-card support since responder could have a highly unbalanced hand. This is one of the weaknesses of transfers - you can can't really have intelligent choice of games auctions.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[awm]

It probably depends a little on the degree (if any) to which you play Walsh. Is it possible that responder has a hand with 4M-5+♦ and slam interest after 1♣-1M-2NT? If so, you might want 3♣ (transfer) followed by 3NT to show this hand, whereas Fred's method really has no way to show this hand. If such a hand is impossible (i.e. with 10-11 points or so and this shape you bid 1♦ over 1♣) then Fred's method looks a lot better.