The 1 NT opener normally has a stronger hand than its responder. Ideally, the partnership wants the opener's stronger hand to remain hidden from the opposition. If the opener mentions the trump suit first, the opener is the "declarer" of that suit and the responder exposes its hand when laid down as the "dummy".
When the responder has a 5+card major suit, the responder makes a "transfer" bid, which is an artificial bid that is one hierarchy step below the desired major suit. This is a signal to the opener which asks the opener to transfer to the suit which is one hierarchy step above the responder's suit. The opener accepts the transfer and bids the major suit first, thus becoming the "declarer".
Once play begins, the responder with the weaker hand becomes the "dummy" and lays its hand face up on the table for all to see. The declarer's hand, which is stronger, remains hidden from the opponents.
Since the responder has a 5+card major suit, the partnership can play a contract in that 5+card major suit. The opener will have at least 2-cards in that suit (and most likely 3 or 4 cards). The partnership has a 7-card or 8-card fit (most likely an 8-card fit) which is normally enough to make a contract in that suit. The partnership can play a contract in that major suit.
The responder uses the "TRANSFER Convention" (a secret, coded instruction) to tell the opener which suit to bid. The transfer is an artificial bid (a secret, coded instruction) that is one hierarchy step lower than the desired trump suit. The opener's next bid will be one hieracrchy step above the responder's bid so that the opener will bid the trump suit first. In this way, the opener will mention the desired trump suit first in order to be the declarer so that the responder's weaker hand will be exposed in the dummy.
Examples of Transfers: • If the responder wants hearts to be the trump suit, the responder will bid 2 ♦ , one hierarchy step below hearts. This bid asks the opener to "transfer the bidding" to hearts. The responder does not want to play diamonds, the responder wants the opener to bid hearts so the opener will be the declarer of the heart trump suit. The opener accepts the request to transfer the bidding to hearts and bids 2 ♥ . The opener is the declarer of the hearts trump suit and will keep its hand hidden from the opponents.
• If the responder wants spades to be the trump suit, the responder will bid 2 ♥ , one hierarchy step below spades. This bid asks the opener to "transfer the bidding" to spades. The responder does not want to play hearts, the responder wants the opener to bid spades so the opener will be the declarer of the spade trump suit. The opener accepts the request to transfer the bidding to spades and bids 2♠ . The opener is the declarer of the spades trump suit and will keep its hand hidden from the opponents.
Responder's Requirements fof a Transfer: • Suit Length: The only requirement is a 5+card major suit (hearts or spades). If the number of hearts and spades are equal, bid the higher ranking spades. Ignore both minor suits, even if one of them is longer.
• Point Count: There is NO point count requirement. The responder can have zero points in the hand with a 5+card major suit, and can still make a transfer bid to a major suit.
Transfer Strategy: In most cases, the opener's 1 NT hand is stronger than the responder's hand. If the partnership wins the contract, the weaker hand should be the "dummy" where it is exposed face-up on the table. The stronger hand of the declarer remains hidden from the opponents. The strategy is to encourage the 1 NT opener to be the first player to bid the eventual trump suit so that the stronger hand is hidden from the opponents.
Path 1 - Transfer Responses to 1 NT Opening (for Experienced Players)
Transfer Responses to 1 NT Opening
Responder's HCPs and Bid
0 to 7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Part Score
Game Major
Game Minor
Path 1 5+card Major (Transfers)
5 hearts
2 ♦ Transfer to hearts
2 ♦ Transfer to hearts
4 ♦ Texas Transfer to hearts
6+ hearts
4 ♦ Texas Transfer to hearts
3 ♥ Natural bid
5 spades
2 ♥ Transfer to spades
2 ♥ Transfer to spades
4 ♥ Texas Transfer to spades
6+ spades
4 ♥ Texas Transfer to spades
3 ♠ Natural bid
6/6/2024
15-22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Minimum PARTNERSHIP Point Count (assume opener holds 15 HCPs)
Step 1: Opener bids 1 NT .
Step 2: The response depends upon which 5+card major suit the responder has.
If the responder has 5-hearts:
×Step 2: Responder has a 5-card Heart Suit and can hold as little as zero points.
The responder wants the trump suit to be hearts, but wants the opener to bid hearts first so the opener will be the declarer. The responder makes one of two artificial bids in diamonds (one hierarchy step below hearts), depending upon the responder's point count. The artificial bid in diamonds requests the opener to transfer the suit to hearts, so the opener will be the declarer of hearts as the trump suit. If the responder has:
• 0 to 13 pts: Responder bids 2 ♦ .
• 14 to 17 pts: Responder bids 4 ♦ (Texas Transfer). This indicates enough combined partnership points for a game, and at least an 8-card heart fit. The responder wants the opener to bid game immediately in hearts to prevent the opposition from bidding.
Step 3: The opener must trust the responder, accept the transfer, and bid hearts.
Note: Even if the opener only has 2-hearts, there is still at least a 7-card heart fit which is normally enough to make a contract in hearts.
If the responder bid 2 ♦ - The opener has two options based upon points:
• 15-17 pts: Opener bids 2 ♥ . The opener is the declarer of hearts, and the partner's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
• 17 pts and 4-hearts (upper end of the point count range and the maximum number of hearts): Opener bids 3 ♥ . This is the "Super Accept" transfer to hearts. The opener is the declarer of hearts, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
If the responder bid 4 ♦ (Texas Transfer) - Opener bids 4 ♥ . The opener is the declarer of hearts, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
Step 4: Now that the trump suit has been established as hearts and the opener is the declarer, the responder makes one of three bids that reveals the responder's point count.
1) If opener bid 2 ♥ and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 2 hearts.
• 8 to 9 pts - Responder bids 2 NT . There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener decide whether to play hearts or No Trump.
• 10 to 13 pts - Responder bids 3 NT . There are enough points for a game, so let the opener decide whether to play game in hearts or in No Trump.
2) If opener bid 3 ♥ (opener has 17 HCPs and 4-hearts) and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 3 hearts.
• 8 to 13 pts - Responder bids 4 ♥ . There are enough points for a game.
3) If opener bid 4 ♥ , the partnership is at game, so the responder bids PASS .
Step 5: Opener finalizes the contract and level depending upon the responder's previous bid.
1) If responder bid 2 NT and the opener holds:
• 15 to 16 pts and 2-hearts: Opener bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, and with only a 7-card trump fit, the contract may play better in No Trump.
• 15 to 16 pts and 3 or 4 hearts: Opener bids 3♥ - There are not enough points for a game, and with an 8+card trump fit, the contract may play better in hearts.
• 17 pts and 2 to 4 hearts: Opener bids 4 ♥ - There enough points for a game, and with at least 2-hearts, the 7+card trump fit is enough to play the contract in hearts.
2) If responder bid 3 NT and the opener holds:
• only 2-hearts: Opener bids PASS - There are enough points for a game, and with only a 7-card trump fit, the contract may play better in No Trump.
• 3 or 4 hearts: Opener bids 4 ♥ - There are enough points for a game, and with an 8+card trump fit, the contract will play better in hearts.
3) If responder bid 4 ♥ , the partnership is at game, so the opener bids PASS .
(Beginners use these responses)
If the responder has 6+hearts:
×Step 2: Responder has a 6+card Heart Suit and can hold as little as zero points. The responder wants the trump suit to be hearts.
If the responder has 0-13 pts, the responder wants the opener to bid hearts first so the opener will be the declarer. The responder makes one of two artificial bids in diamonds (one hierarchy step below hearts), depending upon the responder's point count. The artificial bid in diamonds requests the opener to transfer the suit to hearts, so the opener will be the declarer of hearts as the trump suit. If the partner has:
• 0 to 9 pts: Responder bids 2 ♦ .
• 10 to 13 pts: Responder bids 4 ♦ (Texas Transfer). This indicates enough combined partnership points for a game, and at least an 8-card heart fit. The responder wants the opener to bid game immediately in hearts to prevent the opposition from bidding.
If the responder has 14 to 17 pts the responder is about as strong as the opener, so it does not matter which hand is exosed as the dummy. There is no need for a transfer. Responder bids 3 ♥ and will become the declarer. This natural bid indicates a strong hand with enough combined partnership points for a game. This bid opens the door to explore a slam contract.
Step 3: The opener must trust the responder, accept the transfer, and bid hearts.
Note: Even if the opener only has 2-hearts, there is an 8+card heart fit which is enough to make a contract in hearts.
If the responder bid 2 ♦ - The opener has two options based upon points:
• 15-17pts: Opener bids 2 ♥ . The opener is the declarer of hearts, and the partner's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
• 17 pts and 4-hearts (upper end of the point count range and the maximum number of hearts): Opener bids 3 ♥ . This is the "Super Accept" transfer to hearts. The opener is the declarer of hearts, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
If the responder bid 4 ♦ (Texas Transfer) - Opener bids 4 ♥ . The opener is the declarer of hearts, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
If the responder bid 3 ♥ , the responder has enough points for a game in hearts, and maybe have enough points to place the partnership in slam territory. Opener bids 4 ♣ Gerber which asks the responder for the number of Aces the responder has.
Step 4: Now that the trump suit has been established as hearts, the responder makes one of four bids that reveals the responder's point count.
1) If opener bid 2 ♥ and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 2 hearts.
• 8 to 9 pts - Responder bids 2 NT . There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener decide whether to play hearts or No Trump.
2) If opener bid 3 ♥ (opener has 4-hearts and 17 HCPs) and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 3 hearts.
• 8 to 9 pts - Responder bids 4 ♥ . There are enough points for a game.
3) If opener bid 4 ♥ , the partnership is at game, so the responder bids PASS .
4) If opener bid 4 ♣ , the opener is using the Gerber convention to ask the responder for the number of Aces the responder has. The responder bids the appropriate Gerber response.
Step 5: Opener finalizes the contract level depending upon the responder's previous bid.
1) If responder bid 2 NT and the opener holds:
• 15 to 16 pts and 2-hearts: Opener bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, and the contract may play better in No Trump.
• 15 to 16 pts and 3 or 4 hearts: Opener bids 3♥ - There are not enough points for a game, and with an 8+card trump fit, the contract may play better in hearts.
• 17 pts and 2 to 4 hearts: Opener bids 4 ♥ - There enough points for a game, and with at least 2-hearts, the 7+card trump fit is enough to play the contract in hearts.
3) If responder bid 4 ♥ , the partnership is at game, so the opener bids PASS .
4) If responder bid the Gerber number of Aces, the opener can continue with Gerber or bid the final contract.
If the responder has 5-spades:
×Step 2: Responder has a 5-card Spade Suit and can hold as little as zero points.
The responder wants the trump suit to be spades, but wants the opener to bid spades first so the opener will be the declarer. The responder makes one of two artificial bids in hearts (one hierarchy step below spades), depending upon the responder's point count. The artificial bid in hearts requests the opener to transfer the suit to spades, so the opener will be the declarer of spades as the trump suit. If the responder has:
• 0 to 13 pts: Responder bids 2 ♥ .
• 14 to 17 pts: Responder bids 4 ♥ (Texas Transfer). This indicates enough combined partnership points for a game, and at least an 8-card spade fit. The responder wants the opener to bid game immediately in spades to prevent the opposition from bidding.
Step 3: The opener must trust the responder, accept the transfer, and bid spades.
Note: Even if the opener only has 2-spades, there is still at least a 7-card spade fit which is normally enough to make a contract in hearts.
If the responder bid 2 ♥ - The opener has two options based upon points:
• 15-17 pts: Opener bids 2 ♠ . The opener is the declarer of spades, and the partner's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
• 17 pts and 4-spades (upper end of the point count range and the maximum number of spades): Opener bids 3 ♠ . This is the "Super Accept" transfer to spades. The opener is the declarer of spades, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
If the responder bid 4 ♥ (Texas Transfer) - Opener bids 4 ♠ . The opener is the declarer of spades, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
Step 4: Now that the trump suit has been established as spades and the opener is the declarer, the responder makes one of three bids that reveals the responder's point count.
1) If opener bid 2 ♠ and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 2 spades.
• 8 to 9 pts - Responder bids 2 NT . There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener decide whether to play spades or No Trump.
• 10 to 13 pts - Responder bids 3 NT . There are enough points for a game, so let the opener decide whether to play game in spades or in No Trump.
2) If opener bid 3 ♠ (opener has 17 HCPs and 4-spades) and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 3 spades.
• 8 to 13 pts - Responder bids 4 ♠ . There are enough points for a game.
3) If opener bid 4 ♠ , the partnership is at game, so the responder bids PASS .
Step 5: Opener finalizes the contract and level depending upon the responder's previous bid.
1) If responder bid 2 NT and the opener holds:
• 15 to 16 pts and 2-hearts: Opener bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, and with only a 7-card trump fit, the contract may play better in No Trump.
• 15 to 16 pts and 3 or 4 hearts: Opener bids 3♥ - There are not enough points for a game, and with an 8+card trump fit, the contract may play better in hearts.
• 17 pts and 2 to 4 hearts: Opener bids 4 ♥ - There enough points for a game, and with at least 2-hearts, the 7+card trump fit is enough to play the contract in hearts.
2) If responder bid 3 NT and the opener holds:
• only 2-hearts: Opener bids PASS - There are enough points for a game, and with only a 7-card trump fit, the contract may play better in No Trump.
• 3 or 4 hearts: Opener bids 4 ♥ - There are enough points for a game, and with an 8+card trump fit, the contract will play better in hearts.
3) If responder bid 4 ♥ , the partnership is at game, so the opener bids PASS .
(Beginners use these responses)
If the responder has 6+spades:
×Step 2: Responder has a 6+card Spade Suit and can hold as little as zero points. The responder wants the trump suit to be spades.
If the responder has 0-13 pts, the responder wants the opener to bid spades first so the opener will be the declarer. The responder makes one of two artificial bids in hearts (one hierarchy step below spades), depending upon the responder's point count. The artificial bid in hearts requests the opener to transfer the suit to spades, so the opener will be the declarer of spades as the trump suit. If the partner has:
• 0 to 9 pts: Responder bids 2 ♥ .
• 10 to 13 pts: Responder bids 4 ♥ (Texas Transfer). This indicates enough combined partnership points for a game, and at least an 8-card spade fit. The responder wants the opener to bid game immediately in spades to prevent the opposition from bidding.
If the responder has 14 to 17 pts the responder is about as strong as the opener, so it does not matter which hand is exosed as the dummy. There is no need for a transfer. Responder bids 3 ♠ and will become the declarer. This natural bid indicates a strong hand with enough combined partnership points for a game. This bid opens the door to explore a slam contract.
Step 3: The opener must trust the responder, accept the transfer, and bid spades.
Note: Even if the opener only has 2-spades, there is an 8+card heart fit which is enough to make a contract in hearts.
If the responder bid 2 ♥ - The opener has two options based upon points:
• 15-17pts: Opener bids 2 ♠ . The opener is the declarer of spades, and the partner's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
• 17 pts and 4-spades (upper end of the point count range and the maximum number of spades): Opener bids 3 ♠ . This is the "Super Accept" transfer to spades. The opener is the declarer of spades, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
If the responder bid 4 ♥ (Texas Transfer) - Opener bids 4 ♠ . The opener is the declarer of spades, and the responder's hand will be exposed in the dummy.
If the responder bid 3 ♠ , the responder has enough points for a game in spades, and maybe have enough points to place the partnership in slam territory. Opener bids 4 ♣ Gerber which asks the responder for the number of Aces the responder has.
Step 4: Now that the trump suit has been established as spades, the responder makes one of four bids that reveals the responder's point count.
1) If opener bid 2 ♠ and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 2 spades.
• 8 to 9 pts - Responder bids 2 NT . There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener decide whether to play spades or No Trump.
2) If opener bid 3 ♠ (opener has 4-spades and 17 HCPs) and the responder has:
• 0 to 7 pts - Responder bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, so let the opener play 3 spades.
• 8 to 9 pts - Responder bids 4 ♠ . There are enough points for a game.
3) If opener bid 4 ♠ , the partnership is at game, so the responder bids PASS .
4) If opener bid 4 ♣ , the opener is using the Gerber convention to ask the responder for the number of Aces the responder has. The responder bids the appropriate Gerber response.
Step 5: Opener finalizes the contract level depending upon the responder's previous bid.
1) If responder bid 2 NT and the opener holds:
• 15 to 16 pts and 2-spades: Opener bids PASS - There are not enough points for a game, and the contract may play better in No Trump.
• 15 to 16 pts and 3 or 4 spades: Opener bids 3♠ - There are not enough points for a game, and with an 8+card trump fit, the contract may play better in spades.
• 17 pts and 2 to 4 spades: Opener bids 4 ♠ - There enough points for a game, and with at least 2-spades, the 7+card trump fit is enough to play the contract in spades.
3) If responder bid 4 ♠ , the partnership is at game, so the opener bids PASS .
4) If responder bid the Gerber number of Aces, the opener can continue with Gerber or bid the final contract.
