Played in conjunction with Texas Transfers

A standard version by Mike Savage

Jacoby and Texas Transfers were primarily created to enable the no-trump opener to be declarer in most major suit contracts. This is based on the premise that strong no-trump opening hands are likely to have tenace positions that are better to be led up to rather than led thru on the opening lead. Diamonds transfer to hearts and hearts transfer to spades. Jacoby Transfers occur at the two level (and also over 2NT, or 2C followed by a 2NT rebid) and Texas Transfers occur at the four level. When playing both Jacoby and Texas Transfers, transferring to two of a major and then jumping to four, is a mild slam try. Below are the basic transfer sequences, reflecting the use of both Jacoby and Texas Transfers, including some continuations and rebids that are played by many partnerships.

1NT: 2D = Jacoby Transfer to hearts with five+ hearts. Could have any number of HCP, even zero.

2H = Semi-forced response (bid 95% of the time), denies a maximum and four hearts.

2S = Shows at least five hearts, four spades and an invitational or better hand.

2NT = Denies three or more hearts or four spades and is a minimum.

3H = Shows three or more hearts, denies four spades and is a minimum.

3S = Shows four spades and is a minimum.

3NT = Denies three or more hearts or four spades and is a maximum.

4H/4S = Shows an 8-card fit & a maximum. With fits in both, choose spades.

2NT = Shows five hearts, invitational values and is often balanced.

3C/3D = Shows five+ hearts, four+ of the bid minor and at least game values.

3D (over 3C) or 3S = Cue bid with minor fit; no 4^th suit stopper or a max.

3H = Shows 3-card heart support and a non-minimum.

3NT = Denies a fit in hearts and has no slam interest in the minor.

4C (over 3D) = Cue bid with four diamonds and wants to play 5D or 6D.

4 of the bid minor = Shows a 4-card minor fit, three hearts and a max.

4H = Shows heart support and a minimum.

3H = Shows at least six hearts and is invitational to game.

Pass = Shows a minimum hand, regardless of your heart fit.

3NT = Rarely bid. Denies a fit, has a maximum with a long, solid minor.

4H = A non-minimum and 3/4 good hearts or a max. with two+ good ones.

3S/4C/4D= Splinters with six+ hearts and slam interest (some play 4C as Gerber).

3NT = Shows five hearts and a balanced hand, offers a choice of games.

4H = Shows six or more hearts and is mildly slam invitational.

4NT = Blackwood (Roman Key-card if you play it).

4NT = Shows 5 hearts, a balanced hand and is slam invitational.

5H = Shows a minimum and a heart fit.

2S/3C/3D = A max, 4 hearts and a doubleton (Ax or xx) in the suit bid (optional bid).

3D = Re-transfer, opener must bid 3H.

3H = Shows a maximum with four hearts (and no doubleton if you play the above).

2NT (rare, not highly recommended) = Shows three hearts with 2 of the top 3 honors,

max. HCP and something more (aces & kings? a small dbltn? a side 5-card suit?).

1NT: 2H = Jacoby Transfer to spades with five+ spades. Could have any number of HCP, even zero.

2S = Semi-forced response (bid 95% of the time), denies a maximum and four spades.

2NT = Shows five spades, invitational values and is often balanced.

3C/3D = Shows five+ spades, four+ of the bid minor and at least game values.

3D (over 3C) or 3H = Cue bid with minor fit, no 4^th suit stopper or a max.

3S = Shows 3-card spade support and a non-minimum.

3NT = Denies a fit in spades and has no slam interest in the minor.

4C (over 3D) = Cue bid with four diamonds and wants to play 5D or 6D.

4 of the bid minor = Shows a 4-card minor fit, three spades and a max.

4S = Shows a spade support and a minimum.

3H = Shows at least five spades, five hearts with game values or more.

3S = Shows at least six spades and is game invitational.

Pass = Shows a minimum hand, regardless of your spade fit.

3NT = Rarely bid. Denies a fit, has a maximum with a long, solid minor.

3NT = Shows five spades and a balanced hand, offers a choice of games.

4C/4D/4H = Splinters with six+ spades & slam interest (some play 4C as Gerber).

4S = Shows six or more spades and is mildly slam invitational.

4NT = Blackwood (Roman Key-card, if you play it).

4NT = Shows five spades, a balanced hand and is slam invitational.

5S = Shows a minimum and a spade fit.

3C/3D/3H = A max, 4 spades and a doubleton (Ax or xx) in the suit bid (optional bid).

3H = Re-transfer, opener must bid 3S.

3S = Shows a maximum with four trumps (and no doubleton if you play the above).

2NT (rare, not highly recommended) = Shows three spades with 2 of the top 3 honors,

max. HCP and something more (aces & kings? a small dbltn? a side 5-card suit?).

2NT: 3D = Jacoby Transfer to hearts. Point range is yet unknown, could be zero.

3H = Shows any minimum or could have a maximum with only two hearts.

4C/4D = Shows five hearts and at least four of the minor with slam interest.

4H = Shows six or more hearts and is mildly invitational to slam

4NT = Natural slam try with five hearts and invitational values.

4H = Shows a non-minimum with three or four hearts.

2NT: 3H = Jacoby Transfer to spades. Point range is yet unknown, could be zero.

3S = Shows any minimum or could have maximum with only two hearts.

4C/4D =Shows five spades and at least four of the minor with slam interest.

4S = Shows six or more spades and is mildly invitational to slam.

4NT = Natural slam try with five spades and invitational values.

4S = Shows a non-minimum with three or four spades.

1NT or 2NT: 4D = Texas Transfer to hearts. Forces a 4H bid and shows six or more hearts.

1NT or 2NT: 4H = Texas Transfer to spades. Forces a 4S bid and shows six or more spades.

4NT is Roman Key-card Blackwood over 4H and 4S, around the major just bid.

Usually, there’s only game and 4H and 4S are passed. An immediate 4C is Gerber.