Played in conjunction with
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 (except 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 0.
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 two fits, 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 (if available) or 3S =
Cue bid with a minor fit and a maximum.
3H = Shows heart support and a
non-maximum.
3NT = Denies a fit in hearts and
has no slam interest in the minor.
4C (over 3D) = Cue bid with 4
diamonds, three hearts and a maximum.
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 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 (over opener’s 3D, 3H is to play).
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 0.
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 (if available) or 3H = Cue
bid with a minor fit and a maximum.
3S = Shows a spade support and a
non-maximum.
3NT = Denies a fit in spades and
has no slam interest in the minor.
4C = Shows a four card fit, three
spades and a max
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 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 (over opener’s 3H, 3S is to play).
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 =
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.