Jacoby Transfer - Initial Transfer Bid

Initial Transfer Bid

The transfer procedure is quite simple and is described first in response to your partner's 1NT opening bid. Since a 1NT opening bid requires a balanced hand, i.e. no more than one doubleton, it promises to have at least two cards in the desired suit):

  • Holding a 5-card major suit, responder would traditionally bid two, three or four of that suit depending on strength; using transfers, responder will instead bid two of the suit below the major suit
  • Partner (opener) must then bid two of the next suit up (i.e. the major suit in question)
  • Examples:
    • 1NT - 2 (i.e., "I have a 5-card heart suit, please bid my suit") - opener must rebid 2♥
    • 1NT - 2♥ (i.e., "I have a 5-card spade suit, please bid my suit.") - opener must rebid 2♠

Opener can super-accept the transfer by bidding three of the major with a maximum hand containing at least four cards in that major.

An immediate disadvantage of this method is that it is incompatible with a weak take out into 2, although as with the loss of the 2♣ weak take-out when using Stayman, this is not generally considered a serious loss.

Read more about this topic:  Jacoby Transfer

Famous quotes containing the words initial, transfer and/or bid:

    Capital is a result of labor, and is used by labor to assist it in further production. Labor is the active and initial force, and labor is therefore the employer of capital.
    Henry George (1839–1897)

    If it had not been for storytelling, the black family would not have survived. It was the responsibility of the Uncle Remus types to transfer philosophies, attitudes, values, and advice, by way of storytelling using creatures in the woods as symbols.
    Jackie Torrence (b. 1944)

    O, call back yesterday, bid time return.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)