Jacoby transfers
With a Jacoby transfer you bid the suit below your five-card major after partner's 1NT: 2♦ asks partner to bid 2♥, and 2♥ asks for 2♠.
The strong hand, the 1NT opener, becomes declarer, so the opening lead comes up to its honours. And you can still show how strong you are afterwards. In VosBridge the bots play transfers on every convention card unless you switch them off.
Transfers in a table
| Auction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1NT – 2♦ | Five or more hearts, any strength (even no points). Partner bids 2♥ |
| 1NT – 2♥ | Five or more spades. Partner bids 2♠ |
| Five spades and five hearts | 2♥ first: the spades |
| Then: pass | 0–10 points. You play two of your major |
| Then: 2NT | 11–12 points with exactly five cards. Partner chooses: pass, 3NT, or three or four of your major |
| Then: 3 of your major | 11–12 points with six cards. Partner passes or bids game |
| Then: 3NT | 13 points or more with five cards. With three-card support partner bids four of your major |
| Then: 4 of your major | 13 points or more with six cards |
| 2NT – 3♦ or 3♥ | Over a 2NT opening: the same transfer, one level higher |
In VosBridge the opener always simply bids the suit asked for. Some partnerships agree to bid higher with four-card support and a maximum; the bots do not. Opposite a strong no-trump (15–17) every step needs 3 points fewer.
Examples
Example 1: a weak hand
- ♠ Q 10 8 6 4
- ♥ 7 3
- ♦ J 9 5 2
- ♣ 8 4
Partner opens 1NT. You have only 3 points, but five spades. You bid 2♥; partner bids 2♠ and you pass. Two spades usually plays better than 1NT.
Example 2: enough for game
- ♠ A 7
- ♥ K J 9 6 3
- ♦ Q 8 4
- ♣ K 7 2
13 points and five hearts. You bid 2♦; partner bids 2♥. Now you bid 3NT: enough for game, and partner knows about your five hearts. With three hearts partner bids 4♥; otherwise partner passes.
Example 3: inviting with six cards
- ♠ K Q 9 7 5 3
- ♥ 8 4
- ♦ A 6 2
- ♣ Q 5
11 points and six spades. You bid 2♥; partner bids 2♠. Then you bid 3♠: an invitation. With 13 or 14 points partner bids 4♠; with 12, partner passes.
Common mistakes
- Transferring with only four cards. 2♦ and 2♥ promise five. With four, use Stayman.
- As opener, not completing the transfer. Over 2♦ you bid 2♥, even with only two hearts.
- Passing the completed transfer with a good hand. The transfer says nothing yet about your points; with 11 or more you bid again.
- Forgetting that 2♦ is about hearts, not diamonds. In VosBridge you tap ALERT first; at the club, follow your club's rules on announcements.
See also: Stayman · Counting points · Acol
Practise this soon
In VosBridge the bots play transfers with you and explain every bid. VosBridge is not open to everyone yet: a small group of testers already plays.
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