Introduction
The opening bidder is the first player to make a bid. There is only one opening bidder. The other bidders are either overcallers or responders and bid using different conventions. This lesson covers Jacoby Transfer responses. If you need to review the basics of making a 1 No Trump bid, refer to 1 NT Opening Bid.
Responses to 1-NT
There are three different types of response to a 1-NT bid. The first is the simple 5-card suit raise. This method is the simplest and easiest to use. The second is the Stayman convention that asks for a 4-card major suit. This method has the advantage of making the 1-NT opener the dealer which keeps the opener’s strong suit hidden from the defenders. The third is the Jacoby transfer that directs the opener to bid a specific suit. This lesson covers the Jacoby Transfer.
The Stayman convention and the Jacoby convention both have the advantage of making the no trump opener the declarer in all hands, hiding the higher-strength opening hand from the defenders. The 5-card convention has the advantage of simplicity. You can combine the Stayman convention with either of the other two methods or you can choose to use only one.
Most of the point requirements are listed as HCP (High Card Points) when evaluating for a No Trump contract, but some are listed as points (HCP plus distribution points) when evaluating for a trump suit contract.
Jacoby Transfer Responses
The Jacoby transfer convention shows a 5 or 6-card suit with the No Trump bidder as declarer. A No Trump contract is established when there is no 8-card rule fit. This example is limited to the transfer to a major suit.
2 ♦ shows 8+ HCP and 5 or 6-card ♥ suit.
2 ♥ shows 8+ HCP and 5 or 6-card ♠ suit.
2-NT shows 8,9 HCP no biddable major suit.
3-NT shows 10-14 HCP and no biddable major suit.
Opener Rebids for Jacoby Transfer Bids
15-17 HCP. If partner bids 2 ♦, then bid 2 ♥.
15-17 HCP. If partner bids 2 ♥, then bid 2 ♠.
Responder Rebids for Jacoby Transfer Bids
In the following responses, the hands with 8,9 HCP are not in control, so they do not bid game, and the hands with 10-14 HCP are in control and make game bids. The responder must also show either 5 or 6-cards in the bid suit.
2 NT shows 8,9 HCP and a 5-card suit.
Single raise of partner’s suit shows 8,9 HCP and 6-card support.
3 NT shows 10-14 HCP and a 5-card suit.
4-partner’s suit shows 10-14 HCP and 6-card support.
A summary of the responder’s bids based on HCP and suit-length are shown below.
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Opener’s Second Rebids for Jacoby Transfer Bids
In the following responses, the hands with 15 HCP are not in control, so they do not bid game, and the hands with 17 HCP are in control and make game bids. The opener must also show 5 or 6 cards in the bid suit.
In most cases, pass when partner makes a game bid. When the responder bids No Trump, single raise the trump-suit when you have 3-card support.
15 HCP. If partner shows a 5-card suit and you have 3-card support, bid the suit at the lowest level, either 3-suit or 4-suit. Otherwise pass.
16 HCP. Reevaluate hand with 10,9 rule. Choose 15 HCP options when no point is added, and 17 HCP options when a point is added.
17 HCP. Pass if partner makes a game bid. Otherwise, apply the 8-card rule. If you and your partner have 8-trumps, IE, 2-card support for a 6-card suit or 3-card support for a 5-card suit, then bid 4-major suit. Otherwise bid 3 NT.
A summary of the opener’s bids based on HCP and suit-length are shown below.
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A Bidding Example
As dealer, South starts the bidding at 1 NT. How would the bidding proceed using each of the Stayman convention?
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South opens 1-NT with 15 HCP.
North bids ♦ with 12 HCP, 14 points and a 5-card ♥ suit, asking South to transfer to ♥.
South bids ♥.
North bids 3-NT with 10+ HCP, showing a 5-card ♥ suit.
South passes with only 2-cards support in ♥.
Review Questions
Some questions may have more than one correct answer.
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Answer the following questions related to the partnership above using Jacoby Transfer responses.
1. What does South open and why?
2. How will North respond and why?
3. How should South respond to North and why?
4. How does North respond to South’s bid and why?
5. How should South respond to North and why?
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| West ♠ 7 ♥ Q, 10, 8, 7, 6 ♦ A, 8, 6, 4 ♣ 9, 2 |
East ♠ A, 6, 3 ♥5, 4 ♦ J, 9, 7, 2 ♣ Q, J, 8, 7 |
Answer the following questions related to the partnership above using Jacoby Transfer responses.
5. What does South open and why?
6. How will North respond and why?
7. How should South respond to North and why?
8. How does North respond to South’s bid and why?
9. How does South respond to North’s bid and why?
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