Jacoby Transfers 102

Partner opened 1NT, showing 15-17 high card points (HCP). You bid  2♦ or  2♥, a Jacoby Transfer showing at least five cards in the respective major. Partner accepted your transfer at the two level. Now what?

First, some Jacoby Transfer fundamentals:

1. Partner has at least two-card support, because she opened 1NT showing a balanced hand.
2. Partner does not have a maximum 1NT opener with four-card support. If she did, she would have super-accepted the transfer at the three level.
3. If you have 6+ cards in the major, you have less than game-going values. Otherwise, you would have bid a Texas Transfer at the four level. (There is an exception that we'll cover presently.)
4. If we have an eight-card major suit fit we always play in the major, never in notrump. There are situations when a notrump contract might be superior, but they are almost impossible to reliably identify in Jacoby Transfer auctions.
• Therefore when we offer partner a choice between notrump and the major suit, we show only five cards in the major. With six cards in the major, we only offer partner a choice of how high in the major.

With those principles in mind, let's look at what might happen next:

• Transfer, then Pass.  1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - Pass
  Your hand is not worth a game invitation, typically less than 7 HCP. Recall that partner has denied a maximum opener with four-card support. You might even have four cards in the other major, if your hand is too weak for a Stayman response.
• Transfer, then raise  1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 3♠
  Quantitative invitation to the major suit game. You show 7-8 HCP and six cards in the major, for example:
  ♠ K Q 10 5 4 2 ♥ 9 4 ♦ Q 8 7 ♣ 6 3
  If partner has 16+ HCP, she will bid game in the major; otherwise, she will pass.
• Transfer, then rebid 2NT.
  Quantitative invitation to either game, notrump or the major. You show 8-9 HCP and exactly five cards in the major. If partner has 16+ HCP she will bid 3NT with only two-card support, or four of the major with three-card support. With a minimum opener, partner will pass with two-card support, and sign off in three of the major with three-card support.
• Transfer, then bid 3NT
  Offers partner a choice of games: showing 10-14 HCP, only five cards in the major, and denying a singleton or void. If partner has three or more cards in the major, she will bid game in the major.
• Transfer, then bid three of a minor suit
  Natural and forcing to game: at least four cards (usually) in the minor suit, at least five in the major (of course), and 9+ HCP. Partner's first priority is to support the major with three or more by bidding three of the major. With only two-card support in the major, partner will usually sign off in 3NT. With an exceptional hand for the minor suit, partner can raise to four of the minor. Partner will not bid beyond four of the major, because you may have a six-card major suit in this sequence.
• Transfer to hearts, then bid two spades
  Nonforcing: shows a weak hand with least 5-5 in the majors and 0-6 HCP. Partner either passes or corrects to 3♥ if she has a definite preference for hearts.
• Transfer to spades, then bid three hearts
  Invitational to either major suit game, showing at least 5-5 in the majors and about 7-8 HCP. With a minimum NT opener, partner can pass or correct to 3♠. With 16+ HCP, partner chooses the major suit game.
• Transfer to spades, then bid four hearts
  Offers partner a choice of major suit games, showing at least 5-5 in the majors and 9+ HCP; partner can either pass or correct to 4♠.
• Texas Transfer, then pass. 1NT - 4♥ - 4♠ - Pass 
  To play, with no slam interest. At least a six card suit with about 9-12 HCP.
• Transfer, then raise to game  1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♠ 
  "Slamvitational" A quantitative invitation to six of the major, showing a sound six-card suit with some extra values (about 13-14 HCP). If you had no interest in slam, you would have just done a Texas Transfer at the four-level. Partner can show slam interest by cue-bidding an ace or asking for aces/keycards. Note the difference between this and the previous auction.
• Transfer, then bid 4NT. 1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4NT
  "Slamvitational" A quantitative invitation to either slam, showing only five cards in the major and about 15-16 HCP. This is NOT Blackwood or a keycard-ask. With a minimum opener, partner will pass with two-card support or correct to five of the major with three or more. With 16+ HCP, partner will bid the major suit slam (with three-card support) or 6NT with only two-card support.
• Texas Transfer, then bid 4NT.  1NT - 4♦ - 4♥ - 4NT
  Pushing for slam by checking on aces or keycards, depending on your partnership agreement. Shows at least six cards in the major suit. Note the difference between this auction and the previous one.

-- Ray 

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