[kenberg]

Watching a VuGraph just now there was a transfer overcall. In a recent game I played a pair that used transfer responses over a 1C opening by their side. Since I don't encounter this frequently I have taken the simple view that the double of the transfer bid shows that suit and not discussed it further.

Transfer bids of various sorts are becoming ever more frequent, especially at high level play. For the moment at least I am not interested in playing them, but if I will be seeing them more often I would like to know how best to deal with this when my opponents use them. Any thoughts? For example: 1C-pass-1H (showing spades). Should double just be a TO of spades? Or show a heart overcall? What's 1S? What's 2H? Etc.

[Al_U_Card]

As a start, how about using "their" suit to show the other 2, ie if you bid 1S then you are showing H and D. The dbl still shows the transfer suit and 1NT now becomes the takeout for S and 2C the takeout for clubs.....

[hrothgar]

Hi Ken...

Before you do anything else, you're going to need to ask yourself a very simple question. What is your primary goal? Do you want to emphasize the efficiency of your defensive structure which might require adopting a wide variety of different measures depending on the specific nature of the transfer bid. Alternatively, do you want to develop some kind of meta defense which focuses on ease of use and can be applied against a wide variety of methods (at the expense of efficiency)?

My own recommendation is to go with the second approach: As you note, transfers are cropping up in more and more places. Jacoby xfers over NT openings are the most obvious example, but you also have

transfer advances over doubles
transfer advances over overcalls
transfer advances over 1♣ openings (strong and otherwise)
transfer opening bids

I'd never claim that its optimal to play the same defense methods that you use over a MOSCITO type 1♥ opening that shows 4+ Spades as you do over a Jacoby 2♥ transfer advance over a 1NT opening. However, memorizing 1001 different defenses becomes prohibitively expensive.

[kenberg]

My guess is that the "meta defense" approach is right. Still, the question of specific defense interests me, at least as an exercise. For example, along the lines of Al's response but I think a bit different, I was thinking maybe bidding 1S over the 1H trf might show a 6-4 hand (four hearts, a long minor). These hands can be a little tough to develop after 1C-pass-1S, especially if the minor is clubs, and the 1H trf may be a godsend if the right methods are in place. Then the double of 1H is a more classic TO double of spades. My experience with this offense is limited, and I find it hard to guess if this defense would be good.

But yes, a meta strategy is of interest.

Ken

[glen]

One thing to consider is if the transfer bid is effectively forcing or not. For unlimited transfers (which are most of them), a meta agreement could cover hands that pass first, then bid next.

[Gerben42]

I think your main goal is to not have a misunderstanding with partner, so here is a simple set of rules for transfers that are not opening bids:

1. Dbl of the transfer shows the suit bid.
2. Completion of the transfer is the equivalent of a takeout Dbl.
3. Higher bids have the same meaning as without transfer.

In your case, this would mean that for example

1♣ p 1♥(shows ♠) ?

Dbl = ♥
1♠ = TO with red suits
2♥ = longer ♥
2♠ = ♠ (remember 1♣ p 1♠ 2♠ is natural, you can still have that hand)

[hrothgar]

Here's a simple defense for transfer advances over a 1♣ opening.

After (1♣) - P - (1♦) your bids mean the following


2N = 5+/5+ with Spades and Diamonds (good or bad hand)
2♠ = Weak jump overcall
2♥ = Natural, 5+ Hearts (just like they opened 1♣ and advanced 1♥)
2♦ = Natural, 5+ Diamonds
2♣ = Natural, 5+ Clubs
1NT = Natural, good 15 - 18, balanced
1♠ = Natural overcall in Spades
1♥ = 4 Spades with heart shortage or BIG NT oriented hands
X = 12 - 15 balanced or BIG single suited hands

After (1♣) - P - (1♥) your bids mean the following

2N = 5+/5+ with Hearts and Diamonds (good or bad hand)
2♠ = Natural, 5+ Spades
2♥ = Natural, 5+ Hearts
2♦ = Natural, 5+ Diamonds
2♣ = Natural, 5+ Clubs
1NT = Natural, good 15 - 18, balanced
1♠ = 4 hearts with Spade shortage or BIG NT oriented hands
1♥ = 12 - 15 Balanced or BIG single suited hands

[kenberg]

Thanks all, these all sound reasonable and I will give it some thought. And yes, a primary objective is the Partner and I not stumble over bids that mean one thing to one of us and something else to the other.