Benefits of Transfer and Retransfer Bids

 

Bidding may also go –

• 2D – PASS – 2H – P – P – DBL will be T/O of 2H
• 2D – PASS – 2H – DBL ( either H suit if opener corrects to 2S ) OR T/O Double of 2H if opener shows H suit by passing 

So both partners have some idea what action to take

 

With this information , responder is quite well placed to help find an optimum contract if opponents don’t disturb you enough .  

Other cases :

• Texas or South African Texas – applicable over 1NT openings

1NT – 4D / 4H = Transfer to 4H/4S but if you are no using 4C for Ace asking GERBER convention then 4C/4D = Transfer to 4H/4S and 4H/4S can be to play by responder. Jumping to 4H/4S can be PREEMPTIVE or STRATEGIC and you don’t want opponents to exchange information at lower level.

 

• Similar approach over 2NT openings but responder would NEVER want to play 4H/4S and these bids can be used to describe some minor suit combination – like 5-5 in Minors and singleton in the bid Major OR LONGER C than D with 4H bid and LONGER D than C with 4S bid.
• Transfer overcalls at any level over NT/2NT openings ( as per the choice of partnership )
• Some people play a DOUBLE of a strong 2NT as a preemptive hand with any suit along with 3C for Majors.
• Transfer overcalls at any level against strong C or other strong and artificial openings

So we can see that while we make use of TRANSFER bids , we can use them for constructive as well as destructive bidding. Reason behind such transfers is that the responder gets to judge where to play and what level to play and protect his values because the one who transfers normally focusses on the transferred suit with  Constructive  or  Destructive intent and a GOOD reason . Lot depends on Vulnerability and the level.