Defense to transfer advances

[bhall]

Many expert partnerships have adopted Jeff Rubens' suggestions of using transfers by responder over 1A-X, and by advancer after 1A-1M-X. When the transfer is to partner's suit, showing a raise, the defense is straightforward. However, when the transfer is to a new suit, the best uses for double, cue bidding of either opponent's suit, notrump, and new suits, is not so clear. What methods would you suggest?

 

In some partnerships, the transfer to a new suit may not simply indicate a desire to play in that suit: It may be a lead director or even a short suit. Does that change your recommended defense? And should those pairs be required to provide one?

 

What varieties of transfer advances have you encountered?

[dake50]

Yea, yea I play xfers. And want to hear expert thoughts on counters to them.

Come on y'all put thoughts out.

[kenrexford]

Not directly on point, but a thought some may like. A simple example describes this.

 

1♠-X-2♣!-2♥-X?

 

The latest new gadget I have learned is for a double by Opener after a suit/lead bid is played as a "Suit/Lead Support Double."

 

As for Advnacer's options. Simple seems to be for double to show the artificial suit and for pre-completion to be natural, when the Suit/Lead is 2♣ or 2♥!; obviously pre-completion to 2♠, their suit, makes no sense. When 2♦, perhaps double for one or both minors.

[bhall]

As an example, let's take kenrexford's auction: 1♠-X-2♣!-?

 

Since 2♣ may either show a ♦ suit or ask for the lead, advancer must not let the ♦ suit "get away" from them. One simple scheme that will do this is to double showing ♦ (not ♣), and to use up their room by bidding 3♣ with ♣. This can often get you a lead through their lead-director, and it nullifies the "baby" psyche.

 

The cue bids of 2♦ and 2♠ can be used to show a hand with two places to play: ♦ and ♥ or ♣ and ♥. 2♥ and 3♥ can retain their usual meanings. Finally, 2N could show a balanced hand with clubs and a spade stop.

 

OK, tear it apart!