Responding to a 1NT opener

[lowerline]

The context is a strong (14-16 or 15-17 1NT opener). I've already decided on Stayman and on Jacoby with second round transfers, on 3M as a splinter with 54 in the minors and on Texas. That leaves the 2♠/NT/3m responses...

 

I see several alternatives:

 

1. Minor suit transfers (2♠ & 2NT): all weak and strong minor one- and twosuiters can be bid through the transfers. It also allows opener to show whether he likes the suit or not (getting to those 22-23hcp 3NT contracts). The obvious drawback is that you need to go through Stayman if you just want to make a natural invitation to 3NT. Against that the 3m responses are still open to show other hands (Puppet Stayman?)

 

2. 2♠ as above, 2NT natural, 3♣ transfer ♦ (weak/strong), 3♦ natural invitational. It is possible to bid the same minor suit hands as above, except for the weak twosuiter.

 

3. 2♠ asking min/max; I haven't worked out this one yet, but it seems you can't combine this with the invitational (with suit acceptance) minor onesuiters.

 

What do you recommend?

 

Steven

[helene_t]

Play 2♠ as natural, to play.

 

Then a transfer to spades shows at least invitational values so if opener does not superaccept you can just pass his transfer accept and play 2♠ when the field goes down in 2NT or 3♠.

 

Besides (and probably more importantly) opps canot double you transfer to show hearts when you have a weak hand with spades, so they let you play 2♠ when they should be playing 3♥ or even 4♥, or have chased you into 3♠.

 

This looses when you'd like to transfer to clubs but how often do you do that? Most of the clubs-hands can bid 3♣ directly or via Stayman anyway (whatever you agree that to mean).

[Apollo81]

You could play:

 

2♠-->♣

2NT natural

3♣-->♦

3♦ = spade splinter, (45) minors

3♥ = heart splinter, (45) minors

3♠ = GF equal length minors

 

I play this in casual partnerships. The advantages are simplicity, your notrump invitations can't be doubled for the lead, and you have a little more room to explore slam on the 13(45) hands.

 

The main disadvantage is that there is no diamond invitation.

[inquiry]

You might try...

 

2S as natural balanced invite to 3NT or minor two suiter, strong or weak

---> 2NT = reject 3NT game try

---> 3m = better minor

 

over 1NT-2S-2NT,

---> 3C is pass/correct, minor two suiter weak

---> 3D is strong two suiter, just game value

---> 3M strong two suiter, fragment of some sort

 

over 1NT-2S-3m

---> Pass, weak minor two suiter

---> 3NT Invite to game type hand

---> other, strong two suiter

 

This leaves 2NT as lebehnsol-ish, signoff in either minor, or mild slam try in club

 

over 1NT - 2NT

---> 3C

---------> Pass to play

---------> 3D is to play

---------> 3NT clubs, mild slam try

---------> 3H/3S -- stong minor one suiter, hearts for clubs, spades for D.

 

3C and 3D are six card suits with two of the top three honors, nothing else of value

[mikeh]

Based on what you are currently playing, I'd suggest 4 suit transfers.. and as for the invitational hands where a natural 2N would work if you weren't playing transfers... it depends on the game you are in.

 

I have played, and enjoyed, an approach where you go through 2♣ and then, if appropriate, invite via 2N only with at least one four card major. At imps, don't go through stayman and then 2N with no major: either pass 1N or (far more often) just bid 3N... experience suggests that you gain more by concealing opener's shape and size than you lose by overbidding. At mps, the style is also effective, but not as effective, so you might prefer a more normal style of 2♣ then 2N.

 

You also need a use for 3♣ and 3♦. When playing 4 suit transfers, I usually play 3♣ as both minors, pass or correct, and 3♦ both minors, gf.

 

This is a relatively easy system to remember, which is always a useful attribute.

[Free]

2♠ = ♣

2NT = ♦

3♣ = both minors, weak

3♦ = multi-invite: 6M invitational (this gives you more possibilities for GF auctions)

[SoTired]

I like 4 suit transfers, but have 2S pull double-duty as min/max ask and club transfer (you lose pre-accept.... sorry)

1N 2S = club transfer or min/max ask

. . . . . . 2N = min

. . . . . . . . . 3C = signoff

. . . . . . . . . <anything else> = club slam try

. . . . . . 3C = max

. . . . . . . . . 3N = signoff

. . . . . . . . . <anything else> = club slam try

1N 2N = diam transfer

1N 3C = weak minor 55, pass or correct

1n 3D = strong minor 55

. . . . . . . 3H = accept clubs as trump

. . . . . . . 3S = accept diam as trump

[kenrexford]

What I play in that context I like. You may also.

 

3♦ = 5-5 majors, invitational+.

Opener is expected to bid 3M with a minimum. Responder will bid on if greater than invitational.

If "non-slam maximum," Opener bids 4M (or 3NT is 2245/2254/2236/2263).

If "slammish maximum," Opener can "flag" his major election (4♣-->♥; 4♦-->♠; re-transfers).

 

3♣ is Puppet. However, I would prefer either:

Simple Batchelder (3♥ is no 4-card or 5--card major; 3NT for hearts.) This allows Responder to bid 3♠ after 3♥ when he is 5♠/3♥, making Jacoby...3NT 5♠/0-2♥.

Or, full Batchelder (I posted it somewhere -- check with me if interested).

But, simple Puppet works fine.

 

2♠ and 2NT can be any number of things in this scheme. Simple four-way transfers works fine. Or, if 2♠ is MSS, then 3♣ can be a relay to 3♣ (passable), with special quantitatives after that, or 4441's, or whatever.

[Trinidad]

I like the Polish variation. I used to play it with a Polish partner for a while:

 

2♠: Invitation to 3NT or a hand with clubs

.....2NT: MIN

..........3♣: to play

..........rest: as you would after 4 suit transfers

.....3♣: MAX

..........Pass: to play 3♣

..........rest: as you would after 4 suit transfers

2NT: transfer to diamonds (weak/ INV or slam)

3♣: (43)51, to play game

3♦: (43)15, to play game

3♥: 31(45), to play game

3♠: 13(45), to play game

 

When compared to four suit transfers, this use of 2♠ and 2NT loses a little bit on the invitational hands with clubs since 2♠ doesn't ask for a club fit, but primarily for a maximum or a minimum. (However, you can obviously look at your club holding to break a tie.) But it gains a lot on the balanced hands without a four card major. Playing four suit transfers, you have to bid Stayman to invite with 2NT. In that case, you give the defense information that wasn't helping you. Playing this method, you can use 2♠ to invite 3NT without revealing declarer's shape. That is a major advantage, most notably at matchpoints. A small advantage is that Stayman now promises a major which makes it a little easier if the bidding gets competitive.

 

Rik

[keylime]

If not for Keri:

 

2D -> 2H -> 2S: cancels the heart xfer and is a diamond xfer or both minors any strength

2S -> a club xfer

2NT -> natural invite, no 4 card major

3C -> Puppet Stayman if you open 5 card majors into NT

3D -> open for whatever use you have need for

3H/S -> G/F, shortage, 5-4 minors

[Guest Jlall]

Heres what i like these days:

 

2S=clubs

2N=diamonds

3C=some 4441 including 4 hearts.

3D=5-5 minors GF

3H=4144 or 31(54) (opener bids 3S with 4 spades, then responder bids 3N if hes 31(54))

3S=13(54)

[lowerline]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I like Mike's idea: just bid 3NT with an invitational hand without a major. It's definitely simple (and I believe in its merits when playing for imps).

 

I saw several suggestions to play 3♣ as weak twosuiter minors and 3♦ as GF twosuiter minors. You don't need this when playing minor suit transfers. Especially when you accept by bidding the suit, like this:

2♠

--- 2NT = don't like ♣

--- --- 3♣ = to play (weak/invitational)

--- --- 3♦ = GF minor twosuiter (55)

--- 3♣ = like ♣

--- --- pass = weak onesuiter

--- --- 3♦ = GF minor twosuiter (55)

2NT

--- 3♣ = don't like ♦

--- --- pass = weak twosuiter minors

--- --- 3♦ = to play (weak/invitational)

--- 3♦ = like ♦

--- --- pass = weak onesuiter ♦ OR weak twosuiter minors

 

I know this isn't how minor suit transfers are usually played, but it seems like a good idea.

 

Steven

[Gerben42]

What I've found very useful:

 

2♠ Multi-way:

* weak or strong in a minor

* invite to 3N

--> 2NT minimum

--> 3C maximum

 

After this: 3M is SI in ♣ resp. ♦, 4m ditto, direct ace asking.

 

2NT: Both minors, weak or strong

3m: Invite, asks opener to bid 3NT with a top honor.

[Trinidad]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I like Mike's idea: just bid 3NT with an invitational hand without a major. It's definitely simple (and I believe in its merits when playing for imps).

 

I saw several suggestions to play 3♣ as weak twosuiter minors and 3♦ as GF twosuiter minors. You don't need this when playing minor suit transfers. Especially when you accept by bidding the suit, like this:

2♠

--- 2NT = don't like ♣

--- --- 3♣ = to play (weak/invitational)

--- --- 3♦ = GF minor twosuiter (55)

--- 3♣ = like ♣

--- --- pass = weak onesuiter

--- --- 3♦ = GF minor twosuiter (55)

2NT

--- 3♣ = don't like ♦

--- --- pass = weak twosuiter minors

--- --- 3♦ = to play (weak/invitational)

--- 3♦ = like ♦

--- --- pass = weak onesuiter ♦ OR weak twosuiter minors

 

I know this isn't how minor suit transfers are usually played, but it seems like a good idea.

 

Steven

This is an excellent way to play four suit transfers. I play it with whoever wants to.

 

I saw the suggestion to play like this for the first time in "Precision in the 90's" by Barry Rigal.

 

Rik