Transfer bids - can you ignore them

[nullve]

True statement. Responder is always going to have borderline hands that have to decide whether to invite or not, or bid game or invite, no matter the range of the opening 1NT.

One obviously does't need traditional invites if the range is narrow enough.

 

A 15-17 range may not be narrow enough, although I think it is if sufficent adjustments are made to the raw Milton Work count. And from the perspective of the resulting improved hcp method it will appear that most pairs actually use a much wider range than 15-17, maybe closer to 14-18 (or worse!), so no wonder they need invites!

[johnu]

One obviously does't need traditional invites if the range is narrow enough.

A lot of players have a 2 point range for 2NT openings. Obviously you can't invite without already being at 3NT or higher using any kind of normal methods.

 

A 15-17 range may not be narrow enough, although I think it is if sufficent adjustments are made to the raw Milton Work count. And from the perspective of the resulting improved hcp method it will appear that most pairs actually use a much wider range than 15-17, maybe closer to 14-18 (or worse!), so no wonder they need invites!

Say you are using the most accurate point count ever invented, now or in the future, the year 2999 intergalactic modified and ultimate point count, for your 15-17 NT. You will still have hands where you have something like 23-25 possible HCP between the 2 hands. 23 combined HCP hands are going to be below standard games on average, and 25 combined HCP hands are going to be well above average contracts. You are still going to need invites. Of course, you can use Woolsey game tries (bid game and TRY to make it).