Transfer Conventions

Developed in order to prevent the strong hand to be dummy in NoTrump opennings.

• Jacoby Transfer : Developed by Oswald Jacoby (1956). In Notrump opennings, the responder bids 2 Diamonds if he has at least 5 cards of Hearts. The opener should transfer this to 2 Hearts. The procedure is the same for Spades, responder bids 2 Hearts and opener transfer it to 2 Spades.  This convention does not require any points because it is better to play a long suit with even zero point instead of NoTrump. As an  extension of this convention  Minor suit transfers require at least 6 cards. There are some different applications for minor suit transfers.

- The players who play Minor-Suit Stayman bids 2 NT for transfer to Clubs, and 3 Clubs for transfer to Diamonds.

- In Super Five Cards Major transfer to Clubs is done with 2 Spades, transfer to Diamonds is done with 3 Clubs.

- The other systems bid 2 Spades for both minor transfers. Opener tarnsfer it to Clubs and the responder bids the Diamonds if it is the case.

• Texas Transfer : Developed by David Carter from US and Olne Willner from Sweden independently from each other. If the responder has sufficient value for game and at least 6 cards of a major, he applies the transfer at the 4th level, bids 4 Diamonds for 4 Hearts, 4 Hearts for 4 Spades.

• Smolen Transfer : Developed by Michael Smolen in order to show 5-4 major distribution when the answer to Stayman is 2 Diamonds.  Responder bids jumping his 4 cards major if he has game points, Opener understand that the other major is 5 cards, then he bid game from that major if he has 3 cards, otherwise bids 3 NT. With invitation points responder would bid his 5 cards major without jumping.

Opener	responder	Opener	Responder	Explanation
1 NT	2 Clubs	2 Diamonds	2 Hearts 2 Spades 3 Hearts 3 Spades	5 cards of Hearts, 4 cards of Spades with 8-9 HCPs 5 cards of Spades, 4 cards of Hearts with 8-9 HCPs 5 cards of Spades, 4 cards of Hearts with 10+ HCPs 5 cards of Hearts, 4 cards of Spades with 10+ HCPs

If the responder has 4-6 distribution and opener bids 3 NT, responder requires transfer again with 4 Diamonds to 4 Hearts or with 4 Hearts to 4 Spades.

• Dural Transfer : Very similar to Smolen transfer but bids major without jump. 2 Hearts rebid of responder shows 4 cards of Herats and 5 cards of Spades, where 2 Spades rebid shows 4 cards of Spades and 5 cards of Hearts. The bidding sequence would be as follows.

Opener	Responder	Opener	Responder	Opener	Explanation
1 NT	2 Clubs	2 Diamonds	2 Hearts	2 Spades 2 NT 3 NT 3 Spades	3 cards of Spade, minimum value 2 cards of Spade, minimum value 2 cards of Spade, maximum value 3 cards of Spade, maximum value
			2 Spades	2 NT 3 NT 3 Hearts 4 Hearts	2 cards of Hearts, minimum value 2 cards of Hearts, maximum value 3 cards of Hearts, minimum value 3 cards of Hearts, maximum value

This convention could be applied starting from 7+ points. If the opener has minimum value it is possible to stay at 2nd level.

• Mitchell Transfer : Developed by Victor Mitchell but known as NAMYATS. This convention is applied with hands strong for 4 major opennings, but weak for 2 Clubs opennings. You must have solid 7 cards of a major, 4 Clubs openning shows Hearts, 4 Diamonds openning shows Spades.

If responder does not have slam interest bid the game. The response other than the indicated major shows slam interest and asks the unconrolled suit. 4 NT is Blackwood Convention.