Source: Wikipedia
Texas transfer, or simply
Texas, is a bidding convention in contract bridge. Originated independently by David Carter of St. Louis and Olle Willner of Sweden,
and used in response to a notrump opening when holding a six-card or longer major suit, game-going points and no interest in slam, its objective is to make the notrump opener the declarer in a game contract in the major suit.
After a notrump opening, responder bids the suit below
his major at the four-level, i.e. if he holds hearts, he bids 4
and if he holds spades, he bids 4
. Opener is obliged to bid the next available major suit, i.e. after a 4
bid by responder, he bids 4
and after a 4
response, he bids 4
setting the contract.
In the variant known as
South African Texas, responses of 4
and 4
are used as transfers to hearts and spades respectively.
The standard defense to the Texas Transfer: double is one-suited and lead-directing, 4NT is for the minors, four of responder’s suit is a Michaels cuebid. A delayed double after opener accepts the transfer is a three-suited takeout.
Both Texas and South African Texas transfers may also be used as opening pre-emptive bids. A 4
and 4
can show a slightly different hand type (usually stronger) compared to a direct 4
or 4
opening.
