Transfers after we overcall By Gerben Dirksen

Source: BridgeWinners Some time ago, there has been a request for a description of transfer advances. In this article I have described my preferred method after a simple overcall. Why transfers? When they open the bidding, they have not only partially taken our bidding room, also we have an information disadvantage compared to the opponents: They have taken the first opportunity to declare their hands. In such a situation, it is important to be able to show length in a suit as often as possible. Transfer advances, which have been popularized by Jeff Rubens, help here. Let’s look at a basic situation:

West	North	East	South
1	1	Pass	?

My preferred choice is:

• 1-over-1, e.g. (1) 1 (p) 1, is forcing
• 2-over-1, e.g. (1) 1 (p) 2, is non-forcing
• A new suit after a 2-level 2-overcall, e.g. (1) 2 (p) 2, is forcing

Of course your choice may differ from mine, however in some sequences you don’t have to choose! There is hardly any cost (other than memory) to play transfers starting at the opponent’s suit. Transfers when responder passes If advancer passes, transfers after our overcall function as follows:

West	North	East	South
1	1	Pass	?

• 1: Forcing with 
• 1NT: Natural
• 2: Transfer to  (showing either a non-forcing 2 bid or a forcing 2 bid)
• 2: Cue-bid (showing a forcing raise or a GF hand that cannot be shown otherwise)
• 2: Simple raise

The cost of this method is that your cuebid has been exchanged with the bid directly below the single raise of the overcall. This method is most effective if partner has skipped many steps in the auction to make his overcall, as here:

West	North	East	South
1	2	Pass	?

• 2: Transfer to
• 2: Transfer
• 2: Cue-bid
• 2NT: Natural
• 3: Simple raise

Note that here the cue-bid has moved up two steps, allowing for two transfer bids. However, in case of an overcall in the cheapest available suit there is unfortunately no room for transfers, as the cue-bid is already the bid directly below the simple raise:

West	North	East	South
1	1	Pass	?

• 1NT: Natural
• 2: Non-forcing with
• 2: Non-forcing with
• 2: Cue-bid
• 2: Simple raise

Further bidding after the transfer bid After advancers makes a transfer bid, overcaller simply bids as if partner had made a non-forcing suit bid:

• Complete the transfer: I would have passed a non-forcing suit bid.
• Bid something else: I would have bid on after a non-forcing suit bid.

Particularly, with a decent hand and 3-card support for advancer, jump to 3 of partner’s suit. As the case of accepting the transfer is the most likely outcome, let’s see what advancer’s 2nd bids show in this case:

West	North	East	South
1	2	Pass	2
Pass	2	Pass	?

• Pass: Non-forcing with 
• 2NT: Invitational to 3NT (with 5(+))
• 3: Secondary  support without stopper, non-forcing
• 3: GF asking for stopper
• 3: GF with both majors
• 3: Invitational, good 6+
• 3NT: To play

One point to note is that the meaning of the immediate jump overcall defines the meaning of overcaller repeating his first suit: (1) 1 (Pass) 2* (Pass) 2is intermediate, if a direct 2bid is weak, and vice versa. When responder does not pass If responder does not pass, one can simply play all new suit bids as non-forcing. Due to the rule-of-40 (which states that even if it looks differently, there are only 40 HCP in the deck), you won’t normally want to bid new suit forcing after an opening bid, an overcall and a voluntary response. One situation is however notable: The bid of 2NT as response to a two-level overcall when responder has bid is no longer needed as invitational to 3NT, the natural meaning, because of the rule-of-40. This bid can now be used to show a good raise:

West	North	East	South
1	2	2	?

• Double: Both unbid suits or at least invitational w/o fit
• 2: Non-forcing
• 2NT: Good  raise
• 3: Simple  raise
• 3: Non-forcing
• 3: Asking for stopper
• 3: Fit-showing jump

Our transfer gets doubled All is easy if opponents pass or bid after your transfer, but what if it gets doubled? For example:

West	North	East	South
1	2	Pass	2
X	?

• Pass: Extra values and 4+.
• Redouble: At least invitational, no 4 and no 3.
• 2: To play opposite a non-forcing 2 bid.
• 2NT: Good raise to 3 (again, 2NT is never natural when you are the fourth player to bid)
• 3: Intermediate with a very good  suit (weak if you play int. jump overcalls)
• 3: Fit and  shortness
• 3: Fit and  shortness
• 3: Minimum hand with 3+.

Transfers on a higher level If the auction starts on a higher level, the same principle still applies:

West	North	East	South
2	3	Pass	?

• 3: Forcing with 
• 3: Transfer to 
• 3: Cue-bid (asking for a stopper)

To conclude a final warning: Be sure to agree exactly when transfers apply, otherwise all the gain of playing this convention can be lost in one single hand!