Minor Suit Transfers

With "Pre-Acceptance" (Optional)

Rev: May 4, 1999

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When opener bids 1NT and responder has either a 6-card “bust” or a 6-card game-going hand with or without slam interest. A 5-card suit is OK only if a very good suit. Off over interference – use Lebensohl. Note: This treatment precludes using Minor Suit Stayman.

Responder's Transfer Bids

	[ 1NT Pass 2S ..... Minor-Suit Transfer bid (transfer to 3 clubs)
	[ 1NT Pass 2NT ..... Minor-Suit Transfer bid (transfer to 3 diamonds)

Note: There is no such response as 3C or 3D to 1NT (supposes Puppet Stayman is 3C).

Interference By Opponents - After Responder's Transfer Bid

Opener's Rebids:

	Bid only with a good fit for responder’s minor
	Double for penalty
	Pass, responder can then rescue himself or make his normal bid

Rebids by Responder After Transfer by Opener

Opener's Rebid	Responder's Rebid	What Responder is Showing
3C or 3D	Pass	Bust hand with 6+ cards in the minor suit. Sign-off.
3C or 3D	New Suit	Splinter, with 6+ cards in the minor suit. Game-force and suggests slam interest.
3C or 3D	3NT	Balanced or semi-balanced hand with 5+ card minor. Mild slam interest. Opener needs a maximum hand, including a fit with responder’s hand to bid again.
3C or 3D	4C or 4D	Invitational. Highly distributional hand with no interest in notrump.
3C or 3D	4NT	Quantitative. Opener passes or bids 6NT.
3C or 3D	5C or 5D	Wish to try luck at 11 tricks with the minor suit as trump.. Usually a freakish hand with few points, unbalanced and probably 7 trumps. Sign-off.

When Opener "Pre-Accepts" (Optional)

Opener May Bypass The Transfer by Rebidding 3NT (Pre-Acceptance):

[ 1NT Pass 2S or 2NT Pass ] : [ 3NT ..... Indicates a strong fit with responder’s minor, AKx(x). Expects to make 3 Notrump opposite as little as Qxxxxx.

Note - Instead of 3NT some show pre-acceptance by the opener rebidding: 3C/2NT to show good diamonds; 3D/3S to show good clubs)

Rebids by Responder If Opener Bypasses Transfer (Pre-Accepts)

Opener Pre-Accepts	Responder's Rebid	What Responder is Showing
3NT	Pass	In most cases settle for game.
3NT	4C or 4D	Sign-off.
3NT	5C or 5D	Sign-off.
3NT	New Suit	Splinter, with 6+ cards in the minor suit, suggests slam interest.
3NT	4NT	Quantitative. Opener passes or bids 6NT.

Inviting Game In Notrump

Since the normal invite bid of 2NT is no longer available to declarer when the partnership is using Minor-Suit Transfers, the following treatment is used when responder has the normal hand that would qualify for inviting opener to 3NT. For example: A5 973 KJ82 JT74.

Start the bidding with 2C (Stayman)

If opener bids 2D or 2S, responder bids 2NT to invite to 3NT.

If opener bids 2H (may also have a 4-card spade suit)

If responder doesn’t have a 4-card spade suit he bids 2NT for the invite.

Opener will know that responder doesn’t have a 4-card spade and has less that 4 hearts.

Opener will pass or bid 3NT.

If responder has a 4-card spade suit he bids 2S checking back to opener for the possible 4-card spade suit. Responder would do this with: K973 A5 JT74 T92.

Opener will know that responder has a 4-card spade and less that 4 hearts. If responder had a 5-card spade suit he would have used a transfer bid.

Therefore the opener, not having spades is invited to bid 3NT if maximum, or 2NT if minimum.

Of course, if the opener has a spade suit, he can pass, bid 3NT or bid game in spades.