Thursday, March 23, 2006 2:15 AM

2NT - Transfers

PITBULLS:

Every established partnership should have an understanding how to “super accept” after a transfer with 2NT opening bids. My understanding is simple. If we accept the transfer , we have “super accepted” . The reason for this understanding is that we sometimes have “off shape” 2NT openers . J AQJ KQxx AQJxx is a 2NT opener the way I play Bridge. Partner bids 3♥ as a transfer and I reply 3NT saying get out of my face. xx KQx AQ10 AKQxxx You open 2NT and partner bids 3♥ and again you bid 3NT as your club suit is NT orientated.

Of course there are degrees of super acceptance. A jump to 4 of the major shows 4 trumps and an immediate Q bid would be a hand that exceeds the 2NT range in support of the major. AKx Ax Axxx AQxx is a 4♥ Q bid of a 3♥ transfer. This must show all 3 controls in one bid as you bypassed two controls.

Transferring and re-transferring after a 3NT response is a mild slam try. The reason for this treatment is that you insisted on your major and did not choose Texas initially. If you just want to play 3 of a major , use Texas transfers and hope they misdefend J .

I like lump NT overcalls & openers with similar understanding as 2NT bids with regard to transfers. Sometimes you do not like to trap vul vrs nv so you “manufacture” a NT overcall with a stiff major. AQ10 J KQx AJ109xx They opena NV 1♣ and you are vul. Trapping is not the way to go so you overcall 1NT. Partner bids 2♦ as a transfer to hearts. 2NT is not a super accept. It says I do not like hearts. NT is always reserved for not liking the transfer contrary to many popular other treatments. Re-transferring is on after the 2NT non acceptance.

Discuss with partner.