Jacoby Transfers — BidMaestro

The transfer

Holding a five-card (or longer) major opposite partner’s 1NT, responder does not bid the major but the suit just beneath it, and opener completes the transfer by bidding the major itself:

1NT – 2♦: Transfer to hearts; opener bids 2♥.
1NT – 2♥: Transfer to spades; opener bids 2♠.

Strength is not the point: even a hand with next to nothing and a long major transfers first. The transfer only shows the suit; what responder does next shows the hand.

Why transfer at all

So that the notrump opener becomes declarer. The opening lead then comes into the strong, concealed hand rather than through it. That is worth about three-quarters of a trick on average, because holdings such as A-Q gain when the lead comes up to them.

After opener completes

With the suit shown, responder’s second call sets the level and looks for a second fit:

Pass: Fewer than 8 points, content to play the part-score.
2NT, or a raise to three of the major: Invitational, 8–9 points: 2NT offering notrump, the raise insisting on the suit with a sixth card.
3NT, or game in the major: 10 or more points: 3NT offers a choice (opener corrects to four of the major with three-card support), four of the major names it outright.
A new suit at the three level: Game-forcing, a real second suit, usually with slam interest.
A jump in a new suit: A splinter: six or more of the major, a singleton or void in the suit named, and game values.
Five of the major: A slam invitation with a six-card major and about 15–16 points counting length: slam is there opposite a maximum 1NT but not opposite a minimum, so opener bids six with 17, or with 16 and three-card support, and passes otherwise.
Six of the major: 17 or more counting length: even a minimum 1NT brings the two hands to the 32 points a suit slam needs, so responder bids it. Playing Texas Transfers this hand transfers at the four level instead and asks for keycards, because 4NT after a two-level transfer is quantitative and cannot ask.

Opener may also super-accept, jumping to three of the major with four-card support and a maximum 1NT, to announce the double fit before responder has to ask.

The same right-siding logic runs through the related transfers: Texas Transfers place a six-card major straight into game, and Minor-Suit Transfers extend the idea to the minors. One caution: a later 4NT after a transfer is quantitative, not Blackwood, because no suit has been agreed.

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