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Question
What is a Jacoby Transfer, and why do we use it?
Answer
Why
A 2♦ or 2♥ response to 1NT that makes opener declarer in your 5+ card major
Why
When partner opens 1NT (15-17 HCP) and you hold a five-card or longer major, you want to play in that major - and you want the strong hand to be the hidden one. The transfer arranges both at once.
Question
Why do we want the 1NT opener to be declarer instead of responder?
Answer
Why
So the strong hand’s honours stay hidden
Why
The 1NT opener holds the high cards. If that hand goes down as dummy, the defenders can see every honour and defend accurately. Transferring makes opener declarer, and the weaker responding hand becomes dummy instead.
Question
How many points do you need to make a Jacoby Transfer?
Answer
Why
None - you can transfer with 0 points
Why
The only requirement is a five-card or longer major. Your strength matters later, when you decide what to do after opener bids your suit.
Question
Why is it fine to transfer with a very weak hand, even 0 points?
Answer
Why
Small trumps take tricks in a suit contract; in notrump they take none
Why
In notrump you need high cards to win tricks, so a hand with no honours is nearly useless there. Once your long major is trumps, even low cards start taking tricks - so a weak, long major plays far better in the major than in 1NT.
Question
Partner opens 1NT and you hold 5+ hearts. What do you bid?
Answer
Why
2♦ - a transfer telling opener to bid 2♥
Why
You bid the suit immediately below your real suit.
Question
Partner opens 1NT and you hold 5+ spades. What do you bid?
Answer
Why
2♥ - a transfer telling opener to bid 2♠
Why
Again, bid the suit immediately below the one you actually hold.
Question
You open 1NT and partner responds 2♦. What do you bid?
Answer
Why
2♥ - you have no choice
Why
Partner’s 2♦ is a transfer to hearts, so you must bid 2♥ whatever your hand looks like. You can show what you think of the contract later.
Question
You open 1NT and partner responds 2♥. What do you bid?
Answer
Why
2♠ - you have no choice
Why
2♥ is a transfer to spades, so you complete it by bidding 2♠.
Question
The transfer is completed and you hold 0-7 points. What do you do?
Answer
Why
Pass
Why
With 0-7 you have no interest in game, so leave opener to play the partscore in your major - whether you hold five trumps or six.
Question
You transferred with a 6+ card major and 8-9 points. What do you do?
Answer
Why
Raise your major to the three level to invite game
Why
A six-card suit and invitational values. Raise, and let opener decide whether there is enough for game.
Question
You transferred with a 6+ card major and 10-15 points. What do you do?
Answer
Why
Bid game in your major
Why
You have game values and a known eight-card fit or better, so jump straight to four of your major.
Question
You transferred with exactly 5 cards in your major and 8-9 points. What do you do?
Answer
Why
Bid 2NT - natural and invitational
Why
With only five in the major you give opener four choices: pass 2NT, accept the invitation with 3NT, return to your major with three-card support, or bid game in the major.
Question
You transferred with exactly 5 cards in your major and 10-15 points. What do you do?
Answer
Why
Bid 3NT
Why
You have game values but only a five-card major, so offer opener the choice of games: pass 3NT with two-card support, or bid four of your major with three or more.
Question
(Advanced) You transfer to a major and then bid a new minor suit. What does that show?
Answer
Why
At least four cards in that minor alongside your five-card major - an unbalanced hand
Why
It is at least game forcing, and you may be interested in slam.
Question
(Advanced) You transfer to one major and then bid the other major. What does that show?
Answer
Why
5-5 in the two majors, with an unbalanced hand
Why
Showing both suits lets opener pick the better fit.
Question
(Advanced) You transfer to a major and then bid 4NT. What does that mean?
Answer
Why
A quantitative slam invitation with 16-17 HCP, in notrump or in your major
Why
Opener passes 4NT with a minimum 15. With 17, opener can bid slam - 6NT with only two-card support, or six of the major with three or four.
Question
(Advanced) You transfer to a major and then bid 5NT. What does that mean?
Answer
Why
“Pick a slam” - 18+ HCP
Why
You have slam strength and are letting partner choose between 6NT and six of your major.
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