Transfer bids in Bridge, the basic method.

In their simplest form you show a five card, or longer, major by bidding the suit immediately below it. Thus, 2¨ shows at least 5 hearts (partner announces “Hearts”) and 2© shows 5+ spades (partner announces “Spades”). The transfer says nothing (yet) about your strength.

1. It tells your partner you have at least five cards in the next suit up.
2. It demands that he bids 2 of the next suit.

Why use transfers?

Transfers help to describe your hand accurately to find the best final contract.

Example 1,

ªK Q 7 4 3

©7 6 2

¨K 9

§ 10 9 2

after 1NT-(pass)-2©-(pass), opener must rebid 2ª

Example 2,

ªK Q 7 4 3

©2

¨K 9 3

§K Q 9 2

After 1NT-(pass)-2©-(pass), opener must bid 2ª-(pass)-3§ (showing 5 spades and 4 clubs), forcing to game

3NT could be possible, 4ª may be a better contract, or even 5§.

This type of hand is ideally suited to transfers.

A list of responses following 1NT-transfer to a Major is as follows:

Pass	Shows a weak hand with a five card major. The type of hand where you would have made a weakness takeout. eg. a transfer sequence 1NT-2©-2ª-pass means a weak hand with 5+ spades.
2NT	Shows precisely 11 points required for a direct raise to 2NT, but now showing a five card major too. Opener now has a number of choices. With 12 points he can either pass the 2NT or return to 3 of partner's major – whichever seems the most likely to succeed. With 14 points and no fit, he bids 3NT. With good points and a fit he bids 4 of partner's major.
3Major	Raising the major to three, as in 1NT-2¨-2©-3©, is a game try with a hand unsuited to a NT contract. This major should be at least six cards long. Opener should pass or raise to four. Depending on 12 or 14 points.
3NT	This shows a 12+ point hand which is reasonably balanced apart from its 5 card major. Opener can pass or return to 4 of partner’s major if he has a 3-4 card fit.
New suit	Any new suit from the transfer bidder is always natural, showing 4+ cards in the second suit in addition to the 5+ card major already shown. Any new suit at the three level is always forcing to game. For example, 1NT-2¨-2©-3¨ is a game force showing at least 5 hearts and 4+ diamonds. Opener must bid again, his choices being 3NT, or supporting one of partner's suits. Note that if the second suit is a major then it is usually exactly 4 cards long, no more, because with 5-5 in the majors and a game strength hand, responder will normally bid 1NT-2©-2ª-4©. This leaves opener the choice of passing or converting to 4ª.