Continuations After a Transfer by David Bird

A: 3♥. You have only 7 HCP, but game is still possible with your six-card major and singleton club.

You should invite game with a rebid of 3♥. This shows at least six hearts and partner will have a good picture of your hand. He can either pass or raise to 4♥. Occasionally, he may judge that 3NT is the best prospect, despite your six-card suit.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT. Only 8 HCP, but they are all placed in long suits, pulling their weight. You are worth a game-try and should choose 2NT because you hold only five spades. 3♣ instead would be forcing to game.

Suppose instead that your 8 points included the ♦Q. Since the diamonds were not worth 2 points, you would be more inclined to pass.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. Since 3♦ would be natural and forcing to game, you may have thought that it was a perfect continuation. On this shape, it is most unlikely that 5♦ will be the best spot (only one trick short of a slam). The choice of games should be between 4♠ and 3NT. So, you do better to rebid 3NT.

Bid in this fashion and your partner will know that they can afford to raise a rebid of 3♦ or 3♣. You will have passed the message that your hand is strong enough for a minor-suit game to be considered.

Your result so far:

A: 4♠. You are strong enough to insist on a game contract. There is no point in mentioning the diamonds because you do not want to give partner a choice of trump suit. You KNOW you want to end in 4♠, and the solution is simple... just bid it!

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. You want partner to choose between the major-suit games and you have no interest in a slam contract. The simplest way to pass this message is to show the spades first and then jump to game in hearts.

What would it mean if you bid 3♥ instead? That depends on how you bid game-forcing responding hands with 5-4 or 4-5 shape in the majors. If you begin with a transfer to the long suit, intending to rebid in the 4-card suit, then 3♥ may be based on a hand with 4 or 5 hearts. If instead you start all such hands with Stayman (perhaps then using the Smolen convention), then a 3♥ rebid would show at least 5-5 in the majors.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣. A rebid in a new suit is natural and forcing to game. There is no need to jump when you have five cards in the second suit. If partner cannot support the hearts, you will be able to rebid the clubs.

The advantage of not jumping is that you can start slam investigations at a low level if partner bids 3♥ (or 4♣) next.

Your result so far: