Sequences you may have forgotten

These are over a 1D opening

Dealing with the Bridge World “Hand of Death”

1D 1H
You have a strong hand with 6D and 3H (Note the follo0wing does NOT apply over a 1C
opening)

1D 1H
2S strong hand with 6m and 3H

Thanks to this treatment, opener with 6 diamonds can choose 2NT or

3♦ depending on the character of the hand. In both cases, it would deny a heart fit

Continuations

We use the Cheap Transfer: 3♣ says we want to play in 3D or 3♥ and other bids (2N, 3♦, 3♥) are
forcing.
2N asks for shortness! Opener shows shortness if she has it, and otherwise bids 3♦ with a good
suit, 3♥ with honors in partner’s suit, or
3N with distributed honors.

1D 1S
2♥ reverse has two meanings:
Normal reverse
6m with 3 card S support

Continuations

2♠ is nonforcing, 2N is forcing, and 3♣ is a Cheap Transfer.

1♦ 1♠
2♥ 2N = forcing
?
Rebids are practically natural:
3♣ = 4 hearts, 3 clubs
3♦ = 6 diamonds, 4 hearts
3♥ = 4 hearts, 3 spades
3♠ = 3 spades, 6 diamonds
3N = 4 hearts and two doubletons
Cheap Transfers

When do they apply?

Obviously in the above described situations eg
1D 1S
2♥ 3C I have a shitty hand bid 3D and pass

Cheap Transfers

Cheap Transfers is a gadget that sets into one schema a few ideas invented all over the world.
The proposed mechanism can be described by a single principle:
After a response at the 1-level:
the second bid by responder in the cheapest unbid suit is artificial and asks opener to bid the next
higher suit.

Let us start with the example of the highest level that this convention is used: opener jump rebids
2N. The cheapest bid in an unbid suit is
3♣. For example:

1♦ 1♠
2N 3♣

The 3♣ means that responder wants to play as low as possible.

Opener is obliged to bid the next suit, in this case 3♦.

1♦ 1♠
2N 3♣
3♦ ?

Pass = “I want to play 3♦”

3♥ = “I want to play 3♥ (unless you correct to 3♠)”
3♠ = “I want to play 3♠”
3N = “3♣ was natural, I am not sure about 3N”
A consequence of this is that any other suit bid at the 3-level is forcing.

1♦ 1♠
2N ?
3♦ = diamond fit, forcing
3♥ = natural, forcing
3♠ = natural, forcing
Similar treatment holds if the auction starts out:
1♦ 1♥
2N ?
Or
1♥ 1♠
Let’s take a look at Cheap Transfers at a lower level.
1♦ 1♠
2♦

1♦ 1♠
2♣

In both above sequences our conventional rebid is 2♥. 2♦ is not available in the latter sequence
because it would be suit preference. 2♥ has the following meanings:
1) Signoff in spades, or
2) Any gameforcing hand

An important advantage of this arrangement is the ability to rebid a five card spade suit to
invite at a low level. Rebidding spades (2♠) shows a stronger hand than signing off in
spades – so opener is free to continue bidding.

Even more interesting is the Cheap Transfer at a lower level still.

1♥ 1♠
2♣ ?

The cheapest bid in an unbid suit is 2♦ - transfer to 2♥: Signoff in 2♥ or 2♠, or Any gameforcing
hand.

Over the obligatory 2♥ by opener:

1♥ 1♠
2♣ 2♦
2♥ ?
Pass = “I want to play 2♥”
2♠ = signoff in spades

Higher bids are gameforcing:

2N = Gameforcing – same as Forcing 2N
3♣/3♦/3♥/3♠ = gameforcing

In this situation excluded from 2♦ (which is either signoff or gameforcing) are the invitational
hands:

1♥ 1♠
2♣ ?
2♥ = better than transferring via 2♦ - a light invite – may be a doubleton heart, like a 2N call that
has no good club stopper
2♠ = invite with spades
2N = invite with a good club stopper
3♣/3♦/3♥/3♠ = invite

Let’s discuss the sequence:

1♦ 1♥
1♠ ?

There are various tools out there partnerships use: some treat 2♣ as Fourth Suit Forcing, and
others two-way checkback. I propose Cheap Transfer.

1♦ 1♥
1♠ 2♣

2♣ is a Cheap Transfer, preparing a signoff, or a game force.

1♦ 1♥
1♠ 2♣
2♦ ?

Pass = “I want to play 2♦”

2♥/2♠ = signoff in hearts or spades
2N/3♣/3♦/3♥/3♠ = game forcing

In these situations, other bids at the 2-level are slightly encouraging.

1♦ 1♥
1♠ ?
2♦ = better than going through 2♣ (may be a 2N bid without a
good club stopper)
2♥ = encouraging with five hearts
2♠ = encouraging with a spade fit
2N = invite with a good club stopper
3♣/3♦/3♥/3♠ = solid invite