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Alder Transfer Preempts


Alder Transfer Preempts comprise a system of 3- and 4-level opening transfer bids. Their purposes are:

  1. To "right-side" the contract when playing the aggressive form of the Gambling 3NT (i.e. a running minor suit and no side suit controls), in order to protect partner's tenaces. And...

  2. To leave the door open for 3NT with a long minor-suit that would otherwise open 4C/D.

Opener's conventional bids:

3DA weak 3 or 3 opening bid. 5-10 HCP, 7-card suit.
3HA weak 4 or 4 opening bid.
3SGambling 3NT
4Namyats, showing a good 4H opening bid.
4Namyats, showing a good 4H opening bid.
4A preemptive 4H opening bid.
4A preemptive 4S opening bid.


Responses to 3D

Pass6+ diamonds and no tolerance for the majors.
3HAccepting the transfer. Opener can bid 3 with a spade preempt.
3SShowing good heart support, but willing to stop in spades if that is opener's suit. Opener should rebid 4 with a heart preempt.
3NTTo play.


Responses to 3H

Pass6+ hearts and no tolerance for the minors.
3SArtificial inquiry, asking opener to bid 3NT with clubs or 4C with diamonds.
3NTTo play.
4CAccepting the transfer. Opener can bid 4 with a diamond preempt.
4DShowing good club support, but willing to stop in diamonds if that is opener's suit. Opener should rebid 5 with a club preempt.
4HTo play.
4STo play.


Responses to 3S

3NTTo play.
4CPass or correct to 4.
4DArtificial inquiry, strong. Asks opener to show a singleton if he has one.
Opener's rebids:
  • 4H with a heart singleton
  • 4S with a spade singleton
  • 4NT with 7-2-2-2 shape
  • 5C with long clubs and a diamond singleton
  • 5D with long diamonds and a club singleton
4HTo play.
4STo play.
4NTArtificial, asking partner to bid 6/ with an 8-card suit.
5NTArtificial, asking partner to bid 7/ with a running suit opposite a void.


Origins

Alder Transfer Preempts were created in 1972 by New York Times columnist Philip Alder.