Four-Suit Transfers

Four-suit transfers are a method of transferring into any suit after partner opens 1NT. The transfer bids are:

Response to 1NT	Meaning
2	Jacoby transfer to
2	Jacoby transfer to
2	transfer to
2NT	transfer to

Because Jacoby transfers are already discussed separately on this site, let's focus on the minor suit transfers. The 2 and 2NT bids are used on the following types of hands:

• A weak hand with a 6+ card minor lacking interest in game. The purpose is to let the strong hand (opener) play the contract and conceal high cards from the defenders.

• A strong hand with a 5+ card minor with interest in slam.

Note the gap in values between "weak" and "strong" hands. If responder has values for game but not slam, she should either begin by bidding 2 Stayman with a 4-card major, or by bidding 3NT immediately.

Partner	You
1NT (15-17)	?
	542 83 93 KJ8763	Bid 2, intending to pass after partner bids 3.
	5 83 QJT873 7632	Bid 2NT, and pass after partner bids 3.
	KJ 83 AQ9854 763	Bid 3NT. Your side has a combined 25-27 HCP, which is good enough for game but not for slam.
	K2 AJ3 AQ987 763	Bid 2NT. You have mild slam interest opposite a good diamond fit. Note that you only need a 5-card suit when transferring with a strong hand.

Opener normally bids responder's suit. The only exception is if opener has a good hand and wants to make a "super-acceptance" with 4-card support and maximum strength. In that case, opener makes the lower-ranking bid below responder's suit:

You	Partner
1NT (15-17) ?	2NT
A9 KQ92 K652 KQ5	Bid 3 with 17 HCP and excellent diamond support.
A97 A952 K65 KJ5	Bid 3 with a lesser hand.

With a weak hand, responder will pass whenever opener completes the transfer. If opener happens to make a super-acceptance, responder corrects to the trump suit to ask opener to pass.

With a hand interested in slam, responder can do one of two things...

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
3NT	Natural, showing a balanced hand. Non-forcing.
A new suit	Up to partnership agreement. This may be a natural suit, OR shortness. The latter is part of Bridge World Standard.

When asked which bridge convention he disliked the most, the late Bobby Goldman once answered, "Any use of 1NT - 2NT which is not natural." Nevertheless, four-suit transfers require responder to describe a natural 2NT invitation by alternative means. This is done by running game-invitational hands through Stayman first, and then rebidding 2NT.

Partner	You
1NT (15-17) 2	2   ?
	A97 K2 JT76 T763	Bid 2NT. Your original 2 was supposedly Stayman, but your 2NT bid shows a natural invitation to 3NT. It does not promise four spades.

To show a 4-card spade suit, responder must use Stayman and then rebid 2, like so:

Partner	You
1NT (15-17) 2	2 ?
	AT97 K2 JT76 T76	Bid 2 to show your 4-card suit. Opener should raise with 4 spades or correct to no-trumps.