[Ant590]

Ok, this must have been asked before, I've tried to search for this, and failed miserably --- so if Csaba is as good at searching on the new forum please go ahead!

Basically, after a protective 1NT, I can't see the point of playing transfers. Am I crazy?

[Cyberyeti]

Not a crazy question, but you need to organise your responses accordingly, most people I suspect don't waste the brainpower to have a completely different set of responses to what they play over a direct overcall.

Transfers are still worthwhile if you're playing with 13 opposite 8 however. To an extent you're saying why play transfers if you play a weak/mini no trump, and most people still consider them worthwhile.

[gnasher]

Transfers still make sense after a 1♠ opening - there are lots of good hands with five hearts that wouldn't bid over 1♠.

A transfer like

1♥ pass pass 1NT
pass 2♥

still has some value, because second hand might have five spades but have been too weak to overcall. In that situation, having opener on lead is likely to be helpful.

It's true that there are some transfer sequences that just don't exist. However, there aren't many other hands that you particularly want to show, so agreeing a completely new scheme may not be worthwhile.

A compromise would be to keep most of your transfer structure, but agree on some specific sequences which are different. For example:
- Transfer to a major followed by three of a lower suit = 4-5 invitation
- After a 1♥ opening, 2♦ = natural signoff

[CarlRitner]

Ant590, on 2010-October-30, 14:23, said:

Ok, this must have been asked before, I've tried to search for this, and failed miserably --- so if Csaba is as good at searching on the new forum please go ahead!

Basically, after a protective 1NT, I can't see the point of playing transfers. Am I crazy?

Maybe if you did a search on balancing 1NT?
I am pretty sure this is another name for it.
Transfers seem to be the default scheme in SAYC,
if that means anything to you. It certainly doesn't
make it right, but it was thought uncrazy enough
to include in the basic system.

[mgoetze]

Cyberyeti, on 2010-October-30, 15:57, said:

Transfers are still worthwhile if you're playing with 13 opposite 8 however. To an extent you're saying why play transfers if you play a weak/mini no trump, and most people still consider them worthwhile.

No, that's not what he's saying at all. If you open a weak 1NT in 1st/2nd seat, responder is unlimited and needs to sort out his weak/INV/GF hands. If you reopen 1NT in balancing seat, responder can have much fewer hand types.

[Venom]

I like to play system on (aka transfers) and Range Stayman (after 1M) when P balances with 1NT.
Then again, I like to play system on or reasonable facsimile when my opps make a 1NT overcall, so I must be the craziest one here. (At least I'm #1 at something.)

DHL/ DON aka Double !

[Cyberyeti]

mgoetze, on 2010-October-30, 18:08, said:

No, that's not what he's saying at all. If you open a weak 1NT in 1st/2nd seat, responder is unlimited and needs to sort out his weak/INV/GF hands. If you reopen 1NT in balancing seat, responder can have much fewer hand types.

Partner can still have a lot of hand types, yes they won't have any slam invitational hands, but particularly over 1♠ vulnerable, he needs quite a lot to bid at the 2 level so not a lot is ruled out other than hands that would double. It's rather different if the opening bid is a minor and you happily overcall 1M on junk.

Over 1M, partner can easily have a 44(32) hand just shy of a 1N overcall and have to pass, so he can easily hold a GF and possibly wish to use stayman. The real question is what do you use 1♥-P-P-1N-P-2♦ as ? Do you like to use "garbage stayman", or is stayman always constructive ? There are various ways round this, but a lot depends on your personal preferences.

[helene_t]

CarlRitner, on 2010-October-30, 16:33, said:

Transfers seem to be the default scheme in SAYC,

No, transfers do not apply in response to a 1nt overcall, not even if the overcall was in direct seat.

But most people who put "SAYC" on their profile don't know this. If there is such a thing as BBO de-facto standard then transfers in response to 1NT overcalls are part of it.

[fromageGB]

I can't see the point of NOT playing transfers. Assuming you want to have 2♣ as a range Stayman, all you are giving up is a weak 2♦, and that hand may have made a WJO in the first place. What you gain is the finding of major fits and putting opener on lead. Seems no contest.

[gnasher]

gnasher, on 2010-October-30, 16:27, said:

- Transfer to a major followed by three of a lower suit = 4-5 invitation

You could do the same with transfer-and-notrump sequences. For example

1♦ pass pass 1NT
2♥ pass 2♠ pass
2NT

shows a 2NT bid with four spades. That avoids the information leakage of a Stayman enquiry.