The Jacoby Transfer
The Jacoby Transfer is
a simple convention in response to partner’s 1 no trump opening bid. As responder, you can employ this convention
with any hand that contains a 5-card or longer major suit.
For this discussion, we will assume partner has opened 1nt with
15-17 hcps.
The convention is simple and straightforward. After partner opens 1 no trump, responder (holding
a 5-card or longer major suit):
·
Bids the suit one rank
lower than the suit responder wishes to transfer into.
·
Opener bids the next
rank suit, thereby becoming declarer with that suit as trump.
Example 1 Example
2
Opener Responder Opener Responder
1nt 2♦1
1nt 2♥2
2 ♥ 2♠
1I have at least 5 hearts, please bid 2♥.
2I have at least 5 spades, please bid 2♠.
After the transfer,
the trump suit is established and the no trump bidder (strong hand) will be
declarer. The strong hand will be the closed
hand with the weak hand tabled as dummy.
Responder will set the level of the contract in the following manner.
· 0-7 points – you have only a partscore – pass
· 8-9 points – you have a possible game – you will
invite partner to bid game.
o
With five cards in the
major suit, bid 2 nt. Opener will know
you have a five-card major suit and 8-9 points.
Opener can place the correct contract.
o
With a six-card or
longer major suit, bid 3 of the major suit.
Partner will know you have 8-9 points and 6 in the suit, and can place
the contract.
Example 3 Example
4
Opener Responder Opener Responder
1nt 2 ♦
1nt 2♥
2 ♥ 2nt3 2 ♠ 2nt4
Example
5 Example
6
Opener Responder Opener Responder
1nt 2 ♦
1nt 2♥
2 ♥ 3♥5
2♠ 3♠6
3I have five hearts and 8-9 points, please
place the contract.
4I have five spades and 8-9 points, please
place the contract.
5I have six hearts and 8-9 points, please place
the contract.
6I have six spades and 8-9 points, please place
the contract.
· With a 5-card major suit and 10 + points, bid
3nt. Opener will know you have
game-going values with a 5-card major suit.
Opener will:
o
Pass and play 3 nt
with two cards in responder’s major suit.
o
Bid game with 3 cards
in responder’s major suit.
· With a 6-card or longer major suit and 10 +
points, bid 4 of the major suit.
If, after partner has
opened 1nt, you have been dealt 16 or more points, you will have to consider
bidding a slam. We will consider slam
bidding later in the course