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Question: How do you know to bid this hand to 3NT?
♠ 6 4
♥ 8 6 4
♦ K Q J 10 9 6 5
♣ 7 5
Answer: There is a fun convention called 4-Way Transfers which is an extension of Jacoby Transfers. Instead of 2♠ transferring to 3♣ for either clubs or diamonds and a weak hand, you use 2♠ to show clubs and 2NT to show diamonds. Ergo the name 4-Way Transfers. The neat thing about this method is that partner can tell you whether they like your minor or don’t like your minor. If partner likes your minor, then he bids the suit in between to say I have honor third or better in support of your suit. If partner doesn’t like you minor, then he completes the transfer to deny such a holding.
1NT – 2♠
2NT “I like your club suit.”
1NT – 2♠
3♣ “I don’t like your club suit.”
1NT – 2NT
3♣ “I like your diamond suit.”
1NT – 2NT
3♦ “I don’t like your diamond suit.”
So with the hand above, you would use 2NT to transfer to show diamonds. If partner bids 3♣ (I have honor 3rd or better in your suit), then you bid 3NT. If partner completes the transfer with 3♦ (I don’t like your suit), then you pass!
Now, if you use 2NT as a transfer to 3♦, you no longer have a simple 1NT – 2NT invite. You put these hands into your Stayman auctions now.
1NT – 2♣
2♦ – 2NT “May not have a four-card major.”
1NT – 2♣
2♥ – 2♠ “I have a 2NT rebid with a 4-card spade suit.”
1NT – 2♣
2♠ – 2NT “May not have a four-card major.”
This is the basic idea of 4-way transfers. This convention has been further developed to put several types of hands in the two transfers but we will save that for another day.
