Jacoby transfers show a five-card suit and are used for the majors: 2♦ is a transfer to hearts, 2♥ is a transfer to spades. Opener MUST accept the transfer though he can jump to the three level with 14 points and four-card support for responder's major. (Note: Do not use with exactly 4 cards in other major. In that case, use Stayman.) For example:
| 1NT | 2♦ | |
| 2♥ | Normal acceptance of the transfer | |
| 3♥ | 14 points and four-card heart support |
If, after the transfer is accepted, responder bids a new suit, that is natural and game forcing (except for 1NT-2♦-2♥-2♠ which is not). Possible calls after the accepted transfer are:
| 1NT | 2♥ | |
| 2♠ | Pass | content to play 2♠ |
| 2NT | Invitational. Over 2NT opener can pass or return to 3♠ with a minimum hand; bid 3NT or 4♠ with a maximum | |
| 3♣, 3♦, 3♥ | Natural and game forcing. Shows 5 cards if other major. If minor, often slam try | |
| 3♠ | Invitational | |
| 3NT | Offering a choice between 3NT and 4♠ | |
| 4♠ | Placing the contract, with a six-card or longer suit |
A 2♠ response is a range-finder. Opener bids 2NT with a minimum or a suit at the three-level or 3NT with a maximum. It is used on hands that are invitational to game. It can also be used on hands that are invitational to slam.
Example:
| 1NT | 2♠ | |
| 2NT | Minimum. Responder will normally pass since the range-finder is most often used to try for game. Occasionally responder will make another move indicating that the range-finder was being used to investigate slam. | |
| 3♣ | Maximum with a good club suit. Responder will usually bid 3NT but occasionally will bid another suit or raise as a slam try. | |
| 3NT | Maximum without a good suit to bid. |
A 2NT response to 1NT shows a single-suited hand with a minor. It can be used with a weak hand or with a game-forcing hand (usually at least slam-invitational). Other responses to 1NT:
| 1NT | 2NT | |
| 3♣ | Forced rebid. Responder either passes or corrects to 3♦ to show a weak hand with diamonds or makes some other bid to show a strong hand. | |
| 3♦ | weak with diamonds | |
| 3♥ | slammish with clubs - we bid the tied major | |
| 3♠ | slammish with diamonds - we bid the tied major |
| 1NT | 3♣, 3♦ | Invitational to 3NT with a six-card or longer suit |
| 3♥, 3♠ | At least a six-card suit and slam interest (otherwise responder uses a transfer bid). | |
| 4♣ | Gerber, asking for aces. 4♣ IS GERBER OVER ANY 1NT OR 2NT BID BY PARTNER INCLUDING A REBID OF 1NT or 2NT. Responses show the number of aces, by steps, just as over a Blackwood 4NT. (5♣ is used to ask for kings.) |
| Ace Asking | King Asking | ||||
| 1NT | 4♣ | 1NT | 4♣ | ||
| 4x | 5♣ | ||||
| 4♦ | 0 or 4 aces | 5♦ | 0 or 4 kings | ||
| 4♥ | 1 ace | 5♥ | 1 king | ||
| 4♠ | 2 aces | 5♠ | 2 kings | ||
| 4NT | 3 aces | 5NT | 3 kings | ||
If the player using Gerber makes any bid other than 5♣, that is to play (including 4NT).
A direct raise of 1NT to 4NT is natural and invites 6NT. 4NT is slam invitational only because 4♣ is available as Gerber.
There are various alternative schemes for the responses from 2♠ up. These include:
4 suit transfers
2NT natural (maybe with 2♠ showing a weak hand with a minor as in SAYC)
2NT (or 2&spades) showing both minors
3-level jumps all showing slammish hands
3-level jumps pre-emptive
3-level jumps showing splinters (or fragments)
Some players use the Smolen convention with a strong hand with 5-4 either way in the majors. The Smolen convention reverses the meaning of 3Major over 2♦ so that 3♥ shows five spades and 3♠ shows five hearts. The purpose of this is to achieve a transfer affect this is more important in a strong 1NT structure than a weak 1NT where the stronger hand declares if there is a major fit.
Other rebids by responder in a major after opener shows a major can be played as slam tries with a fit for opener's major.
Another interesting alternative for a bid in the other major at the three-level is to announce a fit in opener's major and offer a choice between 3NT and 4-Major.
4 suit transfers
2NT natural (maybe with 2♠ showing a weak hand with a minor as in SAYC)
2NT (or 2&spades) showing both minors
3-level jumps all showing slammish hands
3-level jumps pre-emptive
3-level jumps showing splinters (or fragments)
Some players use the Smolen convention with a strong hand with 5-4 either way in the majors. The Smolen convention reverses the meaning of 3Major over 2♦ so that 3♥ shows five spades and 3♠ shows five hearts. The purpose of this is to achieve a transfer affect this is more important in a strong 1NT structure than a weak 1NT where the stronger hand declares if there is a major fit.
Other rebids by responder in a major after opener shows a major can be played as slam tries with a fit for opener's major.
| 1NT | 2♣ | |
| 2♥ | 3♠ | Slam try - spade cue-bid with heart support |
Another interesting alternative for a bid in the other major at the three-level is to announce a fit in opener's major and offer a choice between 3NT and 4-Major.
