Texas transfer
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Texas transfer, or simply Texas, is a bidding convention in contract bridge designed to get the partnership to game in a major suit opposite a one notrump or two notrump opening, thus making the opener declarer and keeping the stronger hand hidden from the opponents.[1] Texas is used in response to a notrump opening when holding a six-card or longer major suit and at least game-going features; responder may have interest in slam via continuations in Blackwood or its variants. Originated independently by David Carter of St. Louis and Olle Willner of Sweden.[2] Texas transfer, or simply Texas, is a bidding convention in contract bridge designed to get the partnership to game in a major suit opposite a one notrump or two notrump opening, thus making the opener declarer and keeping the stronger hand hidden from the opponents.[1] Texas is used in response to a notrump opening when holding a six-card or longer major suit and at least game-going features; responder may have interest in slam via continuations in Blackwood or its variants. Originated independently by [[David Carter of St. Louis and Olle Willner of Sweden.[2]
After a notrump opening, responder bids the suit below[3] his major at the four-level, i.e. if he holds hearts, he bids 4♦ and if he holds spades, he bids 4♥. Opener is obliged to bid the next available major suit, i.e. after a 4♦ bid by responder, he bids 4♥ and after a 4♥ response, he bids 4♠ setting the contract.
The standard defense to the Texas transfer: double is one-suited and lead-directing, 4NT is for the minors, four of responder’s suit is a Michaels cuebid. A delayed double after opener accepts the transfer is a three-suited takeout.[2]
Transfers at a lower level (Jacoby transfers) were developed from Texas transfers and occur on a much larger number of hands.
Example
| West is dealer | ♠♤ | AJ732 | |||
| ♥ | 4 | ||||
| ♦ | J96 | ||||
| ♣♧ | K963 | ||||
| ♠♤ | Q4 | N |
♠♤ | 1095 | |
| ♥ | AK8 | ♥ | Q1076532 | ||
| ♦ | A1053 | ♦ | 82 | ||
| ♣♧ | Q872 | ♣♧ | 5 | ||
| ♠♤ | K86 | ||||
| ♥ | J9 | ||||
| ♦ | KQ74 | ||||
| ♣♧ | AJ104 | ||||
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 4♦! | Pass |
| 4♥ | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The 4♦ response is the Texas transfer conventional bid, is alertable and requires opener to rebid 4♥.[4]
This effective pre-emptive sequence by East-West gives North-South no convenient way to discover their eight-card spade fit and a plausible 4♠ contract.
Variations
The natural-sounding sequence 1NT - 4♥ can pose a memory problem where a forgetful opener may pass the 4♥ transfer bid.[1] In the variant known as South African Texas, responses of 4♣ and 4♦ are used as transfers to hearts and spades respectively. With minor suit bids being more distinctive, opener is more likely to recognize them as the partnership agreement requesting a transfer to a major.[5] A disadvantage is that the use of a 4♣ bid as ace-asking Gerber is no longer available.[1]
A comparable transfer convention often known as Namyats employs the 4♣ and 4♦ opening pre-emptive bids as transfers to 4♥ and 4♠ respectively as a slightly different hand type (usually stronger) compared to a direct 4♥ or 4♠ opening.
A further advantage of South African Texas / Namyats is that partner can break the transfer to show slam interest.