This is aHand:

This series, together with the first set of six deals elsewhere in this edition of VuBridge, focuses on the idea of transfers over partner's No-trump opening bids.

In the first series we looked at 1NT opening bids – here we extend the principle to 2NT openers as well.

The basic idea is that a response of 2♦ to 1NT shows five Hearts and obliges opener to bid 2♥. In similar vein, a response of 2♥ shows five Spades and obliges opener to bid 2♠. Over a 2NT opening bid a 3♦ response obliges opener to bid 3♥ and a 3♥ response obliges opener to rebid 3♠.

Here at VuBridge we are wary of insisting on one particular version of transfers and are aiming for simplicity. If you want to investigate further we strongly suggest that you use a search engine and trawl the internet. Also, you must agree all your further bidding sequences with your partner.

Partnership discussion and agreement are paramount!

Here, on Hand 1 you are given a choice.

Which contract should you prefer?

Bidding.

With 21 points and a 4·3·3·3 shape we have a textbook 2NT opening bid. Partner responds 3♦ as a transfer bid to show five Hearts. Dutifully doing what we are told, we reply 3♥, not knowing what will come next.

North follows up the transfer by bidding 3NT, offering us a choice of games (3NT or 4♥). So it’s decision time. What is best?

The totally flat shape argues for No-trumps but the three-card Heart suit argues for supporting Hearts. It is a close decision but we should be swayed by the fact that we may be unable to reach dummy’s long Hearts in No-trumps as North may be fairly weak. With that in mind, we correct 3NT to 4♥.

Play.

North’s hand is much as we might expect, a five-card Heart suit and 5 points.

Thanking partner for his efforts we count our tricks – both winners and losers as we are in a suit contract. We can see three Spade winners (and no losers), four Heart winners (and one loser), two Diamond winners (and one loser) and two Club losers. Looking more closely we see that we could set up an extra Club trick but the problem is that we risk losing four tricks (one Heart, one Diamond and two Clubs).

Counting winners helps here. We can see ten tricks (three Spades, four Hearts, two Diamonds and a slow Club) so we have enough for the contract. We have no need for an emergency dump (in that we don’t have to play three rounds of Spades to pitch a Club). We can play to set up a slow Club trick and hope to throw both of dummy’s long Diamonds away. This way, we eliminate our Diamond loser.

Right. That’s the plan sorted. We have sufficient winners so we are in a position to draw trumps. We take the ♠Q and play a Heart. When that wins we carry on with the suit and this time East takes his ♥A to play a Spade. Taking that we draw the last trump (with the ♥Q) and play a Club to the ♣10.

Now we are totally in control, regardless of the defense. We force out the other top Club honor and we pitch the losing Diamonds on the table on the ♣J and the last Spade. Ten tricks and the contract.