The origin of this variation is unknown. Although it is quite similar to the Jacoby Transfer conventional method, it is different is several aspects. One main difference is that the responder is able to transfer partner to a Minor suit. A second feature of this conventional approach is that the partnership can use the two level, the three level, and the four level to communicate certain distributions. This particular variation is mainly employed if the opening No Trump range is between 15 and 18 high card points. For weaker No Trump ranges, then the partnership will be forced to increase the values of the responder before application.
The transfer bids on the two level are as follows:
2  : |
This is a transfer bid to Hearts. The responder promises at least a 5-card Heart suit. |
2  : |
This is a transfer bid to Spades. The responder promises at least a 5-card Spade suit. |
2  : |
The responder promises length in an unknown Minor suit. The responder promises at least a 5-card suit in that Minor suit. |
The No Trump bidder may super-accept, if the No Trump bidder has excellent support with a minimum of 4 cards for the suit to which he is transferred, and a doubleton as a side suit. If these requirements are met, then the No Trump bidder will simply jump one level to show acceptance.
Suggestions for Value Ranges
The following guidelines are suggestions and recommendations for the point value ranges of the responder. These responses will change with increased values.
Responder Holds Values Between 0 and 7 Points:
| 1. |
Once the transfer occurs with either 2 or 2, then the responder should pass with values between 0 and 7 points. |
| 2. |
If the No Trump bidder, after the transfer bid, jump bids guaranteeing a super acceptance and maximum values plus a minimum of a 4-card suit, then the responder should, with near maximum to maximum values, reevaluate the holding. Any further action by the responder will be based on a combination of the held values and the distributional features of the holding. |
| 3. |
Following a 2 transfer, the No Trump bidder does not know the suit of the responder and will bid according to the schmatic below. |
| |
| Opener |
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Responder |
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Meaning |
| 2 NT |
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|
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The No Trump bidder promises good support for the Club suit. The minimum card support should be 3 cards. |
| |
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Pass |
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The responder will pass after transferring if the Minor suit is the Club suit, and which may be used effectively in a No Trump contract. The responder shows minimum values. |
| |
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3  |
|
The responder will bid the Club suit with long, but weak Clubs, which are not suited to play in a No Trump contract. The stronger hand does not declare, but since the holding of the responder holds practically no entries, then it may be preferable and more advantageous for the responder to declare. |
| |
|
3 |
|
The responder will bid the Diamond suit with long, but weak Diamonds, which are not suited to play in a No Trump contract. |
| 3 |
|
|
|
The No Trump bidder shows a misfit in the Club suit with minimum length in the Club suit. |
| |
|
Pass |
|
The responder passes when holding a long Club suit. The possibility exists that the declarer only has 7 trumps since the responder is permitted to transfer with only a 5-card Minor suit. |
| |
|
3 |
|
The responder will correct to Diamonds, the long, weak Minor suit. |
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If the partnership agreement is to employ the Texas At The Two Level conventional method, then both partners must understand that the bids of the responder are considered final since it is the responder, who must assume captaincy and establish the final contract. This is especially the case if the responder holds minimum values.
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
|
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South |
|
North |
|
Meaning |
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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| 1 NT |
|
2 |
|
Transfer bid. |
|
|
|
|
1 NT |
|
2 |
|
Transfer bid. |
| 2 NT |
|
|
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Good support for Clubs. |
|
|
|
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2 NT |
|
|
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Good support for Clubs. |
| |
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Pass |
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Shows weak values and long Clubs. |
|
|
|
|
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3 |
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Shows a long Diamond suit. |
Responder Holds Values Between 8 and 9 points:
If the responder holds a 5-card suit and a distribution of 5-3-3-2 or 5-4-2-2, then after the transfer to the Major suit the responder should rebid 2 No Trump, which informs the No Trump bidder of only a 5-card Major suit and allows the No Trump bidder to perform one of the following actions:
| 1. |
The No Trump bidder will pass with only a doubleton in the anchor suit. |
| 2. |
The No Trump bidder will bid 3 of the anchor suit with minimum values. |
| 3. |
The No Trump bidder will rebid 3 No Trump with only a doubleton in the anchor suit and with maximum values. |
| 4. |
The No Trump bidder will rebid 4 of the anchor suit with a minimum of 3 cards in the anchor suit and with maximum values. |
Example 1:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
|
|
|
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| 1 NT |
|
|
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Transfer at the two level. |
| 2 |
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|
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With minimum values South only accepts the transfer. |
| |
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2 NT |
|
With only a 5-card suit and invitational values the responder returns to No Trump below game. |
When the responder holds only a 5-card suit in a Minor suit, the preferred guideline is that the responder rebid No Trump immediately with values of 8 and/or 9 points. The responder does not first transfer and then rebid something else.
Example 2:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
|
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| 1 NT |
|
2 NT |
|
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The responder should not employ Texas At The Two Level and transfer. Invitational. |
However, with a 6-card Minor suit and 9 high card points, then the responder can jump immediately to game in No Trump. This is more so the case if the held values are in the Minor suit.
Example 3:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
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| 1 NT |
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3 NT |
|
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With two top honors and a 6-card Minor suit, the responder should bid game without first transferring. |
Distribution of 5-4 in Major Suits
When the responder holds a distribution of 5-4 in both Major suits, the preferred action is to employ Stayman first since the chances are 67% that the No Trump bidder will have a 4-card Major suit. When the responder holds a 6-card Major suit, then the responder will employ the Texas conventional method or the South African Texas conventional method.
Note: another version, however, devised and developed by Mr. Alan Walsh of Australia employs the following bidding sequences to show a distribution of 5-4 in both Major suits. Otherwise the version of Mr. Alan Walsh is very similar to that of the Texas At The Two Level conventional method. The following two illustrations should clarify this version. This version is also the version employed in the No Trump system of Mr. Ron Klinger, also of Australia, and designated as Keri. This particular version carries no designation.
Example 1:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
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| 1 NT |
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2 |
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Texas At The Two Level transfer to Hearts. |
| 2 |
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The transfer is accepted without super acceptance. |
|
|
2 |
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This particular bidding sequence shows exactly 4 Hearts and 5 Spades. This rebid by responder is one-round forcing. |
Example 2:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
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| 1 NT |
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2 |
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Texas At The Two Level transfer to Hearts. |
| 2 |
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|
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The transfer is accepted without super acceptance. |
|
|
3 |
|
This particular bidding sequence shows exactly 4 Spades and 5 Hearts. This rebid by responder is one-round forcing. |
Responder Holds Game Values and a 5-5 Distributional Pattern:
With a two-suited holding in both Major suits the bidding sequence is as follows. The values held should be game values and sometimes it will be a judgment call on the part of the responder and/or No Trump bidder to place the contract.
Example 1:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
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| 1 NT |
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2 |
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Texas At The Two Level transfer to Hearts. |
| 2 |
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The transfer is accepted without super acceptance. |
|
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3 |
|
This particular bidding sequence shows exactly 5 Spades and 5 Hearts. |
| ? |
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With a minimum of 3 cards in Spades, the opener should bid game in Spades. With a minimum of 3-cards in Hearts, the opener should bid game in Hearts and the responder becomes declarer. With excellent stoppers in both Minor suits, the opener may also bid 3 No Trump hoping for the overtrick, knowing that there are sufficient entries. |
When the responder holds a two-suiter in both Minor suits, the responder first transfers as illustrated in the following example:
Example 2:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
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| 1 NT |
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2 |
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The Texas At The Two Level transfer. The opener can bid 2NT to show good Clubs or 3Clubs. |
| 2 NT / 3 |
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3 |
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This rebid by the responder shows a two-suited holding with shortness in Hearts. |
|
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3 |
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This rebid by the responder shows a two-suited holding with shortness in Spades. |
Note of Caution
The opener is the player, who decides the final contract based upon the exchanged information. However, if both partners hold minimum values for the No Trump and for the transfer bids and rebids, then one partner will have to make a judgment call as to whether to bid game or pass for a partscore, especially when the distribution is in both Minor suits. Employing the Losing Trick Count method is a good device to determine whether or not to bid in a certain manner with only minimum values.
Responder Holds Game Values and a 6-4 or 6-5 Two-Suited Pattern:
When the responder has game values and a two-suited holding of either 6-4-x-x or 6-5-x-x, then the responder, after the No Trump opening, will bid naturally by jumping to the three level in the longer suit. If the opener supports this suit by bidding game, then the No Trump bidder shows good support of at least 3 cards in the suit of the responder. For example:
Example 1:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
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| 1 NT |
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3 |
|
The responder is showing a pattern of either 6-4-x-x or 6-5-x-x, and game values. |
| 4 |
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|
Since the opener has good support in Spades, then the opener establishes the final contract. |
However, if the opener has only a doubleton in the designated suit, then the opener will rebid No Trump. A possibility exists that the partnership has a better fit in the second suit. If the opponents do not compete, then this information may become pertinent. The responder will then name the second suit, as in the following example:
Example 2:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
|
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| 1 NT |
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3 |
|
The responder is showing a pattern of either 6-4-x-x or 6-5-x-x, and game values. |
| 3 NT |
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|
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The opener shows only two cards in the Spade suit and requests the responder to name the second suit. |
|
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4 |
|
This second suit of the responder may be of 4 card length or 5 card length. |
| Pass |
|
|
|
The opener decides the final contract. The opener can decide to correct to 4 Spades, knowing that an 8-card trump suit exists and declare, or decide to allow the game bid of the responder to stand, which means that the responder declares. |
Responder Holds Values of Minimum 15 High Card Points Plus
When the responder holds values, which are sufficient for a slam attemtp, then the responder will first execute the transfer and then bid a new suit at the three level. This particular bidding sequence informs the No Trump bidder that the responder has guaranteed game values and slam-invitational values.
Example 1:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
|
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|
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| 1 NT |
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2 |
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The Texas At The Two Level transfer. |
| 2 |
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The opener accepts the transfer. |
|
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3 |
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This bidding sequence is game forcing and slam suspicious. This rebid is natural and shows a minimum of 4 cards in that suit. This rebid is not artificial. |
| ? |
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|
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Based on the partnership agreement a rebid by the opener of 3 No Trump can show minimum values and no interest in slam. A rebid of 3 Hearts can show a first-round control in Hearts and mild interest in a slam. A rebid of 4 No Trump is normally Ace or Keycard asking. |
When the responder holds a two-suiter, either of 5-5 or 6-5 length, then the responder will jump to the four level in the second suit. This action requests that the No Trump bidder communicate the total number of honors held in both suits of the responder. Held honors are only the Ace, King, Queen, and the Jack. The number of honors are show by steps. For example:
Example 2:
| South |
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North |
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Meaning |
|
|
|
|
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| 1 NT |
|
2 |
|
The Texas At The Two Level transfer. |
| 2 |
|
|
|
The opener accepts the transfer. |
|
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4 |
|
The responder, by jumping, shows a 5-5 distribution in Spades and Clubs. This jump rebid also requests that the opener show the number of honors held in these two suits. |
| 4 |
|
|
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The opener has 3 honors in Spades and Clubs, the King of Spades and the King and Queen of Clubs. Therefore the opener counts 3 steps and bids appropriately. |
|
|
4 NT |
|
Blackwood or the variation agreed upon by the partnership. |
| 5 x |
|
|
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Promises the total number of Aces and/or Keycards according to the partnership agreement. |
|
|
7 NT |
|
The responder bids the grand slam. |
Generally Accepted Agreement
The generally accepted agreement is that the responder shows either a 6-card suit or a strong, solid 5-card suit in the suit, to which he transfers. This is the beginning also of the slam attempt. The No Trump bidder has two options to communicate information about his holding:
| 2 NT: |
The No Trump bidder shows minimum values and no fit for the anchor suit. |
| New Suit: |
Once the transfer has been executed by the responder, the No Trump bidder can refuse to bid the anchor suit and bid a new suit. This is a cuebid showing maximum values and is slam-invitational. |
The responder has then the following options:
| 3 NT: |
The responder shows minimum values for the slam attempt and promises only strong distribution. |
| 4 NT: |
This bid by the responder after a new suit bid by the No Trump bidder is quantitative. It is not Ace or Keycard asking. |
| New Suit: |
The responder continues to attempt slam and any new suit bid is then a cuebid for first-round control. |
Jump to the Fourth Level
The responder also has the possibility of jumping to the four level to show a certain distributional shape, namely a strong two-suited holding in both Minor suits. The Texas At The Two Level conventional method includes responses at the two level, the three level, and the four level to be used by the responder to show and communicate a certain shape, distribution, and strength. To show a strong two suited holding in both Minor suits the responder will jump to the four level as shown in the following schema:
| Opener |
|
Responder |
|
Meaning |
| 1 NT |
|
4 |
|
The transfer occurs at the four level and promises a distributional pattern of at least 5-5 in both Minor suits. |
| 4 |
|
|
|
The opener has better Diamonds than Clubs. |
| 4 |
|
|
|
The opener has better Clubs than Diamonds. This response is also a first-round control cuebid in Hearts. |
| 4 |
|
|
|
The opener has better Clubs than Diamonds. This response is also a first-round control cuebid in Spades. |
| 4 NT |
|
|
|
The opener shows minimum values and no fit for either Minor suit. |
As opposed to the examples of distributional shape and strength presented above for a minimum of 5-5 in both Majors, when the responder responds on the four level in Diamonds, then the responder is showing indeed at least a 5-5 distributional holding, but is also showing at the same time no interest in slam. The opener chooses between Hearts and Spades and establishes the final contract.
Competition:
In general, if the opponents interfere or compete on the two level after the 1 No Trump opening, then all bidding becomes natural and Texas on the two level is not employed. If there is no immediate intervention, then the partnership will play system on.
Possible Options
Since there are some contentions as to exactly how slam interest can be shown, there are other partnerships, which have adopted other variations than the version presented above. These other, varied methods deal not only with a 5-5 shape, but make allowances in the bidding sequence for a 6-5 shape. The main difference is the level of the transfer bid by the responder as illustrated in the following example.
| South |
|
North |
|
Meaning |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 NT |
|
3 |
|
Jump transfer to Diamonds. |
|
|
3 |
|
Jump transfer to Hearts. |
|
|
3 |
|
Jump transfer to Spades. |
|
|
3 |
|
Jump transfer to Clubs. |
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.