This competitive conventional defense method, Transfer Overcalls of 1 NT, was first introduced as part of the Blue Team Club. The Blue Team Club System was devised, among others, by Mr. Benito Garozzo, who has won many championships during his bridge career. During his time as an active bridge player Mr. Benito Garozzo is viewed by his peers as perhaps the best bridge player of his time.

Short Biography

Mr. Benito Garozzo was a major contributor in devising the Blue Team Club System. The Blue Team Club was based upon a bidding system called Neapolitan, which was played successfully by many bridge players in Italy. However, since 1965, Mr. Benito Garozzo has gradually revised the Neapolitan and renamed it the Blue Team Club system. The actual designer of this method remains unknown and should be viewed as a collective agreement.

The Blue Team Club became known by this designation in the year of 1956. The members included: Mr. Walter Avarelli, Mr. Giorgio Belladonna, Mr. Eugenio Chiaradia, Mr. Mimmo D'Alelio, Mr. Pietro Forquet, and Mr. Guglielmo Siniscalco. Mr Carlo Alberto Perrous was the non-playing Captain. Source: Bridge With The Blue Team, authored by Mr. Pietro Forquet, page 361.

The transfer is to a single-suited holding containing a suit comprised of at least 6 plus cards. Whether or not the holding may contain a void was not addressed. The decision to make such a transfer bid is based upon the power of the distribution of the holding itself, and less upon the values of the holding.

Transfer Overcalls

The transfer bids following a 1 No Trump opening by an opponent are presented below. The partnership should be aware of the fact that the originators of this method did not include any requirements or establish any guidelines regarding the state of vulnerability or whether the method could be initiated following two passes.

The range of the No Trump opening was designed to be flexible, meaning that the limited range could be between a count of 10 up to and including a count of 18 points. The opponents mark their range on their Convention Card and the partnership adjusts their bidding accordingly.

Opponent		Intervenor		Meaning
1 NT				Range is defined.
		2		This is a transfer bid to Diamonds. Promises a minimum of a 6-card Diamond suit with the working values contained in this suit.
		2		This is a transfer bid to Hearts. Promises a minimum of a 6-card Heart suit with the working values contained in this suit..
		2		This is a transfer bid to Spades. Promises a minimum of a 6-card Spade suit with the working values contained in this suit..
		2		This is a transfer bid to Clubs. Promises a minimum of a 6-card Club suit with the working values contained in this suit..

Continuations

The continuances are not included since the intervenor has described the holding and the advancer then becomes the captain of the partnership. It is the captain, who must decide the best contract if there is no additional competition. In the case that the partner of the No Trump bidder enters the auction following a transfer overcall, then the advancer must also must make a decision as to whether to continue competing in the auction.

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.