The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The concept is known as exit transfers, exit transfer bids, exit transfer no trump runouts, and exit transfer notrump runouts.

It has been assumed that the correct designation for this bidding action is Transfers Following (After) A Double. The designation of exit transfers is, more or less, a term accepted by the bridge community and not exactly an official designation.

The so-called exit transfer bids describe a bidding sequence for a partnership once the immediate opponent intervenes with a double, as in the following schematic. The main action of the partnership, after the intervention, is that the stronger of the two holdings becomes also the player, who declares.

North		East		South		Meaning
1 NT		Double		Redouble		The redouble is a exit transfer bid to Clubs. Promises at least a 5-card suit, generally a 6-card suit.
				2		This is the exit transfer to Diamonds. Promises at least a 5-card suit, generally a 6-card suit.
				2		This is the exit transfer to Hearts. Promises at least a 5-card suit, generally a 6-card suit.
				2		This is the exit transfer to Spades. Promises at least a 5-card suit, generally a 6-card suit.
				2		This is the exit transfer to No Trump at the appropriate level. Note: the opening range for Acol players for an opening of 1 No Trump is between 12 and 14 high card points. The general agreement, as adopted by Acol players, is that this transfer bid also promises exactly 11 high card points.
				2 NT		This is the exit transfer to No Trump at the appropriate level. Note: the opening range for Acol players for an opening of 1 No Trump is between 12 and 14 high card points. The general agreement, as adopted by Acol players, is that this transfer bid also promises exactly 12 high card points.
				Pass		If the responder has a two-suited holding, then the responder should pass. This is a forcing pass and forces partner to redouble. With a holding well suited to play 1 No Trump redoubled the responder can pass.
						Otherwise the responder can describe the two-suited holding by bidding 2 Clubs to show Clubs and a higher-ranking suit, 2 Diamonds to show Diamonds and an unspecified Major suit, and 2 Hearts to show both Major suits.
						For the purposes of runout bids, a hand is generally considered two-suited if it is 4-4 or better, and it is single-suited if it contains a 6-card or longer suit or a 5-card suit without another 4-card suit. If the holding is 4-3-3-3, most partnerships treat the holding as two-suited.

 

 

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.