Red Suit Transfers

In the Acol Bridge Bidding System, Red Suit Transfers (RST) are only used after your partner has opened 1NT.

The idea is to transfer the play of a major suit from the responder to the opener.

To transfer the responder must have at least 5 cards in a major suit.

If the responder has 5 hearts, she bids 2 diamonds, if 5 spades she bids 2 hearts.

It is likely that the opener will have 3 cards in any suit so there will be a fit.

If the opener has 4 in the transferred suit she bids at the 3 level (a super transfer).

Transfers are used if the responder has a weak hand and wants to avoid NT or has a strong hand and wants to give a choice to the opener of game in NT or a in a major.

If responder has a hand between 7 and 10 points she should leave in bidding in 1NT.

Unless invited to make a choice the opener must make no bid other than the bid to accept the transfer.