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.

Breaking Transfers - For Acol Weak NT and 5CM Strong NT

If Opener has 4 cards in the suit to be transferred she can give Partner even more information.

1NT - 2D (transfer to H) - 2H I don’t have 4 Cards in hearts, minimum hand - Responder Decides Contract

1NT - 2D (transfer to H) - 3C [BREAKS TRANSFER] I do have 4 Cards in hearts and a maximum hand - 3D Retransfer - 3H - Responder Decides Contract

1NT - 2D (transfer to H) -  3H [BREAKS TRANSFER] I do have 4 Cards in hearts but not great shape 4432 - 3D Retransfer - 3H - Responder Decides Contract

1NT - 2D (transfer to H) - 2NT  [BREAKS TRANSFER] I do have 4 Cards in hearts, but shape is 4333 - 3D Retransfer - 3H - Responder Decides Contract

When opponents intervene after your Transfer

1NT P 2H (I have 5 Spades, Transfer to S) X (lead directing double)

P(I don’t have 3 Spades) P XX (Retransfer) P 

2S P 3H (do you have a heart Stop?) P 

3S (No) P Responder Decides Contract

1NT P 2H (I have 5 Spades, Transfer to S) X (lead directing double)

2S (I do have 3 Spades) P Responder Decides Contract