Weekly Hand Analysis - Mark Olsky - August 28, 2023 - Minor suit Jacoby Transfers

 Question:  North wants a minor suit Jacoby transfer.  South transfers to clubs instead of diamonds.  What was the correct bidding sequence?

Mark:

North had a difficult decision about what to do when partner opened 1NT. Based on points and a nice 5 card suit, it's understandable to want to invite game. However, the singleton heart makes it scary. We'd love to have a bid available for this hand that says to partner: "Bid 3NT if you have a maximum for 1NT, but only if you aren't worried about hearts. Such a bid doesn't exist, because it doesn't come up often enough to allocate it bidding space. North would love to describe his hand and leave the decision to South. I can't think of a way to describe that hand without a likelihood of getting too high. North has to be the decider, as uncomfortable as that may be. Here are North's options:

  1. Pass 1NT, almost surely get a plus score, but risk missing a game that others will bid.

  2. Bid 2NT, inviting partner's input, and risk a minus score.

  3.  Transfer to 3 diamonds and plan to pass when partner bids it. 

There are several ways to get to 3 diamonds: Use 2NT or 3 clubs as a direct transfer. Alternatively (This is the way most people do it, not necessarily the best), bid 2 spades transferring to clubs then bid diamonds. The transfer to clubs is artificial and you aren't saying anything about the club suit. 3 diamonds at this point is absolutely not forcing or invitational. The 1NT bidder is commanded to pass. 3 diamonds could prove to be the best contract, but most likely it's 2nd or 3rd best and will tend to get a below average board.

  What seems to have happened here is that North didn't feel good about the above options and tried to change directions after trying to end in 3 diamonds. 4 clubs was a confusing bid. It didn't describe the hand and didn't make a decision. One point in the play. When you find yourself in a contract that no one else is likely to bid, take your finesses the opposite direction from what others are likely to do. That might salvage a couple of matchpoints on the actual hand.