September 2008 - 28

Bidding
Lab
Ideas and innovations
from ACBL members
Transfer responses over
takeout doubles

Art by Shane McDermott

By Ron Beall

Transfer responses when opponents
double opening suit bids have many
advantages and are blissfully easy
to use. I call it TROTOD for transfer
responses over takeout doubles.
Mechanics
You simply bid the suit below the
suit you would have bid if the doubler
had passed. Thus, a response of 1
when an opponent doubles your
partner's 1 opening says you would
have bid 1 if the doubler had
passed. If you would have bid the suit
immediately above the suit your partner opened, you redouble. Therefore,
redouble in the auction 1- Dbl -
Redbl states that you would have bid
1 if the doubler had passed.
If next hand passes, opener accepts
the transfer at the lowest level with a
minimum hand and three-card support. Thus, 1- Dbl -1- Pass; 1
shows three-card support.
With four-card support, opener
makes the same bid he would have
made if partner had bid the suit
naturally. For example, 1- Dbl
-1- Pass; 2/3/4 are the
same types of hands that one would
have bid 2, 3 or 4 if partner
had responded 1. Splinter raises of
responder's suit also apply.
With fewer than three of responder's
transfer suit, opener makes whatever
bid he would have made if responder
had bid his suit naturally instead of
transferring. Opener also has the
option of rebidding his own suit or
bidding a new suit or notrump.
If advancer (partner of the doubler)
28

bids, opener bids naturally. Double
shows three-card support for the suit
to which responder transferred, a
raise shows four-card support, and
all other bids are as if advancer had
passed, including splinters, etc.
New suit rebids by responder are
forcing.
Advantages
❖ The stronger hand is hidden from
the defenders so that it is less clear
about where to attack.
❖ The opening lead comes from the
stronger defender and is more
likely to give away a trick.
❖ It is possible to end up in lowerlevel contracts on mild fitting
hands. The auction can end in a
contract as low as 1, as in this
example: 1 - Dbl - Redbl -
Pass; 1- All Pass.
❖ With good-fitting hands (4-4 or
better), the system provides a mild
degree of pre-emption. For example: 1- Dbl -1- Pass; 3 is a
minimum hand with four or more
clubs - a hand that would bid 3
if the auction had gone 1- Dbl
-2- Pass; 3.
Alerts
TROTOD should be Alerted. If
asked, you explain, "Partner would
have bid 1 if your partner had
passed." Notrump responses are natural and need not be Alerted. Opener's
rebids should also be Alerted because
they indicate whether opener has
four-card or three-card support, and
a jump rebid by opener does not
necessarily show extra values. For

example, 1 - Dbl -1 - Pass; 2
shows a minimum opener with fourcard heart support.
r
The author, a Gold Life Master,
lives in Bellingham WA.

East hands for
September's Bidding Box
Bid these hands with a partner. The
West hands are on page 61. The N-S
players are silent unless otherwise
noted. Scores on page 29-31.
Problem 1. North deals. None vul.
North opens 1. South bids 2 if
possible.
6 3 K Q 5 K 6 A K J 10 8 3
Problem 2. East deals. N-S vul.
K Q 9 K 10 6 2 K 10 3 A Q 4
Problem 3. South deals. E-W vul.
7 3 K 7 K 8 7 2 K J 6 3 2
Problem 4. West deals. Both vul.
K J 10 8 A 6 2 A J A 8 7 2
Problem 5. North deals. None vul.
K J 10 7 4 2 A 9 A 3 K Q J
Problem 6. East deals. E-W vul.
A Q 9 6 2 A K J 5 K A K 7
Problem 7. South deals. N-S vul.
K Q 10 9 6 A Q 8 K Q J 10 3
Problem 8. West deals. Both vul.
Q J 7 6 Q 9 8 5 7 A Q 7 3
Bridge Bulletin
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2008
