Good Morning Mr. Wolff,
In the 2013 Nov 24th blog, a reader asked: ”In an earlier column this year you briefly described a conventional response to partner’s no-trump opener. Three clubs showed both minors, invitational, while three diamonds was forcing with both minors, and three of a major showed shortage in the other major and 5-4 in the minors. This sounded promising and I would like to read more about it. What is the name of this convention?”

And you gave this response: “This method is very popular on the East Coast, and for what it is worth, I’ve heard it referred to as seven-way transfers. This is the term used at the Regency Bridge Club in New York, so if you prefer Regency transfers, so be it! One other wrinkle I’ve encountered is for players to use the three-club call as Puppet Stayman to check for 5-3 fits.”

I know you are not a fan of many transfers, but would appreciate your views on the following questions about the “forcing” and “invitational” aspects, and about the distributions in the short Majors.
Presumably the singleton-showing three-level Major-suit calls are forcing to either 3NT or 4 of a minor. Is that correct? Also, is the singleton shown by bidding the three-card major, or by bidding the other one (singleton). Is there any benefit to one over the other?
Presumably the 3D (GF) clearly shows 2-2 Majors, while the invitational 3C leaves the distribution of Majors unresolved, i.e. could be 2-2 or 3-1.
Do I have this straight? Thanks.

Hi Clarksburg,

Yes, you seem to have that convention (name unknown to me, but perhaps 7 way transfers) more straight than even the way it was presented.

You inferred (correctly) that since 3 diamonds was GF and 3 hearts and 3 spades also showed the minors, GF and shortness in the major not bid, then 3 diamonds would have to be 2-2 in the majors, leaving out the possibility of 4-0 in the majors which would probably, but maybe not for sure, be handled first with a Stayman bid. (do you get the drift about the unfortunate confusion our wonderful game can sometimes deliver)?

I am more impressed with your analytical abilities than I am with that convention and here is why.

EVERY convention has drawbacks. At least to me, it is much underrated how much help these conventions give to worthy opponents, both for the possibility of lead directing doubles, but also for lead directing without doubles and for the overall defense, beginning with the opening lead. Since both defenders should most times know the declarer’s distribution from the get go and also the relative strength of both hands expect nothing less than excellent defense and also obfuscation to the declarer’s side because of the defenders not having to help partner with legal signals.

However, sometimes (usually when the moon turns blue) these supposedly tell tale descriptions allow a beautiful slam to be bid, or even on occasion a would be poor slam be properly not bid, much more often IMO there are specific cards either present or not which cannot be perfectly described leaving the same guesses still unanswered almost as if, the super convention never existed.

Add this to sometimes, when the convention is in effect, telltale hesitations become unethical since partner has already been told distributions so that BIT’s become more revealing and therefore over the line causing, at the very least, hard feelings between worthy adversaries and even worse, director calls and penalties given.

However, Clarksburg, I do not want to be thought of as a killjoy and beautiful bridge bidding, being somewhat like a perfect piece of art or music, is worth more to certain appreciators than the result obtained and, if so, more power to them to play as many of those conventions as they can understand and remember. But it does take two to participate and often one partner takes his responsibility to a greater degree than does the other one.

The discussion can go on and on and I am not here to throw cold water on any of it, only to advise you as best as my experience can do.

It certainly appears to me that you are a real credit to the game and have a significant capacity to rise to a high level. Go with it, but be sure your partner feels the same way and is willing to devote an equivalent amount of time to that end.

Getting back to reality, I have never played 7 way transfers, but I have played Puppet Stayman, and while my results were no better than mixed (considering the disadvantages of the enemy also listening plus making one’s hand transparent to all who are interested) again, likening that choice to some preferring chocolate and others vanilla.

Whatever your choice, please feel secure in my support and my enjoyment with helping discuss whatever you choose to play, both pro and con.

GOOD LUCK!

Many thanks. Most appreciated.
On a related resonant note, a seasoned local pro / coach recently told a student that at Regionals many of the strong experienced Pairs play something simple, close to SAYC. They give away less, (or at least no more), information than anyone else, and compete by judgment, competitive instinct, and good card play.

Hi Clarksburg,

Thanks for your response.

When you said what you said, you reminded me of my early introduction to bridge when Acol, a very natural UK developed 4 card major system, which was then, and I think still is, the most played system in the world.

My idea of the perfect blend is a relatively simple approach (but even a forcing club, with basically natural responses would qualify) where bids mean what they sound like, but a few gimmicks which help with bidding slams, but nothing directed at taking advantage of opponents, except a fierce desire to win and to play relatively errorless, but ethical bridge.

The game itself is so powerful in itself, any attempted embellishment usually fails to improve anything but rather instead, tends to keep other players on the fence of having to deal with rascals or give it up entirely.

That is not to say that legal obfuscation, even psychic or tactical bids occasionally, isn’t a fundamental part of what our game has always included. Being a good winner and loser is also a necessary personality trait, one in which too many of us could improve, but as long as players do not look to scam their way to as high a finish as possible, bridge will show us the way to keep our minds sharp into late ages.

That alone is worth playing it and we all know that bridge itself, has infinite ways to be able to enjoy the competition.

Hi buencorazon,

Although we here on our website do not do anything special, we have been fortunate to exchange what we say with apparently no hateful enemies around.

Maybe all the world enjoys bridge and what it brings to life. Good luck in the future and condolences for what happened earlier.