Tonight we spent some time reviewing/relearning/learning for the first time how to respond to partner's opening 1NT when you hold a Major suit.

We have JACOBY and TEXAS TRANSFERS to help us tell partner how many cards in our Major we have and at what level the contract should be placed.

Jacoby transfers (2D showing Hearts and 2H showing Spades) promise 5-card suits with any number of points, all the way down to 0.

Heart Auctions (same principles for Spade auctions):

1N - 2D - 2H - P:  0-7 points, 5(+)c Hearts

1N - 2D - 2H - 2N:  invitational (8-9 points), 5c Hearts

1N - 2D - 2H - 3H:  invitational, 6c Hearts

1N - 2D - 2H - 3N:  Game Forcing (10-14 points), 5c Hearts

1N - 2D - 2H - 4H:  Mild Slam interest, 6c Hearts

Texas Transfers (4D showing Hearts, 4H showing Spades) promise 6-card suits and enough points and/or playing strength to put partner in game.

1N - 4D - 4H - P:  Game but no slam interest, 6c Hearts

1N - 4D - 4H - 4N:  ACE-ASKING, 6c Hearts

Therefore the corollary to these sequences is

1N - 2D - 2H - 4N:  NOT Ace-asking, but rather QUANTITATIVE for Slam (probably 15-17 points with 5c Hearts)

Basic tenets here are that we don't tell partner the same thing twice (so don't rebid a 5c suit when partner already knows you have 5c) and we can't go asking for Aces unless we can guarantee a fit, and the only way Responder can do that is if he holds a 6c suit.

Superaccepts will be coming up in discussion very soon.

(I'll be gone the next two weeks, but will see you all again on March 25, which is a TEAM GAME!)

:)