[miamijd]

Transferring to 4H is pretty normal opposite a weak NT. It's a good two-way shot. If partner has a maximum with prime cards and a good fit, you just might make it. If partner has a minimum, the opponents might have a part-score or even a game.

Playing strong NTs, however, a normal 2D transfer would be pretty automatic.

[PhilG007]

FelicityR, on 2017-March-20, 06:43, said:

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Note: Honour cards and distribution are correct but small cards have been randomly assigned.

In the recent Vanderbilt final, Gold and Bakhshi bid the above using a Texas 4♣ transfer. The NT range was explained by the commentator as 11(12-14). Even given the favourable vulnerability, I was a little bit stunned by the high level transfer.

I would be interested in others' opinion on the 4♣ bid. Was it a stroke of genius crowding out the opposition, or a normal bid for experts to make, or a double-edged bid that could have gone seriously wrong?

Surprised to see that hoary old antique.Texas,is still kicking around. I thought it would have been consigned to the bridge
convention museum long ago

[gwnn]

miamijd, on 2017-March-21, 14:56, said:

Transferring to 4H is pretty normal opposite a weak NT. It's a good two-way shot. If partner has a maximum with prime cards and a good fit, you just might make it. If partner has a minimum, the opponents might have a part-score or even a game.

Playing strong NTs, however, a normal 2D transfer would be pretty automatic.

I almost upvoted this but I disagree with the last part. Opposite a strong NT we will often make (probably not odds-on but close), and while the chance of them making game is lower than before, it's not zero and 4H will be a good save vs their 2/3S anyway.

[Vampyr]

Zelandakh, on 2017-March-21, 04:30, said:

There is another alternative, namely 4♦ and 4♥ as transfers but using 4♣ to show both majors. As with the regular Texas transfers, this can be done both with a weak hand and a slammy one. The same structure also works over a 2NT opening of course.

This is what we play, and actually we have 4♠ as ace-asking. It has never come up.

msjennifer, on 2017-March-21, 04:42, said:

The SA Texas can be played with the only purpose of preempting the opponents.With a strong hand with a long suit and slam ambition we will try to go slowly to enable the opener to clarify his hand or for the responder to show his hand in details and for this purpose we use the usual four suit ransfers namely 2D/H/S/NT .We use the SA Texas to show a WEAKISH hand with 1) with not the slightest slam ambition or 2) to preempt the opponents,having practically no defencive values.The 4H/S over partners 1NT opening or overcall is to play in order that the lead may not go through an unprotected King in responders hand,and show a game hand WITH defensive values.

You are forgetting that Texas transfers, whether normal or SA, also allow responder to bid Blackwood.

As for the OP, the bid is pretty normal at these colours.

[msjennifer]

Vampyr, on 2017-March-22, 10:34, said:

This is what we play, and actually we have 4♠ as ace-asking. It has never come up.



You are forgetting that Texas transfers, whether normal or SA, also allow responder to bid Blackwood.

As for the OP, the bid is pretty normal at these colours.

No! I did not forget it!A strong hand too can employ SA Texas and later on 4NT etc to reach a correct contract.It also prevents opponents from bidding a lead suggesting Suit at a cheap level.

[Zelandakh]

Vampyr, on 2017-March-22, 10:34, said:

This is what we play, and actually we have 4♠ as ace-asking. It has never come up.

The main alternative to that is using 4♠ as Baron, though that is somewhat redundant if you use the popular (in the UK) method of 2♠ for a similar purpose.