This Week in Bridge
(606) Transfer McCabe Responses to Preempts
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 10 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
The modern approach to improving our bidding structures (especially in competition) is to add transfers to our methods. This gives us more space and allows us to communicate more efficiently. When we play a system like McCabe, designed to give us more ways of raising partner and show support, we already have a useful structure. If we add transfers to this structure, we gain even more space for communication.
McCabe
Playing McCabe, we have the agreement that after a 2-level preempt from partner and a takeout double by RHO, a new suit bid is not natural. Instead, these bids show a fit for partner’s suit and honors in the new suit that is bid. These bids are “lead-directing with a fit.”
Example 1
Opener Interferer Responder
2♠ X __?
2NT Feature or Ogust, whatever our partnership plays when there is no competition.
3♣* A raise to 3♠, with values in ♣ -- asking for a ♣ lead.
3♦* A raise to 3♠, with values in ♦ -- asking for a ♦ lead.
3♥* A raise to 3♠, with values in ♥ -- asking for a ♥ lead.
3♠* A raise to 3♠, usually wanting a ♠ lead.
If we have a long suit of our own, we “run to that suit” by making a Redouble as a relay to run out to our suit.
Transfer McCabe
Playing Transfer McCabe, we have the agreement that after a 2-level preempt from partner and a takeout double by RHO, a new suit bid is not natural. Instead, these bids are transfer bids, either showing Responder’s own suit or showing a fit for Opener and asking for another suit lead. Opener accepts the transfer and then Responder shows which hand type they have on the next round of the bidding – by either bidding, passing, or returning to partner’s suit.
Example 2
Opener Interferer Responder
2♠ X __?
XX* A transfer to ♣, either showing a long ♣ suit or a ♠ fit asking for a ♣ lead.
2NT Feature or Ogust, whatever our partnership plays when there is no competition.
3♣* A transfer to ♦, either showing a long ♦ suit or a ♠ fit asking for a ♦ lead.
3♦* A transfer to ♥, either showing a long ♥ suit or a ♠ fit asking for a ♥ lead.
3♥* A raise to 3♠, with either the ♠A or ♠K – asking for a ♠ lead.
3♠* A raise to 3♠, usually without a top ♠ honor.
We can make one of these Transfer McCabe bids with any hand that was planning to compete to the 3-level, either in our own suit or in partner’s suit. By using these bids as we compete to the 3-level, we more accurately help partner defend and/or compete in the bidding.
Note: Transfer McCabe bids are all alertable.
Example 3
♠ J
♥ 986
♦ AQJ9872
♣ 82
Opener Interferer Responder
2♠ X __?
With this hand, we bid 3♣* as a transfer to ♦, planning to play in 3♦ if the opponents let us.
Example 4
♠ J98
♥ 9862
♦ AQJ8
♣ 82
Opener Interferer Responder
2♠ X __?
With this hand, we bid 3♣*, planning to later bid 3♠ to show good honors in the ♦ suit and a ♠ fit.
Conclusion
When partner opens a 2-level preempt, you will often raise that bid to at least the 3-level. This is particularly true when RHO makes a takeout double and you have 3-card support, or even honor doubleton, as you may want to raise partner to compete in the bidding. Using Transfer McCabe raises allows you more ways to raise partner’s suit (a frequent trend in modern bidding) and creates better communication with partner – you either show a fit for partner and help them get off to a good opening lead by showing honors in another suit or you just show a suit of your own. This transfer bid allows Responder to immediately show where their values are and leaves the opponents in the dark about whether this initial transfer is “lead directing with a fit” or shows a long suit of Responder’s own.