More and more players are playing transfer responses to their non-forcing 1♣-opener. A 1♦-response is artificial and shows four or more hearts. A 1♥-response is artificial and shows four or more spades. I asked my expert panel — What defenses do you use after 1♣ – pass – 1♦, which shows four or more hearts? What defense do you use after 1♣ – pass – 1♠ which shows something other than four spades?
The following is simple, which is what I play. Double of 1♦ shows diamonds. Bidding 1♥ is a takeout double of hearts. 1♠ is a 1♠-overcall. 1NT is a Sandwich strong notrump by an unpassed hand. 2♣ is Michaels showing at least 5–5 in diamonds and spades. After 1♣ – 1♥ which shows four or more spades, double of an artificial 1♥ bid shows hearts, 1♠ is a takeout double.
Double of 1♦ shows diamonds
The following experts play that double of 1♦ shows diamonds.
Adam Wildavsky:---What everyone seems to play nowadays – Double of 1♦ shows diamonds and 1♥ is for takeout.
Allan Siebert:---Double=diamonds. 2♦=weak or intermediate. 1♥=takeout. 1NT=natural.
Mel Colchamiro:---After they bid 1♣ – 1♦, I play 1♥ = takeout of hearts, double = diamonds, 2♦ = stronger diamonds, 1♠ = spades, 1NT = 15-18.
Daniel Korbel:---It's normal to play double shows the artificial suit, and a one-level cuebid is a takeout double.
Richard Schwartz:---After 1♣ – 1♦, double = diamonds and 1♥ is a takeout double of 1♥. 2♥ is natural. 1NT is a natural 16-bad 19 HCP.
Danny Gerstman:---For years I've been playing double of 1♦ to show diamonds and bidding 1♥ for takeout. But I realize that may not be best. It puts me into the auction whereas doubling 1♦ for takeout of hearts may be a lot safer: they surely can't leave that in.
Sue Picus:---I like double of 1♦ is diamonds, and a bid of 1♥ is takeout of hearts.
John Onstott:---We play simply: After 1♣ – 1♦, double = diamonds and 1♥ = takeout of hearts.
Bobby Wolff:---I would prefer something simple wherein the double of the artificial bid was equivalent to an overcall in that suit, but if in turn I would bid that suit, it would be a takeout double of whatever suit was bid. I always been in favor of simplicity on defending opponents since in the heat of battle one "forget" of an agreed upon bid is likely to overcome any advantage a superior more intricate system might bring.
John Mohan:---After 1♣ – 1♦, 1♥ is takeout. Double = good diamonds, but not good enough to overcall 2♦.
Mark Lair:---Double = diamonds, 1♥ = take-out double of 1♥. 2♦ = more diamonds.
Steve Bloom:---Cue bid = takeout, double shows that suit.
Jeff Rubens:---Double = diamonds; 1♥ = spades and diamonds; 2♣ = natural.
Jon Wittes:---I'm pretty sure we play double of 1♦ as showing diamonds, 2♦ as showing more diamonds, and 1♥ a takeout of 1♣ – 1♥.
The following experts play that double of 1♦ shows diamonds but have a different meaning for the 1♥-bid: Michaels showing 5-5 or better in spades and diamonds.
David Berkowitz:---Double of 1♦ shows diamonds. 1♥ is Michaels. 1NT, 2♣ and 2♥ are natural.
Alan Sontag:---Double of an artificial response shows that suit, cue bid at one-level = Michaels with unknown minor, two of promised suit = natural.
Double of 1♦ is takeout
The following experts play double of 1♦ is takeout.
Marty Bergen:---Double = takeout, bidding the suit is natural.
Kit Woolsey:---When the transfer bid is 1♦ or 1♥, double is takeout of the suit shown. A bid of the suit shown is natural. Otherwise, everything is natural.
Mark Feldman:---After 1♣ – 1♦: Double = takeout of hearts, and 1♥ = four spades and a minor suit. After 1♣ – 1♥: double = hearts and 1♠ = takeout of spades. 2♥ shows six hearts and sound values.
Allen Graves:---Double of 1♦ is takeout showing diamonds and spades. 1♥ is takeout showing clubs and spades. 1NT is strong.
Gary Cohler:---Over 1♣ – 1♦, I like double is a takeout of clubs. 1♥ is takeout of hearts. Two-level bids are natural.
Nick Nickell:---Double of 1♦ is takeout for spades and diamonds. 1♥ is takeout for spades, diamonds and clubs.
Ralph Katz:---Double is takeout, and 1♥ is also takeout with four clubs.
Brian Platnick:---Over a major transfer, I play cue bid = takeout showing other major and clubs. Double = other major and diamonds (but could just be decent hand).
Chip Martel:---After 1♣ – 1♦, several reasonable things to play. I choose double is takeout of hearts and 1♥ = four spades and a long minor.
Barry Rigal:---Double of 1♦ is spades and better diamonds than clubs, and cuebid is spades with better clubs than diamonds. Every call other than those in both sequences is natural.
Drew Casen:---After 1♣ – 1♦ double = takeout double for spades and clubs. 1♥ = takeout for spades and diamonds. 2NT = 5-5 or better spades and diamonds. All other bids are natural.
If it goes 1♣ – 1♥, no matter what the 1♥-bid shows, you should play that 1NT is natural and shows 15-18 HCP — a Sandwich strong notrump. After partner's Sandwich strong notrump, you should play two-of-any-suit as natural and non-forcing.
Bart Bramley:---Over 1♣ – 1♦, I play double is a takeout of hearts (possibly including clubs, especially when 1♣ could be short), and 1♥ is Michaels showing five spades and a five-card minor.
John Carruthers:---Since we play Anti-Cue Bids against a natural one-of-a-minor – one-of-a-major, we also play one-of-a-major natural after 1♣-1red. Double is a takeout of the intended major. Simple.
Joe Kivel:---I would treat the following bids as if the auction had gone 1♣-1♥: natural bids after 1♣ – 1♦. A 1♥-bid is a takeout double of hearts. A double is a balanced takeout - equivalent to a strong no trump, and 1NT is a sandwich notrump showing five spades and five or more diamonds.
After 1♣ – 1♠ (artificial)
What do you do after 1♣ – 1♠, which does not show four spades? Usually 1♠ shows either diamonds or a 1NT-response. I play that double of 1♠ is a takeout double, the same bid that I would have made over a natural 1♣ – 1♦. 1NT is a Sandwich strong notrump.
Adam Wildavsky:---Double is takeout for the majors, 1NT is strong and natural as usual.
Allen Graves:---Over 1♠, double is takeout with majors. 1NT is strong.
Kit Woolsey:---When the "transfer" bid is 1♠, we play double is takeout for the majors. Otherwise, everything is natural.
John Mohan:---After 1♣ – 1♠ it's more difficult. I think we need double as takeout and 1NT natural.
Steve Bloom:---After the 1♠ response, double = takeout of clubs (or, if clubs is artificial, double = majors).
Ralph Katz:---Double of 1♠ is major suit takeout, could have either minor.
Brian Platnick:---After 1♣ – 1♠: If game-forcing, Double = Michaels. If less than game-forcing, takeout with emphasis on Majors.
Chip Martel:---After 1♣ – 1♠ which is artificial, double = major suit oriented takeout, 2♣ = 5/4 majors and 2♦ = 5-5 majors.
Mel Colchamiro:---After 1♣ – 1♠, I play double = takeout oriented towards majors, 2♠ = spades, and 1NT = 15-18 HCP.
Drew Casen:---After 1♣ – 1♠, double is takeout for majors. 1NT = Michaels both majors 5-5. All other bids are natural.
Bart Bramley:---Over 1♣ – 1♠, I play double shows BOTH majors, since responder has denied a major.
The following experts play that a double shows spades.
Daniel Korbel:---I would assume without discussion that double of 1♠ = spades.
Richard Schwartz:---After 1♣ – 1♠, double = spades. 1NT is natural: 16-bad 19 HCP.
Danny Gerstman:---After a 1♠ response, my default is that double should show spades and 2♠ should show more/better spades.
Marty Bergen:---After 1♣ – 1♠, double = spades.
David Berkowitz:---After 1♣ – 1♠, double = spade overcall. 1NT and 2♣ are natural. 2♦ = majors.
Alan Sontag:---Over 1♣ – 1♠, we play double = 1♠ overcall, 2♣ natural and 2♦ = 5-4 or 5-5 in majors.
Bobby Wolff:---When the opponents have denied four spades by a 1♠-bid, my double would show spades, with 2♠ or more natural.