Competitive bidding
Polish Club 2020 already incorporates Transfer Walsh at the 1-level. One obvious advantage is that we get a “support double” by completing the transfer even without intervention. I generalize it to all non-jump responses to end the debate between standard and negative free bids.
- 1♦ or (1♦) X: transfer, 4+♥
- 1♥ or (1♥) X: transfer, 4+♠
- 1♠: transfer to 1NT, partly ask for stopper
- 2♣: transfer, 5+♦
- 2♠: transfer, 5+♣
We somehow ignore the meaning of overcalls to deal with artificial and psychic bids. If we need to keep the bidding open, the nebulous 1♠ gets the job done.
This competitive Transfer Walsh is the Cachalot (Bessis, Le Bridgeur 852, 2011; Voldoire, 909, 2017). Opener completes a major transfer at the 1-level with exactly 3-card support, right-siding the suit so the intervenor leads. With four trumps opener supports at the 2-level, minimum, and goes higher with extras; a balanced minimum without the fit bids 1NT, promising a stopper opposite an overcall. Above the completion, opener continues as over the uncontested positive 1M, where Odwrotka 2♦, the natural raises, and the side suits all keep their meaning. Because Odwrotka still shows the game-forcing 3-card raise, the bare completion is limited to 11–17, though wider than the minimum 2M. The full rebid tables follow in opener’s rebids.
Over (X)
Natural notrump is not very useful after a double, so let’s also use it for transfers. Then 1♠ takes care of diamonds, the only suit left over.
| 1♣ (X) | |
|---|---|
| XX | NF BAL G/T, 10+ |
| 1♦! | TRF, 7+, 4+♥ |
| 1♥! | TRF, 7+, 4+♠ |
| 1♠! | TRF, 7+, 5+♦ |
| 1NT! | TRF, 7+, 5+♣ |
| 2♣ | PRE, 0–7, 5+♣ |
| 2x | PRE, 0–7, 6+# |
| 2NT! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♣) or (FG, 6+♣) |
| 3♣! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♦) or (FG, 6+♦) |
| 3♦! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♥) or (FG, 6+♥) |
| 3♥! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♠) or (FG, 6+♠) |
| 3♠! | Gambling, SOL 7+ suit with no stopper outside |
| 3NT! | Gambling, SOL 7+ suit with one stopper outside |
Over (1♦)
Transferring to diamonds is not very useful, so 2♣ falls back to a single raise.
| 1♣ (1♦) | |
|---|---|
| X! | TRF, 7+, 4+♥ |
| 1♥! | TRF, 7+, 4+♠ |
| 1♠! | TRF to 1NT, 8+ |
| 1NT | NAT, 8–10 |
| 2♣ | NF, 5–10, 5+♣ |
| 2♦! | TRF, 6+♥ |
| 2♥! | TRF, 6+♠ |
| 2♠! | TRF, 10+, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 10–11 |
| 3♣ | PRE, 6+♣ |
| 3♦! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♥) or (FG, 6+♥) |
| 3♥! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♠) or (FG, 6+♠) |
| 3♠! | Gambling, SOL 7+ suit without stopper |
Over (1♥)
Transferring to hearts is not very useful, so 2♦ falls back to a negative free bid.
| 1♣ (1♥) | |
|---|---|
| X! | TRF, 7+, 4+♠ |
| 1♠! | TRF to 1NT, 8+ |
| 1NT | NAT, 8–10 |
| 2♣! | TRF, 10+, 5+♦ |
| 2♦ | NF, 5–10, 6+♦ |
| 2♥! | TRF, 6+♠ |
| 2♠! | TRF, 10+, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 10–11 |
| 3♣ | PRE, 6+♣ |
| 3♦ | PRE, 7+♦ |
| 3♥! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♠) or (FG, 6+♠) |
| 3♠! | Gambling, SOL 7+ suit without stopper |
Over (1♠)
Transferring to spades is not very useful, so 2♥ falls back to a negative free bid.
| 1♣ (1♠) | |
|---|---|
| X! | NEG, 7+, 4–5♥ or BAL FG |
| 1NT | NAT, 8–10 |
| 2♣! | TRF, 10+, 5+♦ |
| 2♦! | TRF, 10+, 5+♥ |
| 2♥ | NF, 5–10, usually 6+♥ |
| 2♠! | TRF, 10+, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 10–11 |
| 3♣ | PRE, 6+♣ |
| 3♦♥ | PRE, 7+# |
| 3♠! | Gambling, SOL 7+ suit without stopper |
Over (1NT)
Bidding against 1♣ (1NT) is analogous to a weak notrump. The agreement to borrow Landy 2♣ here is also called Landik.
| 1♣ (1NT) | |
|---|---|
| X | PEN, INV+ |
| 2♣! | UNBAL, 4+♠, 4+♥ |
| 2NT! | UNBAL FG |
After 2♣, advance as in the Landy defense to 1NT.
Over (2♣+)
Treat 1♣ (2♣+) like 1NT (2♣+). Opener has shown no suit but strength.