TEXAS CONVENTION

Texas Transfer Bids

Texas Transfers

This conventional method was devised by Mr. David Carter, and also independently by Mr. Olle Willner of Sweden. In order to understand the origins it must be stated that the two mentioned bridge experts devised the concept, which means that they employed their ingenuity in the making, originating, and/or achieving this concept. It was, however, Mr. Oswald Jacoby who developed the concept, meaning that it was he, who brought the concept from latency to or toward fulfillment, and to have the concept advance to the mature state of acceptance via promotion and use.

The Texas convention is simply a Transfer Bid and is therefore sometimes referred to as Texas Transfers. Most partnerships play according to the intention of the original Texas Transfer conventional method that Texas Transfer bids are employed only when the responder has only game values, not slam values. If the responder holds slam values, then the responder should first employ Jacoby Transfer bids on the two level, and following acceptance of the transfer bid follow with a slam try.

The Texas convention is applied by the responder after one partner opens 1 No Trump or 2 No Trump, in order to have the stronger hand become the declarer play a game contract in a Major suit. In the case that the responder has a holding which allows for a game contract, the responder immediately jumps to 4 Hearts when holding a 6-card Spade Suit. The opener is required to rebid 4 Spades, which makes him then the declarer.

South	North		South	North
K98 QJ10 KQJ7 A109	A74 K87542 98 KQ		K98 QJ10 KQJ7 A109	QJ87543 A8 A64 4
1 NT	4		1 NT	4
4	Pass		4	Pass

In the case that the responder has a holding which allows for a game contract, the responder immediately jumps to 4 Diamonds when holding a 6-card Heart Suit. The opener is required to rebid 4 Hearts, which makes him then the declarer.

In both cases for the Major suits described above, it is of the utmost importance that the responder has game-going values, but not slam potential, otherwise the Texas convention should not be employed. The concept was originated with the understanding that both transfer bids occur on the four level, and that the No Trump bidder is forced to accept the transfer.

Note: The original conventional method, as devised, requires that the partnership employ Texas Transfer bids after interference by the immediate opponent through an overcall up to and including 3, but this is valid only after a 1 No Trump opening. If the opening bid is 2 No Trump, then the Texas Transfer bids are played as "systems off" by immediate competition.

South	North		South	North
K98 QJ10 KQJ7 A107	4 64 A86542 KQ95		K98 QJ10 KQJ7 A107	4 A8 A64 QJ98543
1 NT	4		1 NT	4
4			5

The reason behind this extension is to include a game force for a Minor suit. The requirements, as are the disadvantages, the same. The responder should have game forcing values and at least a 6-card suit before employment. If these requirements are not met, then the responder must find another bid or call. By competition the same conditions apply as with the transfer bids to Hearts and Spades.

Employing the Texas Transfer bids does not invite the No Trump bidder to consider slam, but only a game contract. The second difference is that the bid of 4 No Trump after a Texas Transfer bid is Roman Keycard Blackwood, whereas the bid of 4 No Trump after a Jacoby Transfer is considered to be only quantitative. This, of course, is by partnership agreement. The concept can be inverted by any partnership.

If and when the opponents interfere, especially with an immediate overcall, the general consensus is that the responder, provided that the level of interference is not too high, continue with the Texas Transfer convention (see above). If the overcall has interfered with the comfort level and has disturbed the features of the Texas Transfer convention, then the general consensus is that all suit bids by the responder are to be considered natural. This means that some partnerships have adopted the understanding that all Texas Transfer bids through 3 Spades are still in effect. But any preempt on the four level, especially by the immediate opponent, should be considered to be natural.

Note: In case of an intervening overcall, other partnership understandings have agreed to include the features of the Texas Transfer convention only through to and including 3 Clubs (see original concept above), after which all bids by the responder become natural. Partnership agreement.

Note: In case of an intervening overcall, other partnership understandings have agreed to include the features of the Texas Transfer convention only through to and including 3 Diamonds, after which all bids by the responder become natural. Partnership agreement.

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