The Benefit of Transfers Over 1NT
This is how responder proceeds with a major suit over 1NT without transfers.
| Weak (0-10 point) |
Invitational (11-12 points) |
Game (13+ points) |
|
| 4-card | Pass |
Stayman 2♣ Rebid 3♥/3♠ with a fit, |
Stayman 2♣ Rebid 4♥/4♠ with a fit, |
| 5-card |
2♥/2♠ |
3♥/3♠ (forcing) Opener rebids 4♥/4♠ with 3+, |
|
| 6-card | 4♥/4♠ directly. |
Notice the big gap. Without transfers, the standard system has no way to show invitational hands with 5+ card majors. Responder is left having to decide whether to treat the hand as weak or strong.
Transfers plug this gap.