[shugart24]

I can't recall if this question was asked before or not. It's actually a 3 part question. Partner and I bid 1NT with 10-13. Partner and I bid 1C-1D-1NT showing 16-18. Partner and I bid 1C-1D-1H-1S-1NT to show 19-21. When Opener arrives at 1NT from one of these 3 paths, and you have a very weak hand with a 5-card major, should you transfer? say you are Qxxxx in spades, Jx xxx xxx. Does your answer vary if Opener is strong vs weak ? I have told my son that there isn't a consensus, but that I would prefer that he transfer me always when he has a 5 card Major and 5332 shape no matter which path.

Appreciate any responses. Would it matter if your Major is spades vs hearts is a tangential question

[DavidKok]

The consensus is to always transfer. The major simply scores better on average. In fact, it's still good on e.g. the natural auction 1♣-1♠; 1NT-? despite the wrongsiding and the fact that opener has denied four spades.

[P_Marlowe]

Making the long suit of the weak hand trumps.

If you open a weak NT 10-13 ..., the question is, if you should play xfer at all.

[Shugart23]

 P_Marlowe, on 2025-July-05, 08:17, said:

Making the long suit of the weak hand trumps.

If you open a weak NT 10-13 ..., the question is, if you should play xfer at all.

I haven’t had my coffee yet. We don’t transfer with weak NT. So to rephrase that part of the question. Should you bid 2M to play or pass.

[Shugart23]

 DavidKok, on 2025-July-05, 08:13, said:

The consensus is to always transfer. The major simply scores better on average. In fact, it's still good on e.g. the natural auction 1♣-1♠; 1NT-? despite the wrongsiding and the fact that opener has denied four spades.

Our 1c-1s has a totally different meaning, it’s not natural bid. Thx!

[DavidKok]

That is why I specified 'natural auction'. It shows, in contrast to your system, that taking the contract out to 2M is still beneficial even in a situation with several added downsides.

[DavidKok]

 P_Marlowe, on 2025-July-05, 08:17, said:

If you open a weak NT 10-13 ..., the question is, if you should play xfer at all.

I have played both, and think the transfer is better. However, two way Stayman is fashionable at the moment, and in my opinion only a bit worse, so I'll play that if partner wants.

[P_Marlowe]

DavidKok, on 2025-July-05, 08:32, said:

I have played both, and think the transfer is better. However, two way Stayman is fashionable at the moment, and in my opinion only a bit worse, so I'll play that if partner wants.

We play 11-14 and xfer, ... it works, and we other more important holes to work on.

[P_Marlowe]

Shugart23, on 2025-July-05, 08:23, said:

I haven’t had my coffee yet. We don’t transfer with weak NT. So to rephrase that part of the question. Should you bid 2M to play or pass.

MP or IMPs matter.

I dont have the stamina for MP, so this will be my take on IMPs:
If you have values to spare, 1 NT will usually make with a combined 22-24 count, bad trump breaks dont bother you.
If it is close, I would say the 5-? fit is safer.

Spades makes it harder to enter, 2H may invite a 2S reopening.

Overall I would say, keep it simple and always go for the major, safes energy / stamina.