Competing over (2♦♥♠)
Pass and double keep their meanings from the lower overcalls. Responder still passes with middling values or a trap and doubles with nothing.
Rubinsohl replaces everything but the pass and the double. A transfer shows the suit at once and leaves its strength for later, so one bid replaces both the invitational new suit and the slam-try jump. The strong hand also declares.
Suits still available at the 2-level stay natural and non-forcing, which makes transfers to them forcing to game. Opener completes an invitational+ transfer only with a hand that would pass the invitation.
| 1♣ (2♦) | |
|---|---|
| P! | F: 5–7 or PEN |
| X! | NEG, 0–4 |
| 2♥♠ | NF, 5+# |
| 2NT! | INV+ TRF to 3♣ |
| 3♣! | FG STAY |
| 3♦! | FG TRF to 3♥ |
| 3♥! | FG TRF to 3♠ |
| 3♠! | FG TRF to 3NT or 4♣ |
| 1♣ (2♥) | |
|---|---|
| P! | F: 5–7 or PEN |
| X! | NEG, 0–4 |
| 2♠ | NF, 5+♠ |
| 2NT! | INV+ TRF to 3♣ |
| 3♣! | INV+ TRF to 3♦ |
| 3♦! | FG STAY |
| 3♥! | FG TRF to 3♠ |
| 3♠! | FG TRF to 3NT or 4♣ |
Against (2♠), swap 3♥ and 3♠ as in Larry Cohen so that opener declares hearts.
| 1♣ (2♠) | |
|---|---|
| P! | F: 5–7 or PEN |
| X! | NEG, 0–4 |
| 2NT! | INV+ TRF to 3♣ |
| 3♣! | INV+ TRF to 3♦ |
| 3♦! | INV+ TRF to 3♥ |
| 3♥! | FG TRF to 3NT or 4♣ |
| 3♠! | FG STAY |
Over transfer overcalls
Rubinsohl reads the suit they show, not the bid they make. Every bid from 2NT through 3♥ transfers to the next suit, and 3♠ transfers to 3NT or 4♣. The transfer into their suit is Stayman. A transfer to a suit we could bid at the 2-level is forcing to game, and any other is invitational or better.
A transfer overcall therefore takes the table of the suit it shows. (2♦) showing hearts follows the (2♥) table, and (2♥) showing spades follows the (2♠) table, swap included. The only new bid is their suit at the 2-level. As over the lower transfer overcalls, it is the cheapest cuebid, a game force without a stopper.