Red transfers 1♦♥
Opener completes the transfer with any balanced minimum, even with a doubleton, and with 3-card support up to 17. Completion is a free support double: bypassing it denies 3-card support, except with 18–20. Unbalanced ones bid 2♦, an artificial strong raise. Balanced ones rebid 1NT, as in the notrump ladder. Molenaar–Verbeek play the same ladder. After the completion or 1NT, responder rebids by Checkback Gladiator.
Responder may hold nothing, so 3NT promises solid clubs. Other 18–20 hands with 5+♣ bid 2NT with 0–2 cards in responder’s major, or 2♦ with 3 cards, unless they suit 1NT.
Raises promise 4-card support: 2M with 11–14 and 3M with 15–17. With 18–20, opener bids 2♦ rather than reverse, so reverses deny 3-card support.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 1♥ | (BAL 12–14, 2–3♥) or (UNBAL 11–17, 3=♥) |
| 1♠ | UNBAL 11–17, 4+♠, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 1NT | BAL 18–20, 2–3♥ |
| 2♣ | UNBAL 11–17, 5+♣, 0–3♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2♦! | 18–20, (4+♥ or UNBAL 3=♥) |
| 2♥ | 11–14, 4+♥ |
| 2♠ | FG, 18–20, 4+♠, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT! | 18–20, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 3♥ | 15–17, 4+♥ |
| 3NT | 18–20, SOL 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 1♣ - 1♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 1♠ | (BAL 12–14, 2–3♠) or (UNBAL 11–17, 3=♠) |
| 1NT | BAL 18–20, 2–3♠ |
| 2♣ | UNBAL 11–17, 5+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 2♦! | 18–20, (4+♠ or UNBAL 3=♠) |
| 2♥ | REV, 16–20, 4+♥, 5+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 2♠ | 11–14, 4+♠ |
| 2NT! | 18–20, 5+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 3♠ | 15–17, 4+♠ |
| 3NT | 18–20, SOL 6+♣, 0–2♠ |
After 2♦
Over the strong raise, the cheapest step 2♥ is a weak signoff with 0–5. This is Odwrotka with the roles swapped. Opener made the fit reverse, so responder describes. The 6+M rows show 8+ because 0–7 hands went through Multi 2♦.
| 1♣ - 1R - 2♦ - | M = R + 1 |
|---|---|
| 2♥! | 0–5 |
| 2♠! | 6+, 4=M, no 5+ side suit |
| 2NT! | 6+, UNBAL 5=M |
| 3♣♦ | 6+, 5+#, 4=M |
| 3M | 6+, BAL 5=M |
| 3NT! | 8+, 6+M, no SPL |
| 3OM!, 4♣♦! | 8+, SPL, 0–1#, 6+M |
After a reverse
Responder plays Blackout as after 1♠, but LEB is 0–7 since a transfer promises nothing. LEB is the next step even though it is responder’s major, as opener holds at most two spades. Other bids are natural and game-forcing.
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♠! | LEB, 0–7 |
| 3NT | S/O |