Alder Transfer Preempts

Alder Transfer Preempts comprise a system of 3- and 4-level opening transfer bids. Their purposes are:

1. To "right-side" the contract when playing the aggressive form of the Gambling 3NT (i.e. a running minor suit and no side suit controls), in order to protect partner's tenaces. And...

2. To leave the door open for 3NT with a long minor-suit that would otherwise open 4/.

Opener's conventional bids:

Opening Bid	Meaning
3	A weak 3 or 3 opening bid. 5-10 HCP, 7-card suit.
3	A weak 4 or 4 opening bid.
3	Gambling 3NT
4	Namyats, showing a good 4 opening bid.
4	Namyats, showing a good 4 opening bid.
4	A preemptive 4 opening bid.
4	A preemptive 4 opening bid.

Response	Meaning
Pass	6+ diamonds and no tolerance for the majors.
3	Accepting the transfer. Opener can bid 3 with a spade preempt.
3	Good heart support, but willing to stop in spades if that is opener's suit. Opener should rebid 4 with a heart preempt.
3NT	To play.

Response	Meaning
Pass	6+ hearts and no tolerance for the minors.
3	Artificial inquiry, asking opener to bid 3NT with clubs or 4 with diamonds.
3NT	To play.
4	Accepting the transfer. Opener can bid 4 with a diamond preempt.
4	Good club support, but willing to stop in diamonds if that is opener's suit. Opener should rebid 5 with a club preempt.
4	To play.
4	To play.

Response	Meaning
3NT	To play.
4	Pass or correct to 4.
4	Artificial inquiry, strong. Asks opener to show a singleton if he has one. Opener's rebids: 4 with a heart singleton 4 with a spade singleton 4NT with 7-2-2-2 shape 5 with long clubs and a diamond singleton 5 with long diamonds and a club singleton
4	To play.
4	To play.
4NT	Artificial, asking partner to bid 6/ with an 8-card suit.
5NT	Artificial, asking partner to bid 7/ with a running suit opposite a void.

Alder Transfer Preempts were created in 1972 by New York Times columnist Philip Alder.