Never short of ideas

One of the situations:

1- The disadvantages and advantages of executing the transfer only if you have a fit

Some players are still reluctant to integrate into their system that the execution of a major-suit transfer over 2NT shows a fit. This is because they don’t want to play 3 No-Trump with only 20-23HCP on their side. I don’t want that either. But to avoid playing 3 No-Trump, all it takes is to not make a transfer bid with a five-card major and 0-3HCP. My detractors will answer that by passing a 2NT opening with a five-card major, one can miss a fit and therefore a 3 Hearts or 3 Spades contract, which would undoubtedly be a better one than 2 No-Trump. I can tell them two things concerning this argument: the first is that on average responder has 6 points. It is quite rare that he only has 0-3HCP. Therefore, we can’t build a system for hands from 0-3HCP. The second thing is that you have no certainty that playing 3 Hearts or 3 Spades in a 5-2 fit would be better than 2 No-Trump. Partner who opened 2NT could have a six-card minor allowing him to make 2 No-Trump but not 3 Hearts or 3 Spades.

As for the benefits, the first is obvious. If you learn about the fit right away, it’s easier to evaluate your hand and decide about the final contract. What do you do if you have a five-card major, a singleton and 10HCP if your partner executes the transfer only because he has to? You can’t evaluate your hand well. And if he bids 4♣, is that a control or a natural bid, trying to find a fit? And if he then bids 4NT later, is that RKCB for Clubs or for the major? As you can see, to solve the problem coming from hands with 0-3HCP, you create plenty of others.