One of the pluses of transfer bids into the majors is that the stronger hand becomes the declarer. This "right-sides" contracts with reasonable frequency.

What can happen in this deal if North is in four spades, or South is in three no-trump, or South is in four spades?

In the auction, South opened one no-trump, showing 15-17 points. North transferred with a two-heart response, promising five-plus spades and any point-count. After South completed the transfer, North jumped to three no-trump to show exactly five spades and to ask South to choose between three no-trump and four spades. (This was a slight overbid; two no-trump would have been a slight underbid.) South, with three-card spade support and a low-doubleton diamond, preferred four spades.

In this deal, if North is in four spades, the contract should go down two. East would lead the heart queen. The defenders could take three tricks in that suit, then shift to diamonds. When in with the spade ace, West would cash a diamond trick.

If South is in three no-trump, West would lead the diamond king and again down two would be the result.

Now let's have South in four spades. He wins the diamond-king lead with dummy's ace and drives out the spade ace. West cashes the diamond queen, but South has 10 tricks: four spades, one diamond and five clubs.

Yes, if East had the spade ace, all games would fail. But if you load the dice in your favor with transfers, you will gain in the long run.

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