Thursday, November 28, 2002 5:05 PM
Extended Lebensohl
PITBULLS:
This convention is now standard over 1) 1NT openers ( or Rubinsohl ) and 2) weak 2’s .
Many established partnerships extend Lebensohl to other areas . A standard
question should be aimed at determining how many different places Lebensohl is
used in established partnerships
.
3) I advocate the bid whenever we enter
the auction after the opponents have bid 4♠/4♥ . I prefer a double to be take out over
these bids so 4NT is not Blackwood but Lebensohl in any of these sequences .
DBL
4♠
pass
A direct bid shows values and could get the partnership to
slam. 4NT demands 5♣ and all other bids means no values after that .
4NT
A freely bid 4NT has a different meaning
but it is never Blackwood over the opponents 4♥/4♠.
DBL
2♠
4♠
4NT
This differentiates between game values and a slam try . A
direct bid would be a slam
try .
4) Many pairs
agree that if Opener's major
suit opening ( only ) is raised after partner has doubled,
Lebensohl is in effect.
(1♠)
Dble (2♠) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
8-9 HCPs.
(1♠) Dble (2♠) 3♥ - Shows 4+ Hearts, 10-12 HCPs.
(1♥) Dble (2♥) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
8-9 HCPs.
(1♥) Dble (2♥) (P)
(P)
Dble Pass 2NT - Forces 3♣.
8-9 HCPs.
5) Some
long-standing partnerships "extend" Lebensohl to cover reverses:
1♦ (P) 1♠ (P)
2♥ (P) 2NT (P)
3♣
(P) 3♦ - A WEAK signoff in Diamonds.
1♦ (P) 1♠ (P)
2♥ (P) 3♦ - Good hand, supporting Diamonds.
6) Lebensohl
can also be used in penalty double
sequences when the opponents have wiggled out and you do not want to double
them for penalty. The Pat/Susan auction :
1NT
1♦ P
DBL 2NT
2NT is Lebensohl and a direct bid is forcing .
2♠
7)
Lebensohl Opposite Michaels
The
least well known application of Lebensohl occurs after partner has made a
Michaels cuebid. This is only for partnerships who play these bids 0-40 HCP.
Tom & I do not need this as we only play them weak or very strong. Intermediate two suited hands are
handled with overcalls. In the
case of a cuebid of a MINOR by partner, 2NT can show a guard in No Trump en route to a major.
Overcaller will rebid 3♣, whereupon ADANCER can rebid 3♥ or 3♠ (invitational)
or 3NT (which Overcaller may pass or correct to a major suit contract). If the auction has started with 1♦-2♦, ADVANCER
can force game with a 3♦ rebid over
the forced 3♣. The advantage of this treatment is to get to 3NT after a Michaels Q
. This is normally very
difficult and with a Michaels over a major getting to 3NT is
usually a coup . As usual with Lebensohl the advantage of defining natural bids
as strong or invitational as opposed to the 2NT which usually means weaker
hands is the key.
1♦ 2♦ (P) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
(P) 3♣ (P) 3♠ - Invites 4♠ or 3NT.
1♦ 2♦ (P) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
(P)
3♣
(P) 3♦ - Forces to game with a diamond
guard
1♣
2♣
(P) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
(P) 3♣ (P) 3NT - "3NT or 4-of-a-major?".
If
partner has made a Michaels cuebid of a MAJOR (i.e. 1♥-2♥ or 1♠-2♠)
ADVANCER can stop in 3♣ or 3♦ by rebidding 2NT. If, instead of stopping in 3♣ or 3♦, ADVANCER
rebids the promised major ADVANCER is showing a weak hand (after 1♠-2♠) with Heart
Support OR, after 1♥-2♥ (where
Responder COULD have stopped in 2♠ if weak), an invitational hand with a guard
in the enemy suit.
1♥ 2♥ (P) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
(P)
3♣
(P) 3♠ - Invites 4♠ or 3NT.
1♠
2♠
(P) 2NT - Forces 3♣.
(P)
3♣
(P) 3♥ - Weak hand with 3+ Hearts.
In
this way, any direct bid
of a lower ranked suit shows values. In the case of a direct 3♣, it asks Overcaller to PASS with
a minimum and 5+ Clubs, correct to 3♦ with a minimum and 5+
Diamonds, rebid 3♥ with 5+ Clubs and a
maximum, 3♠ with 5+ Diamonds and a maximum but no stopper for NT, or 3NT with
5+ Diamonds and a guard in the enemy suit.
1♠
2♠
(P) 3♣ -
Invitational, MINOR length
(P)
??
- PASS = 5+ Clubs, minimum.
- 3♦= 5+ Diamonds, minimum.
- 3♥ = 5+ Clubs, maximum,
allowed 3♠
to ask for a guard in their suit.
- 3♠ = 5+
Diamonds, maximum,
no Spade stopper.
- 3NT =
5+ Diamonds, maximum,
Spade guard.
1♠
2♠
(P) 3♥ - Natural, invitational.
1♥ 2♥ (P) 3♦ - Natural, 10-14, 6+ Diamonds,
no interest in Clubs or
Spades.