Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:03 PM

Hand Evaluation – NT Interference ( Minors )

PITBULLS:

Experts play Rubensohl when the opponents interfere over their NT with the majors. Rubensohl is actually defined for dealing with interference by the majors only . What if the opponents overcall in the minors or artificially with the minors ? Unfortunately , this is a game time decision depending on which toys the opponents are using. There are some standard understandings though which we will discuss below. Even a simple minor overcall by them can cause problems if you have not discussed your understandings.

Divide the playing field of disturbing your strong NT into interference by their majors or their minors. Lebensohl is still alive & well over both minors even though you do play Rubensohl over the majors. It seems that modern systems for disturbing NT’s keep the majors natural & the minors artificial for the most part. Your system of defense is of course geared toward what they are playing. Rubensohl is a great concept after their majors. You define a meaning even for a transfer into their major . It is a two pronged bid covering Stayman or a 3NT bid without a stopper !! Playing Rubensohl , a leap to 3NT over their major always shows a stopper in their major . After a transfer to their suit you should

accept the transfer to their suit with no major or stopper

Otherwise Bid your major or

Bid 3NT with a stopper

If the opponents overcall with an artificial 2♣ , a direct double by responder is Stayman. If the opponents make an artificial double, you just ignore them & your system is on . If you bid 3♣ over their artificial 2♣ , it is forcing with clubs. If you wish to compete in clubs , you bid 2NT Lebonsohl & pass partners 3♣ response. A 2♥ or 2♠ bid by you is to play but a jump in those major suits is a one suiter major forcing.

If the opponents overcall with 2♦ artificially showing the majors , we have some common understandings. 2NT is Lebensohl so we can compete in diamonds & clubs that way. A direct 3♦ or 3♣ bid is natural & forcing. A double says let me at the majors. Invisible Q bids enter the fray after the 2♦ bid. Since they are announcing the majors , if you have a minor two suiter with competitive values bid 2♥. If you wish to force to game with the minors, bid 2♠.

Since Lebensohl understandings still apply after the minor overcalls , a leap to 3NT is systemic showing no stopper in their suit or the lower ranking if they show two suits. If these minors are artifical , a leap to 3NT says nothing about that suit. A double is cards or let me at the suit they are intending to show.

If the minors are natural bids , a double is penalty on every vulnerability except the terrorist vulnerability. If we are vul & they are not , the double is D.S.I.P. so we can get to our best vul game. If partner converts the double on this vulnerability , they are really in trouble.

If the opponents pre-empt against you at the 3 level , the double is negative or a Thrump double ( 3NT Dbl) . Interpret the double as Thrump initially & responder will clarify if it was not. Doubles at higher levels are penalty. As said previously , some defenses over their artificiality are game time decisions.