Saturday, June 24, 2006 4:47 PM

Rubensohl - The Super Accept

PITBULLS:

Everybody knows one of the main advantages of a transfer bid is the super accept. Knowing that when partner just accepts the transfer , she is not overly excited with her fit makes invitational sequences & slam decisions easy. Rubensohl replaced Lebensohl for a number of practical reasons. The 1NT opener knows the suit immediately in competitive auctions . This prevents pre-emption by the opponents & responders suit is not unknown as in Lebensohl. In addition, the transfer structure puts opener in a straight jacket so the transfer provides more room for responder to show her hand ( two suiters , slam tries etc) . Since the 1NT bidder is forced to bid the transfer suit , responder essentially gets in two bids by bidding again at the same level. A two for one so to speak ( Useful Space principle recommends transfers ).

1NT-2♠-2NT-P

3♣-P-3♥-P you have already shown a 6-4 in clubs & hearts and you are at the same level as bidding 3♣ forcing directly ! Of course , Rubensohl also right sides contracts to the stronger hand for opening lead purposes. In my opinion , there should be a 4th aspect to the advantages of Rubensohl & that is the super accept.

If partner makes a Rubensohl bid in the minors , a super accept of course should be a NT bid with a stopper as that is the goal for good minor fits anyway. If the NT opener just accepts the transfer in the minors , she is not enamored with that particular minor. If partner pulls the super accept to the minor at the 4 level that is KCB for that minor as the Rubensohl hand is of course unlimited. If partner super accepts with a Q bid ( their suit ) it means she has no stopper or wasted values in their suit.

♠x ♥xxx ♦KJxxxx ♣AKx and partner opens 1NT with RHO overcalling 2♠. You bid 3♣ Rubensohl & partner super accepts with 3NT so you pass and get your +630. What if partner super accepts with 3♠ ? Partner has ♠xxx ♥AK ♦AQx ♣QJ10xx so you drive the hand to 6♦ and pickup your +1370.

Super accepting works best with the heart suit as it prevents 4♥X on a shot as well as getting to good 4♥ games or slams. You open 1NT and LHO opponent overcalls in the bully suit. Partner bids 3♦ as the heart transfer and you have ♠KJxx ♥Ax ♦Jxxx ♣AKx so you just bid 3♥ and play it there. Partner has ♠void ♥J109xx ♦Q10xx ♣QJ10x and just wanted to compete. Partner can super accept with a 4♥ bid probably showing 4 trump. ♠KJx ♥Axxx ♦Jxxx ♣AKx and 4♥ is odds on with the above hand.

What about the monster hands in support of hearts ? It is those hands you can super accept with a spade Q bid for small & grand slam purposes. Opponents are always crawling into your NT auctions with any hands especially on favourable vulnerability. Rubensohl is a nice counter measure to recover transfer sequences with super accept understandings. One thing that has always annoyed me is that “braying jackasses” just by bidding can punch holes in your bidding system. Reubensohl is so far superior to Lebensohl that it hurts. Experts who have not converted to Rubensohl should run , not walk to their Bridge psychiatrist.