- 24 -
INTERMEDIATE-2
BRIDGE
LESSON
11
THE
LEBENSOHL CONVENTION
A. PROBLEM: ‑
Suppose the bidding has gone.
Partner RHO You You hold either: (a) XX XX KJ10XXX
XXX
1NT 2H ??? Or (b) AJX XX AQ10XXX
XX
In (a)
you would wish to bid 3D as a sign‑off; in (b) you would wish to bid 3D
to push towards either 3NT or else 5D.
Obviously you cannot bid 3D with both (a) and (b) while, at the same
time, having partner being capable of discerning the difference between the two
types on circumstances.
Often an overcall by the
opponents over your partner’s opening 1NT will prevent you from making the
response you would have otherwise made in a non‑competitive auction;
i.e., one without interference. For
example, one may be precluded from bidding Stayman (“2C”) due to the
intervening overcall, and yet you might otherwise be interested in opener's
Major suit holdings. Even natural bids, jumps, and NT raises become ambiguous
after an overcall to partner's 1NT bid.
Obviously, several questions
arise after such an overcall over your sides 1NT opening bid. Which bids by you
are forcing and which are not? Which
bids are invitational? Which bids are
natural and which artificial? How do
you bid Stayman and how do you affirm or deny a stopper in the enemy suit if
you are seeking a NT final contract?
All of these questions and
ambiguities are handled by the Lebensohl Convention.
B. THE LEBENSOHL CONVENTION: ‑
(a) A double is for penalties (NOT
NEGATIVE)
Examples: 1NT 2S
DBL. 1NT
2C DBL. 1NT
3H DBL.
(b)
ANY 2‑level suit bid is natural and a sign‑off
Examples:
1NT 2D 2H 1NT
2C 2S 1NT 2H 2S
(c) ANY
3‑level. suit bid is natural and game forcing and shows at least a 5‑card suit
Examples: (lNT
2H 3C) (1NT 2S 3H) (lNT
2C 3D) (lNT 2D 3S)
- 25 -
(d)
An ARTFICIAL “2NT” response
is forcing and demands opener to puppet “3C”.
Responder can pass if he has a weak hand in Clubs, or he can
rebid as follows: If he bids a
suit
below the rank of the suit of the overcall, it is a sign‑off;
if he/she bids a suit above the rank of the
enemy suit, it is invitational. In either last case scenarios, responder has at least a 5‑card suit.
Examples:
1NT 2H “2NT” P
“3C” P P
(A weak hand in Clubs))
1NT 2H “2NT” P
“3C” P
3D (Sign‑off)
1NT 2S
“2NT” P
“3C” P 3H (Sign-off)
1NT 2D “2NT” P
“3C” P 3H/3S (Invitational)
(e) A 3NT response achieved via:
(1) A direct jump to 3NT over an enemy overcall
shows the values for game, but denies a stopper in the opponent's suit.
(2) "2NT" followed by a 3NT over
partner's puppet “3C” bid shows value for game, plus a stopper in the
opponent's suit.
(f) Stayman Convention is achieved in either of the following 2
ways:
(1) A Direct cue‑bid of the opponent's overcall suit is Stayman without a stopper in the enemy’s
bid suit. It is forcing to game unless
the partnership fails to find a Major suit fit and additionally lacks a stopper
for 3NT. In that rare case, opener
bids 4 of his better Minor suit.
(2) A “2NT” response followed by a cue‑bid of the opponent's suit
over partner's forced “3C” is also Stayman, but this time with a promised stopper in the enemy suit. Lacking a Major fit, a contract of 3NT is
finalized.
C. THE
DISADVANTAGE OF THE
LEBENSOHL CONVENTION: ‑ The machinery of
the Lebensohl convention makes it easy to avoid a NT contract when neither side
has a stopper in the enemy suit. Yet
it in no way hinders the search for Major suit fits. In addition, it clearly defines which responses are non‑forcing,
and which are invitational or forcing.
To gain all this the only thing you give up is the natural meaning of
the 2NT bid by responder; i.e., it precludes the ability of responder to the
1NT opening bidder to invite to 3NT by responding 2NT. In this situation, when playing Lebensohl
and, therefore, without the ability to invite, it is best to go directly to 3NT
when holding invitational values.
Example: 1NT
2S “2NT” P
(AQX KXX JXXX
XXX)
“3C” P 3NT (Showing a Spade Stopper)
(or)
1NT 2S 3NT (XXX AQX KJXX XXX)
Showing game
values with NO Spade Stopper)
- 25a -
INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE
LESSON 11
THE LEBENSOHL CONVENTION
(Continued)
Previously we presented the use of The Lebensohl Convention, used by responder, responding to a 1 NT
opening bid, following an interference by responder’s RHO as seen in examples
a-g.
1NT
a)
2H
2S (To Play)
Examples: -----------------------------------
1NT
b)
2S
3H (Game Force Showing 5 Pieces)
-----------------------------------
1NT
c) 2H
3NT (To Play evidencing 9 or more HCP’s)
-----------------------------------
1NT
d) 2S
“3S” (Game Force - Stayman for Hearts and
without a
Spade Stopper)
-----------------------------------
1NT/”3C”
e) 2H/P
“2NT”/3D (Artificial - Forces “3C” - 3D to Play)
-----------------------------------
1NT/”3C”
f) 2S/P
“2NT”/”3S” (Game Force - Stayman for Hearts but
with a Spade Stopper)
-----------------------------------
1NT
g) 2D
Dbl. (For Penalties)
-----------------------------------
- 25b -
INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE
LESSON 11
THE LEBENSOHL CONVENTION
(Continued)
Note: In the above-referenced use of The Lebensohl
Convention, Responder is responding with partner having evidenced 15-17 HCP’s
with a subsequent interference. An
almost exact circumstance evolves, with the only exception being that the order
of the events taking place are reversed, occurs as follows: West’s partner has doubled in the direct
position subsequent to a pre-emptive interfering opening weak 2-Bid.
Example:
2(B)
??? Dbl. (Take-out)
P
All of the same meanings become available to this responding
partner, responding to a strong Take-out Double by partner, subsequent to a
weak-2 opening pre-emptive bid by the opponent.
Examples: 2B
a. (Pass = Penalties)
??? Dbl. (Take-out)
P
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2D
b. (2H = To Play)
??? Dbl. (Take-out)
P
--------------------------------------------------------
2H
c. (3S = Game Force)
??? Dbl. (Take-out)
(with 5 Spades)
P
--------------------------------------------------------
2H
d. (3H = Stayman Game)
??? Dbl. (Take-out)
(Force with 4 Spades)
P
--------------------------------------------------------
2S
e. (2NT = Forces 3C)
??? Dbl. (Take-out)
P
--------------------------------------------------------
There
are, therefore, two instances, of almost identical circumstances, for Lebensohl
usage.
- 25c -
INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE
LESSON 11
THE LEBENSOHL CONVENTION
(Continued)
Modification
Of Lebensohl Subsequent To A “2C” Overcall By Responder’s RHO
Normally, the
methodology of bidding Stayman, with a stopper in the overcall suit bid by
Responder’s RHO, is to puppet through 2NT and then for Responder to bid the
same suit as the overcaller, as seen in the Example to follow:
1NT/”3C”
P/ 2S/P
“2NT”/”3S” (Game Force - Stayman for Hearts but
with a Spade
Stopper)
Note, however, that this technique is stifled when the overcall
suit is Clubs.
1NT/”3C”
P/ 2C/P
“2NT”/”4C” (Game Force - Stayman with a Club Stopper
but in this instance the partnership is already
past 3NT should responder not find opener with a 4-card matching Major suit.)
In this specific singular
instance, therefore, the partnership using Lebensohl must have ready the
following deviation from the norm so as to specifically cope with a Stayman
attempt, game forcing bid with a Club stopper by Responder. In this instance the bidding must proceed as
follows:
1NT/”3C”
P/ 2C/P
“2NT”/”3D” (Game Force - Stayman with a Club
Stopper (Not an invitational try in
Diamonds)
- 25d -
INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE
LESSON 11
THE LEBENSOHL CONVENTION
(Continued)
Handling of Responses to NT or Stronger
Bids By Partner
Subsequent to Interferences Both Before
and After Partner’s Bid
N N
1NT Dbl.
W (1) E W
(2) E
Dealer
Dealer
P 2B 2B
P
S S
??? ???
(Lebensohl) (Lebensohl)
N N
1NT 1NT
W (3) E W
(4) E
Dealer
Dealer
1C/1D P 1H/1S P
S S
??? ???
(“Front of Card”) (All Bids are Natural)
(“2C” is Stayman) (Opener’s
Suit is Stayman & Transfers are Off)
(& Transfers are On)
N N
2NT 2NT
W (5) E W
(6) E
Dealer
Dealer
2D P 2H/2S P
S S
??? ???
(“Front
of Card”) (All Bids are Natural)
(“3C” is Stayman) (Opener’s
Suit is Stayman & Transfers are Off)
(& Transfers are On)