BridgeHands

Lebensohl - A comprehensive arsenal of bids designed to handle several difficult auctions, including:

George Boehm originally attributed the convention resolving opponent's notrump interference to Ken Lebensold, who did not take credit for the convention nor relate to its spelling.

Partnership agreement needed:

1. Most play "systems on" over opponents' double: 1N - (X) - ?    Stayman, Jacoby Transfer, etc still on
2. Most play "systems on" over opponents' 2C overcall: 1N - (2C) - ?         Jacoby Transfer, etc still on
3. Basic Lebensohl suggests responder's double of opponents' 2D+ level or above overcall is for penalty, as:
    1N - (2D) - X
    Many advanced Lebensohl players prefer to play responder's double of opponents' overcall is a negative
    double for "takeout", as:
    1N - (2S) - X               Some partnerships play takeout at the 2 level, some at the 3 level but not the 2 level

Note - partner naming conventions seem reversed in Lebensohl discussions when overcaller Doubles.  After partner of the Doubler bids 2 Notrump, it is the Doubler who is known as the "Responder" (of the 2 Notrump bid); accordingly, the 2 Notrump bidding becomes known as the "Advancer".

Opponent interferes with an opening Notrump auction, as: 1N - (2D) - ? Assuming overcaller has made a 2 level overcall, Lebensohl allows responder to clarify holdings as: signoff, invitational, forcing one round, game forcing.  Lebensohl also allows responder to show or deny a stopper.  Lastly, Lebensohl has a Stayman-like bidding sequence.  Generally, Lebensohl bidding is based on: Immediate direct cuebids or jump bid denies a stopper ("fast denies"), while smaller incremental bids show a stopper ("slow shows").  These bids are game forcing. After partner of the Doubler bids 2 Notrump, the Doubler is forced to bid 3C.  Follow-up bids will indicate the nature of Advancer's hand. When partner of the Doubler bids at the 2 level or beneath 3 of the opponents' bid suit after Advancer's 2 Notrump "puppet" are signoff bids. When Advancer bids 2 Notrump and opener puppets to 3C, then Advancer's 3 level bids above the opponents' bid suit are invitational.   (1N) - ? Response Meaning Double Penalty (however many advanced players now play this as a  Negative Double for "takeout") 2H/S 5+ card suit, to play   (1N) - X - (P) - ? 2N 2N by responder forces opener to relay to 3C.  After 1N - (2x) - 2N - (P);           3C   1N - (2D) - 2N - (P); 3C -  (P)  - ?       Responder rebids: Pass is to play.  Responder is showing 5+ Clubs 3D (cuebid) is game forcing with Diamond stopper ("slow shows") and a 4 card major 3H/S, 5 card suit and invitational hand 3N, "to play" with stopper in Diamonds ("slow shows")   1N - (2D) - ?      Responder direct bids are game forcing: 3C Game forcing with Club suit 3D Game forcing with a 4 card major and no stopper in Diamonds - "fast denies" 3H/S Game forcing with Hearts/Spades 3N Game forcing and no stopper in opponents' suit ("fast denies") Opponent interferes with an opening Notrump auction, as: 1N - (2H) - ?   Double Penalty (however many advanced players now play this as a  Negative Double for "takeout") 2S 5+ card suit, to play 2N 2N by responder forces opener to relay to 3C.  After 1N - (2H) - 2N - (P);           3C -  (P)  - ?   1N - (2H) - 2N - (P); 3C -  (P)  - ?       Responder rebids: Pass is to play, showing 5+ Clubs (indirectly bidding a lower suit at the 3 level) 3D is to play, showing 5+ Diamonds (indirectly bidding a lower suit at the 3 level) 3H is Stayman (showing 4 Spades), showing a stopper 3S is invitational, showing 5+ Spades  (indirectly bidding a higher suit at the 3 level) 3N is to play, showing a stopper (indirectly bidding 3N) 3C/D Invitational, showing 5+ Clubs/Diamonds 3H Stayman (showing 4 Spades), denying a stopper 3S Game forcing, showing 5 Spades (jump bid) 3N Game forcing, denying a stopper ("direct denies")   Opponent makes a preemptive weak 2 bid, with overcaller Doubling Overcalling partner's 2 level bid is to play Overcalling partner's 2 Notrump shows a 1 Notrump opener with stoppers in opponents' suit When overcalling partner makes a takeout Double, with less than 7 points advancer wishes to make a signoff bid involving the Lebensohl 2 Notrump bid. As before, when opponent overcalls partner's 1 Notrump bid, Lebensohl may be used after opponent opens preemptively with a weak 2 bid and partner doubles. This treatment allows responder to clarify holdings including: signoff, invitational, forcing one round, game forcing.  Similarly, Lebensohl here allows  partner of the Doubler to show or deny a stopper, and continues to allow a Stayman-like bidding sequences.  As we have seen before, Lebensohl bidding is based on: (2D) - X - (P) - ? Immediate direct cuebids or jump bid denies a stopper ("fast denies"), while smaller incremental bids show a stopper ("slow shows").  These bids are game forcing. (2D) - X - (P) - 3D After partner's Double, the 2 Notrump bid asks opener to bid 3C; however here overcaller may have 17+ points and choose not to accept the 3C puppet transfer.  "Disobedient" follow-up bids show the true nature of overcaller's hand, typically forcing game. (2D) - X - (P) - 2N; (P) - 3C                       Acceptance, willingness to play (2D) - X - (P) - 2N; (P) - 3D/H/S/N           Overcaller has strong interest in game, denying                                    Advancer's captaincy Advancer's lowest level bids, those made at the 2 level or beneath 3 of the opponent's bid suit after Responder's 2 Notrump "puppet" are signoff bids. (2D) - X - (P) - 3C When Responder bids 2 Notrump and Advancer puppets to 3C, Advancer's 3 level bids above the opponent's bid suit are invitational. (2D) - X - (P) - 2N; (P) - 3C - (P) - 3H Also see Convention Card Instructions Advancer Bid After Bidding 2N relay Meaning 2N Requests overcaller to bid 3C.  If the auction proceeds: (2H) - X - (P) - 2N; (P)   - 3C - (P) - ?; Pass, to play showing 5+ Clubs   3H is Stayman, game forcing with stopper ("slow shows") 3S is game forcing showing Spades (overcaller bids 3 Notrump or 4 Spades) 3N shows a stopper without fewer than 4 Spades Note: with a strong 17+ point hand, Doubler may deny Responder's 3C bid request after 2N and bid naturally to show extra values.   3C/D 7-10 points with 5+ Clubs/Diamonds 3H Stayman, 7+ points and no stopper ("fast denies") 3S 5 Spades, game forcing offering choice of 4S or 3 Notrump 3N Game values without major suit trump support - "fast denies" stopper Opener has made a 2 level reverse bid as: 1D - 1S; 2H - ? Opener makes a reverse bid showing 17+ points - a 2 level rebid of a rank higher than the 1 level opening bid (assuming responder's bid did not break the 2 level barrier). The responder now has a difficult bidding decision, particularly with minimum hand.   Perhaps the responder only had 5 points with a fair 5 card major suit, evaluating the hand a 6 points adding 1 distribution point.  From the Responder's perspective, game is quite unlikely so responder has interest to signoff below game.  Here, the Lebensohl treatment handles opener's reverse bid, again using responder's 2 Notrump bid (except 2 of opposite major, bidding the fourth suit used when opener bidding begins 1C and rebids 2D): Bidding Meaning 1C - 1S; 2H - 2N; 3C - 3S 2N requests opener to bid 3C, allowing responder to make a signoff bid.  1C - 1S; 2H - ? Bidding 2S, 3C, or 3C are all game forcing constructive bids. 1C - 1S; 2D - 2H Bidding 2 of opposite major after opener's 1C -> 2D rebid is Lebensohl, equivalent to 2N in other auctions where opener reverses 1C - 1S; 2H - ? Bidding 2S, 3C, or 3C are all game forcing constructive bids. 1C - 1H; 2D - ? Similarly, any bid other than the Lebensohl 2S (fourth suit - opposite major) is game forcing.  So if responder bids 2N, that bid is game forcing. Also see Rubinsohl