Extended Lebensohl

(Courtesy of Bob Crosby)

This convention is now standard over:

1) 1NT openers (or Rubinsohl)

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.

4 - Dbl - 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.

A freely bid 4NT has a different meaning but it is never Blackwood over the opponents 4/4.

2 - Dbl - 4

• 4NT 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

Dbl

2

2NT*

* 2NT forces 3. 8-9 HCPs.

1

Dbl

2

3*

* 3 shows 4+ Hearts, 10-12 HCPs.

1

Dbl

2

2NT*

* 2NT forces 3. 8-9 HCPs.

1	Dbl	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	2NT*

2NT forces 3.

5) Some long-standing partnerships extend Lebensohl to cover reverses:

1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	2NT	Pass
3	Pass	3*

* A weak sign-off in diamonds

1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	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:

1	1NT	Dbl	2
Pass	Pass	2NT*

* 2NT is Lebensohl and a direct bid is forcing

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 and 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 Advancer 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 cue bid. 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	Pass	2NT*
Pass	3	Pass	3**

* Forces 3, ** Invites 4 or 3NT.

1	2	Pass	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	3

* 3 forces to game with a diamond guard

1	2	Pass	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	3NT

* 3NT to play 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	Pass	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	3*

* Invites 4 or 3NT.

1	2	Pass	2NT
Pass	3	Pass	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

Pass

3*

* invitational minor

• 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

Pass

3*

* Natural, invitational.

1

2

Pass

3*

* Natural, 10-14, 6+ Diamonds, no interest in Clubs or Spades.