Lebensohl Over 1NT Interference

Jim Berglund’s Bridge Lesson 14

Lebensohl is a convention used to enable a better indication of the strength of the responder. Bids can be weak, invitational, or forcing to game

Note the use of colors to show strength

In today’s competitive bidding environment, overcalls are made far more frequently. Without long discussion, it is difficult to know what to bid when opponents overcall 1NT – and what partner will understand by whatever action you take.

Lebensohl Over 1NT Interference - Six Basic Concepts to Memorize

Jim Berglund’s Bridge Lesson 14

1. Responder’s Doubles & Redoubles over a 2-level bid are penalty-oriented

2. Responder’s Doubles over a 3-level bid are Take-out

3. If Responder bids 2NT, Opener MUST bid 3♣4. Responder’s 2-level suit overcalls are to play5. Responder’s 3-level suit overcalls are forcing 6. If a Responder’s auction does not include 2NT,

she denies a stopper.

♠ Examples of bids that don’t change1. After 1NT– DBL* - 2 is Stayman and all transfers apply (♣ Systems On)2. After 1NT– DBL* - RDBL shows most of the outstanding points – Gotcha!3. After 1NT– 2 (♣ artificial) – DBL is Stayman; all transfers apply (Systems

On)4. After 1NT – 2X (including 2 ♣ natural) – Double - is penalty-oriented5. After 1NT – 2♦/♥/ – 3♠ ♦/♥/ (Q-bid) – Stayman for both majors ♠

or the other Major. This shows no stopper in the overcalled suit6. After 1NT – 2X – 4♣ - is Gerber (asks for Aces) 7. After 1NT – 2X – 4♦ or 4 ♥ are Texas Transfer bids 8. After 1NT – 3X – Double is negative - a 3-suit take-out9. After 1NT – 3X – 3NT is to play and shows at least Qxx as a stopper

♥

After a NT Opening and an Opponent’s Overcall at the 2-level

*typically, a strong, balanced hand

Note the difference in the 3 responding

doubles

Examples of bids that don’t change much1. After 1NT – 2X – 3NT - shows values for 3NT, but no stopper in X2. After 1NT – 2♥ – 3♥ – is a Stayman and denies a stopper in X

Examples of New Responses3. 2NT is artificial and forcing to 3 , after which…♣

♠ A Pass shows clubs and a weak hand♠ 3♦ shows diamonds and a weak hand♠ A Q-bid is (sometimes) a transfer to the next-higher suit, and shows a stopper♠ 3♥/ ♠ are invitational bids with 5+ cards in the bid suit♠ 3NT shows sufficient values & a stopper in the overcalled suit (“Slow” Shows)

4. 3NT shows sufficient values, but no stopper in the overcalled suit, and no 5-card Major ( “Fast” Denies)

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After a NT Opening and an Opponent’s Overcall at the 2-level

Note That 2NT MUST be used in all

invitational and forcing hands with a stopper!

♠ After 1NT– 2♦(natural) - this is the easy one! With 0-7 points, 2 or 2♥ ♠ is to play (weak) With 0-11 points and/or a suit, 2NT is bid forcing a relay to 3♣.

♦ This is either passed, raised, or corrected to another suit.♣ if 4 ♣ it is invitational (7+ to 9-) with a good, 6-card suit♣ if 3 , it is a transfer to 3 , with a diamond stopper♦ ♥

♣ if 3♥ or 3♠ , it is shows 5+ and is invitational (7+ to 9-)♣ if 3NT is bid, it shows game values and a stopper

♥ With 9+ points, and no stopper all four suits are bid at the 3 level, giving partner a chance to bid 3NT or game in the suggested suit 3 shows both Majors, 9+ and is Stayman, without a diamond stopper♦

♦ Note that with clubs, it is possible to stop in 4♣♥ With values for game, just bid it (remember Texas Transfers).♥ A bid of 4♦ is Leaping Michaels, showing 5-5 in the Majors

After a NT Opening and an Opponent’s 2♦ Overcall at the 2-

level

Note That 2NT MUST be used in

all invitational and forcing hands

with a stopper!

♠ After 1NT– 2♥ With 0-7 points, 2♠ is to play (weak) With 0-11 points and a suit 2NT is bid forcing a relay to 3♣.

♦ This 3 bid is either passed or corrected to another suit.♣

♣ if 3♦, it shows 5+ and is weak (to play)♣ if 3♥ , it is a transfer, with 5+ spades, a ♥ stopper and (7+ to 9-)♣ if 3♠ , it is shows 5+ spades, no stopper, and is invitational (7+ to 9-)♣ if 3NT is bid, it shows game values and a heart stopper

♥ With 9+ points and no stopper, all four suits are bid directly at the 3 level, giving partner a chance to bid 3NT or game in the suggested suit♦ Note that with diamonds, it is possible to stop in 4♦♦ A Q-bid of 3♥ is Stayman and denies a heart stopper

♥ With values for game just bid it (remember Texas Transfers).

After a NT Opening and an Opponent’s 2♥ Overcall at the 2-

level Note That 2NT MUST be used

in all invitational and forcing hands

with a stopper!

♠ After 1NT– 2♠♥ With 0-7 points and hearts, pass and hope partner reopens♥ With 0-11 points and a suit, 2NT is bid forcing a relay to 3♣.

♦ The 3 response is either passed or corrected to another suit.♣

♣ if 3♦, it shows 5+ and is weak (to play)♣ if 3♥, it is shows 5+ and is invitational (7+ to 9-)♣ if 3NT is bid, it shows game values and a spade stopper

♥ With 9+ points (and no stopper), all four suits are bid directly at the 3 level, giving partner a chance to bid 3NT or game in the suggested suit♦ Note that with diamonds, it is possible to stop in 4♦♦ Note: A Q-bid of 3 is a Western Q-bid and asks partner to bid 3NT ♠

with Jxx, Qx or better (and guarantees Jxx, or Qx)♠ ♠ ♠ ♠

♥ With values for game just bid it (remember Texas Transfers).

After a NT Opening and an Opponent’s 2 Overcall at the 2-level♠

Note That 2NT MUST be used in

all invitational and forcing hands with

a stopper!

Intermediate Sequences – may be passed1. 2♣ (art)-DBL is Stayman - (Any 2-level suit bid is a transfer)2. 2♣ (nat) – Double (Penalty)3. 2♦/♥/♠ (nat) -2NT-Pass - 3♣- Pass - 3♥/♠4. 2NT (minors) – DBL (“I can double one of overcaller’s suits”) – 3x - 5. 3♣/♦/♥/♠ - DBL (takeout) – Pass -

Weak Sequences – should be passed1. 2 ♣/♦/♥/♠ (nat)-2Y – Pass - 2. 2 ♣/♦/♥/♠ (nat)-2NT-Pass - 3♣ -

Pass -3♦

Strong Sequences – Anything Else

Review of Bids After You Open 1NT

Test Question 1BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE SOUTH

1 2 3 4 5

Bid 2♠ in 1 – to play. If opponents bid again, bid heartsBid 4♣ in 2, invitational (your distribution is fabulous!)Pass in 3Bid 3♠ in 4Bid 3NT in 5, showing points but no diamond stopper

87543J5432A65

W N E S

1NT 2♦ ?

♠♥

♦♣

4375432KJ7654

♠♥

♦♣

K875Q76532865

♠♥

♦♣

KQ765AQ766452

♠♥

♦♣

AQ8A986532432

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 2BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE SOUTH

6 7 8 9 10

Bid 2NT in 6 and bid 3♠ over partners (forced) 3♣ bid. Pass with hand 7Double in 8 - penalty-oriented – you likely have 2, 3, or more, defending.Bid 3♥ in 9 (a transfer to spades, showing no heart stopper.) If partner bids 3NT, pass. Otherwise, look for slamBid 3♦ in 10. You’re looking for slam, and you expect partner has a diamond fit. Bid 4♣ (Gerber) over 3NT - which partner is unlikely to bid ; over a raise, start Q-bidding

87543J5432A65

W N E S

1NT 2♥ ?

♠♥

♦♣

7676543Q37652

♠♥

♦♣

K875Q76532865

♠♥

♦♣

KQ765AQ766452

♠♥

♦♣

AQ8AQ8Q765324

♠♥

♦♣

Test Questions 2bBOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE NORTH

6b 7b 8b 9b 10b

Bid 4♠ with Hand 6b. Partner should only go on with hearts controlled Bid 4♥ with Hand 7b. This gives partner a chance to look for slamBid 3NT with hand 8b. This should deny interest in a spade game. Bid 4♦with Hand 9b. Partner should only go on with ExtrasBid 4♠ with hand 10b. You likely have 2 heart losers, unless partner bids again.

KQ7665AK4KJ75

W N E S

1NT 2♥ 3 *♥

P ?

♠♥

♦♣

KQ76A6K74KJ75

♠♥

♦♣

K8A765KQ32KJ5

♠♥

♦♣

K8765AKJT2KJ5

♠♥

♦♣

A8484AQJ32KQJ

♠♥

♦♣

*Shows at least 4 spades, game-going values and no heart stopper

Test Question 3BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE SOUTH

11 12 13 14 15

Bid 3♥ with hand 11 Bid 2NT in hand 12, and 3♥ after partner’s 3 response♣

Bid 4♦ in hand 13 – Texas TransferBid 4♥* with hand 14 (to play - to protect the spade King)Bid 2NT with hand 15, and 3NT over the 3♣ response

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W N E S

1NT 2♠ ?

♠♥

♦♣

108KQJ54343252

♠♥

♦♣

JK76542432KQJ

♠♥

♦♣

K54AK876Q3652

♠♥

♦♣

AQ8A832632K32

* This can’t be Texas Transfer... Why?

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 4NS VULNERABLEYOU ARE SOUTH

16 17 18 19 20

Bid 3NT with hand 16 (showing one of their suits stopped)Bid 2NT with hand 17. Bid 3 over 3♦ ♣ (to play)Double with hand 18. It shows good defense against one of their suits – not diamonds, since the 2♦ bid is artificial. (all doubles at the 2-level – except 2♣ (artificial) are penalty-orientedBid 3♦ in hand 19 (this is natural and forcing, since the overcall was artificial)Bid 2♠ showing invitational diamonds, with hand 20 (2♥ would have shown clubs)

76KQ9AJ543652

W N E S

1NT 2♦* ?

♠♥

♦♣

108J54QJ5432J5

♠♥

♦♣

J3KQ654432KJ6

♠♥

♦♣

754AAQ8765654

♠♥

♦♣

J883QJ8632KJ2

*conventional - shows both majors

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 5BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE SOUTH

21 22 23 24 25

Bid 3 (Stayman) in 21 – no stopper in diamonds♦

Bid 2NT in 22. After 3♣, bid 3♦ - Stayman with a stopperPass with 23 – lead the ♠5Bid 2NT in 24; Over 3♣. Bid 3♠ (if opp’s get to 4♦, first, you’re on your own!) Bid 4♦ in 25 (Texas Transfer). This is a ‘Magic’ hand. Bid it with confidence, since the opponents ‘own’ the hand. Double 5♦ if they bid it (Rule of 9 – if partner has bid, add the contract level to the number of cards you hold in the suit, plus 1 for every honor in the suit. If it adds to 9 or more, double)

AQ65J543109K5

W N E S

1NT 2♦ ?

♠♥

♦♣

AQJ7J7653A3252

♠♥

♦♣

K875J76532865

♠♥

♦♣

KQ76528766452

♠♥

♦♣

3287654325432-

♠♥

♦♣