ACBL03C – Bidding: Lebensohl 2 Notrump         Ward Trumbull

              Used over Opponent’s Weak 2 Bids                  Aug 18, 2009

                                                                                                                  Page 1 of 3

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

      You pick up the 17 HCP heart hand shown below, and then your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) opens 2 spades.  

                           S....7

                           H....A K J 9 7 5

                           D....K Q 3

                           C....K J 6

      You have three options:

             1. Overcall 4 hearts and pray

             2. Overcall 3 hearts and hope partner takes you to 4

             3. Double with 12+ HCP and find out what partner has

      Option 3 is the correct bid.

      Suppose you double, and partner bids 3 clubs.  How many HCP does your partner have?  You don’t know.  It could be none.

So now you’re left with options 1 or 2.

      NOTE: Remember your partner must bid in response to your

                  takeout double.

The SOLUTION.....(Must be alerted)

      By using the Lebensohl 2 Notrump convention, the responder to the double will not bid at the 3-level without 8+ HCP.  With that understanding, the 3 club bid above would guarantee the 8+ HCP, and you could then bid the 4 hearts yourself.

             ACBL03C – Bidding: Lebensohl 2 Notrump       Aug 18, 2009

                                                                                         Page 2 of 3

The Solution (continued)

      The responder options using the  Lebensohl 2 Notrump convention are:

             1. You can bid a higher ranking suit at the two level, i.e.

                         a. 2 hearts/spades over a weak 2 diamonds, or

                         b. 2 spades over a weak 2 hearts.

                 These bids show 4+ cards in the bid major, but say nothing

                 about HCP.

               Note: Do not skip to the three level to bid that suit.

                 This bid does not need to be alerted.

             2. Bid a suit at the 3-level without skipping.  These bids show 4+

                 cards in the suit and 8+ HCP.

                 This bid must be alerted.  The explanation is:

                             “My partner has 8+ HCP.”

             3. Bid 2 notrump (Lebensohl 2 Notrump).  This bid is made to

                 indicate you couldn’t bid a suit at the 2-level and don’t have 8+

                 HCP to bid at the 3-level.

               Note 1: It does not indicate that you have a stopper in

                            the opponent’s suit.

                 Note 2: The Lebensohl 2 Notrump bid must be alerted.  The

                               explanation is:

                          “My partner does not have 8+ HCP and may not

                           have a stopper in your suit.”

            ACBL03C – Bidding: Lebensohl 2 Notrump        Aug 18, 2009

                                                                                         Page 3 of 3

The Solution  

             3. Bid 2 notrump (continued)

               The doubler has three options:   

                      a. Extended Lebensohl

                          Bid 3 clubs.  Then the 2 notrump responder can pass (if

                          he/she has length in clubs) or bid another 4+ card suit.

                          The doubler can wing it from there.

                      b. With stoppers in the weak 2 suit, the doubler can pass or

                           bid 3 notrump.

                      c. The doubling partner can then bid his hand at the 3 or 4

                          level.

Problems, Problems, Problems

      What does your team do if the partner of the weak 2 bidder raises that suit to the 3 level after the double?     

Solutions, Solutions, Solutions

      The responder to the double has these options:

             1. Pass with less than 8 HCP.

             2. Double with 8+ HCP but no 4+ card major to bid.

             3. Bid a 4+ card major with 8+ points

             4. Bid 3 notrump with 8+ HCP and a double stopper in their suit.