[mike777]

What methods do you prefer when you open or overcall with a strong NT and the opponents interfere?

Please be descriptive as possible when using terms such as Lebensohl, etc, thanks

[DavidKok]

Before honing in on any method, a brief mention of doubles: I play these for takeout by both seats. Opener is expected to double (in passout over second hand interference, and in direct seat over fourth seat interference) with a normal takeout double shape - doubleton in their suit, at least 4-3 in the unbid majors or a 4 card suit in the unbid major. This covers a lot of the hands that might wish to compete but have no 5 card suit to offer.

Supplementing this, there is a locally popular and fairly straightforward variation of Transfer Lebensohl. It works as follows:

• New suits at the 2-level are competitive only, weaker than invitational.
  
• 2NT is Lebensohl, I'll explain below.
  
• New suits at the 3-level are a transfer to the suit above, showing 5(+) cards and invitational(+) values. Opener accepts the transfer with a minimum in light of the auction thus far, and otherwise superaccepts (3NT with a maximum and no fit, a control bid or jump to game with a maximum and a fit).
  
• A transfer to their suit is game forcing Stayman without a stopper in their suit¹.
  
• 3♠ is choice of games between 3NT and 5♣.²
  
• 3NT is to play.

2NT contains all hands that want to compete to 3-of-a-suit-below-theirs (bid 2NT, after the forced 3♣, pass or bid the suit), as well as GF Stayman with a stop (rebid their suit) and, if there is room, 5(+)♣4M GF (rebid above their suit).

This transfer scheme allows us to invite, albeit at the 3-level, and show shape on hands in the ~8-9 hcp range that might otherwise be difficult to show. It also retains flexibility on the game forcing and competitive hands. The main downsides, in my opinion, are:

• The transfers sometimes give the opponents an extra bid.
  
• Unlike most other versions of -ohl, almost all stopper asking/showing bids have been removed. I am very happy with this, but some consider it a serious flaw.
  
• There is no invite in clubs - it's blast or stay low.
  
• There are multiple bids to show a 4cM, which could also possibly go through the negative double to save space and show other hand types instead.

¹Some people play transfers 'through their suit', so that the bid below their suit shows the strain above it, while the bid in their suit is this GF Stayman. E.g. 1NT-(2♥)-? and now 3♦ = spades, 3♥ = Stayman. This gives an extra step on the major suit but loses a step on the stopper-less Stayman, which I use for looking for half a stopper.
²Technically 2NT-then-3NT is also choice of games between 5♣ and 3NT, although clearly this latter route needs to be NF. One of the two can be removed, I haven't found any dire missing hand types. In the past I used 3♠ for 'GF three-suited with shortage in their suit, normally exactly 5m440 or 4441' but obviously it almost never came up.

[mikeh]

We play the transfer through their suit variant described by David


We also have different agreements about the 2 level, depending on the meaning of their bidding.

For example, against players using 2C as an unspecified single suit (a method popular on BBO and amongst some weak players) double makes sense as stayman. But if 2C shows the majors, double as stayman seems ill-advised. We play it as ‘cards’, suggesting some interest in penalizing them while promising ‘ownership of the hand’.

Also, if 2D shows a single suit major….a popular treatment….we play 2H as takeout of hearts, double as takeout of spades, 2S as nf with 5+ spades. We can also pass with some hands then play transfer lebensohl over their runout, but that risks creating a difficult situation should 4th seat pass….which I don’t think enough players do (especially at favourable and with long diamonds).

As for 3 level overcalls:

(3C). 3D is invite+ in hearts, 3H invite+ in spades, 3S gf in diamonds

(3D). 3H is invite+ in spades, 3S is gf in hearts


Over 2N, both minors, you have several choices. I like 3C invite both majors, 3D gf both majors, 3M to play but opener can raise with a very good hand in context and texas transfers apply.

[mw64ahw]

This is a broad question and I have played/attempted to play a variety of methods, but this article covers some of the options The Lebensohl Family. Another approach worth considering is Lebensohl, an optimized approach

At the moment with one partner I am trying out a transfer based version using 2N to show the other 4-card Major, as per the 2nd article, so that after:
1N-(2M)-2N-(P)-3♣
..3M 4oM no oM guard
..3N 4oM M guard
with the corollary being that
.. 3M no M guard, denies 4oM
.. 3N M guard, denies 4oM

The other tweak I have made is to use the X to show specific shapes/strength rather than as a general takeout. This enables me to show 3 strengths of minor suit, caters for an invitational 4oM, GF 4oM5♣ etc.

Then there is the issue of how to play artificial openings, for example when 2♣ is a Landy type both Majors
X interest in defending 2♠ X
2♦ both minors
2♥ GF 6♣
2♠ GF 6♦
2N 'lebensohl'
.. Pass to play
.. 3♦ 6♦
.. 3♥ guard
.. 3♠ guard
.. 3N guards
3♣ GI 6♣
3♦ GI 6♦
3♥ GF splinter
3♠ GF splinter
3N denies Major suit guards

[pescetom]

We play Rubensohl, which is simple and I think sufficient at Intermediate level.
Basically the same scheme described by Davidkok, doubles included, but 2NT is just another transfer to the suit above: so we gain the possibility to show INV+ clubs but lose the ability to just compete at 3 level (unless willing to risk a superaccept).

[mike777]

Ty all, very informative and helpful.
I am going to print out these posts and hope to add these to system, over the next months.

Again thanks