The basic principle behind the Lebensohl convention is to use a 2NT bid as an artificial relay, asking partner to bid 3♣️. This can be applied in numerous auctions. Lebensohl is most frequently applied, when partner’s 1NT opening is overcalled by RHO.
Unbalanced weak: ♠️J2 ❤️973 ♦️53 ♣️KJ10943
1NT - 2♠️ - 2NT - Pass
3♣️ - Pass - Pass
If your suit was diamonds or hearts, then you would bid your suit over
3♣️ and partner would be expected to pass.
Unbalanced forcing: ♠️7 ❤️AQ86 ♦️85 ♣️QJ8654
1NT - 2♠️ - 3♣️
If partner advances with 3♦️ then you will be able to bid a natural and
forcing 3❤️. If partner happens to bid hearts over 3♣️, you can raise to
game. If partner bids 3NT then you can Pass.
Unbalanced slam try: ♠️A6 ❤️K72 ♦️Q104 ♣️AQ763
1NT - 2♠️ - 3♣️
Start with a forcing 3♣️. Plan on looking for a slam. 5♣️, 6♣️ and
either game or slam in notrumps are all possible contracts.
If partner bids 3NT over 3♣️, you can make a quantitative raise to
4NT.
If partner bids a red suit, you can continue with a 3♠️ cue-bid, asking
for a spade stopper for notrumps. If he shows one by bidding 3NT, again
you can raise to 4NT. If he does not, you can still investigate slam in
clubs.
These sequences cover all ranges of unbalanced hands, from those that
just wish to compete the partscore, through those seeking the best game
contract, all the way up to hands wanting to investigate slam.
Invitational hand
1NT - 2❤️ - 2NT - Pass
3♣️ - Pass - 3♠️
If you wanted just to compete the partscore, you would have bid 2♠️ at
your first turn. If you wanted to force to game, you would have jumped
to 3♠️ immediately over 2❤️. This sequence, shows an invitational hand,
usually with a six-card spade suit. Partner either passes or raises to
game.
Four spades and no heart stop
1NT - 2❤️ - 3❤️
Cue-bidding the opponent’s suit promises four cards in the unbid major
(or in at least one major if the opponent’s suit is a minor). Bidding
directly denies a stopper in the opponent’s suit.
Four spades and a stop in hearts
1NT - 2❤️ - 2NT - Pass
3♣️ - Pass - 3❤️
Cue-bidding the opponent’s suit promises four cards in the unbid major
(or in at least one major in the opponent’s suit is a minor). Starting
with the Lebensohl 2NT shows a stopper in the opponent’s suit. “Slow
Shows” is the way to remember.
Fewer than four spades and no heart stop
1NT - 2❤️ - 3NT
Bidding 3NT denies four cards in the unbid major (or in either major if
the opponent’s suit is a minor). Bidding directly denies a stopper in
the opponent’s suit.
Fewer than four spades and a stop in hearts
1NT - 2❤️ - 2NT - Pass
3♣️ - Pass - 3NT
Bidding 3NT denies four cards in the unbid major (or in either major in
the opponent’s suit is a minor). Starting with the Lebensohl 2NT and
then bidding 3NT shows a stopper in the opponent’s suit (“Slow
Shows”).
RHO intervenes with a 2♦️, showing a one-suited overcall in an
unspecified major.
You can still bid 2❤️ or 2♠️, natural and non-invitational. Any suit bid
at the three-level, whether a jump or not, is natural and
game-forcing.
If you want to compete in either minor, you start with the 2NT Lebensohl
relay and either pass partner’s forced 3♣️ response or convert to 3♦️
(non-invitational). With a balanced hand and a four-card major, use
Double as Stayman. Opener bids 2NT without a four-card major.
RHO will often overcall with a bid showing both majors, perhaps Two Clubs (Landy) or Two Diamonds (Cappelletti). After such a bid, the best strategy is probably to give up trying to find a major-suit fit. Even if you find a 4-4 fit, you know that trumps are going to break at best 4-1, and perhaps 5-0.
1NT - 2♣️(majors) - ?
You can still bid 2♦️, natural and non-invitational.
You can also show a hand that wants to compete in clubs (2NT intending
to pass partner’s forced 3♣️), or a game-forcing hand with one minor via
a natural three-level bid in either suit.
Starting with 2NT and then bidding 3♦️ over opener’s 3 is
invitational.
1NT - 2♣️(majors) - 2❤️/2♠️
What do various bids in the majors mean? There is no standard method. A
workable method, is to use 2❤️/2♠️ to show a hand with both minors. 2❤️
shows better clubs, 2♠️ shows better diamonds. Partner should just pick
his best minor.
If you have game-going (or stronger) values, you will bid again after
partner has given preference. You might advance by bidding a major where
you hold a stop, to give partner a choice of bidding 3NT:
1NT - 2♣️ - 2❤️ - Pass
3♣️ - Pass - 3❤️ - Pass
3NT
In this auction your hand is known to be balanced (ie no singletons),
which may help partner to choose between 3NT and a minor-suit
game.
1NT - 2♣️(majors) - 3❤️
With both minors, game-forcing values and a major-suit shortage, you
start with a splinter-bid on your first turn. It may show a hand such
as: ♠️K73 ❤️5 ♦️AQ84 ♣️K9643.
1NT - 2♣️(majors) - Dbl
This usually shows a hand with no direction but with enough values to
know the hand belongs to our side. For example: ♠️KJ83 ❤️J5 ♦️AJ4
♣️Q943.
Sources:
25 Bridge Conventions You Should
Know by Barbara Seagram, Marc Smith and David Bird
Lebensohl
After a 1NT Opening Bid by Marc Smith
Series of articles by Vic
Quiros published in Bridge Bulletin 12/23, 1/24, and 2/24