Monday, June 19, 2006 7:34 AM
 
Hand Evaluation – Ststemic ( Lebensohl )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Everybody knows the standard treatments with Lebensohl after a weak two. Here are some more advanced applications of the Lebensohl relay which  I like to play over weak 2’s. Lebensohl is normally used to show weak hands but the convention can also be used to show strong or invitational hands or two suited hands. Using the Lebensohl 2NT relay & bidding again can be assigned meanings. Using Lebensohl initially &  Q bidding is a fancy way to show the other 4 card major with a game forcing hand. The concept is not unlike “breaking the relay” but by the person making the relay in the first place !! Bidding Lebensohl first & subsequently bidding your major shows an invitational hand with a 4 card major. Bidding Lebensohl first & subsequently using the 4 level describes two suiters.

Specialized uses of Lebensohl

Lebensohl can be a beneficial addition to your system if limited to the standard treatments . If you want to adopt some more advanced uses of the convention, you can add special sequences to distinguish between different types of forcing and invitational hands. Here's one approach, which you can simplify or expand to meet your preferences:

Invitational auctions

Game auctions

 

Choice-of-game auctions

Lebensohl can help you improve your bidding accuracy when you have a good hand, but only 4 cards in the other major. Since the takeout doubler may have only 3-card support for your suit, it's helpful to give him specific information about your length in the other major & your stoppers in the opponent's suit. To do this, start with the Lebensohl 2NT (ostensibly showing a weak hand), then follow with a cuebid or 3NT:

 

   LHO   Partner  RHO    You
   2     DBL     Pass   2NT
   Pass   3♣      Pass   3 or 3NT

Both these auctions show forcing-to-game strength & gives partner the choice of playing your suit or notrump. Used after a weak 2 opener also with 4’s.

One-suited slam try

Two-suited slam tries

Lebensohl can also be used to show a two-suited hand with slam-try (or better) values. To do this, you start with 2NT, then bid a new suit at the 4-level:

 

  LHO    Partner   RHO   You
  2      DBL     Pass   2NT
  Pass    3♣      Pass    ?