This Week in Bridge
(548) Lebensohl Variations – Transfer, Modern, and Modern Transfer
©AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 9, 10 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
The traditional Lebensohl convention (or even Transfer Lebensohl) has some flaws that modern expert players have attempted to address. One of these flaws has to do with jumping to 3NT to deny a stopper – “Fast Denies.” This method is reasonable in that it shows values, a relatively balanced hand, no interest in a Major suit, and no stopper in the opponent’s suit. This says a lot about Responder’s hand, but it also eats up all of our bidding space and can make it difficult to determine where to play. Another flaw with traditional Lebensohl occurs when the Advancer gets into the auction and raises their partner’s overcall. If Responder has bid 2NT and Advancer raises to the 3-level then it may become difficult for Responder to show their hand. Modern expert players have come up with a slightly better way to deal with this situation. Let’s start by reviewing Transfer Lebensohl and then we will see Let’s see how Modern Lebensohl and Modern Transfer Lebensohl work!
TRANSFER LEBENSOHL - What is Unchanged?
Let’s first talk about what aspects of Lebensohl are unchanged as we upgrade to Transfer Lebensohl:
We ignore interference of X and 2♣ and we adopt Transfer Lebensohl vs. 2♦-2♠ interference.
2-level bids are natural and competitive.
2NT is still a relay to 3♣ to show various hands at the 3-level; often competitive in a suit that we could not show at the 2-level.
The cuebid is still the cuebid. A direct cuebid of the opponent’s suit is Stayman without a stopper. A delayed cuebid (going through the 2NT relay and then cuebidding the opponent’s suit) is Stayman with a stopper.
The meaning of X is also unchanged. It is generally “card-showing” and describes a hand which has enough values to take some action, but is not sure what other action to take. Usually this will be a balanced invitational hand with or without a 4-card Major.
Note: Vs. 3L Interference we play negative doubles and natural bidding. This is not part of our Lebensohl system.
TRANSFER LEBENSOHL - What is Changed?
The parts of Transfer Lebensohl that are different from standard Lebensohl are the 3-level bids. We define these 3-level bids as Transfers (showing a 5+ card suit) with invitational or better values (8+ points opposite a 15-17 NT Opener.)
Responder’s bid shows the suit just above what they bid, skipping the suit the opponent bid.
Ex. If the opponent interferes with 2♥, then 3♦ is an invitational+ transfer to ♠.
TRANSFER LEBENSOHL - Issues that Still Exist
Though Transfer Lebensohl is an improvement over standard Lebensohl, it does not solve all of our bidding problems. One of the major problems that still exists in Transfer Lebensohl relates to the ♣ suit. Since we are still using 2NT as a relay to 3♣ to show various hand types, we do not have a way to make an invitational+ transfer to ♣ at the 3-level. Thus, when we have an invitational hand with a long ♣ suit we have no way to show this hand type. We must choose whether to treat this as a competitive or a game forcing hand.
Example 1
1NT 2♦ __?
X Card-showing double
2♥ Natural, usually 5+ card, competitive
2♠ Natural, usually 5+ card, competitive
2NT* Relay to 3♣ (same as Lebensohl)
3♣* 8+ points, 5+card ♥
3♦* 10+ points, Stayman w/o a ♦ stopper (same as Lebensohl)
3♥* 8+ points, 5+ card ♠
3♠* 10+ points, 5+card ♣ (game forcing transfer)
3NT* 10-15 points, w/o a ♦ stopper (same as Lebensohl)
4♣ Gerber (same as Lebensohl)
4♦* Texas Transfer (same as Lebensohl)
4♥* Texas Transfer (same as Lebensohl)
Note: A transfer to ♣ takes us past 3♣ and thus is game-forcing.
TRANSFER LEBENSOHL - Opener’s Rebid
When the Responder shows invitational+ values by making a Transfer Lebensohl bid, the Opener’s first responsibility is to show a minimum or maximum. With all minimum hands that are declining the invitation, Opener completes the transfer. This is true whether Opener has only 2-card support or a larger fit. With a hand that is going to accept the invite, Opener makes any other call. All these bids create a game-forcing auction.
Here are some of Opener’s options:
After a Major Suit Transfer
4-Major Maximum and a fit for Responder’s Major.
3NT Maximum, doubleton in Responder’s Major and stopper in opponent’s suit.
Cuebid Maximum, doubleton in Responder’s Major and no stopper in opponent’s suit.
New Suit Maximum, doubleton in Responder’s Major and 5-card suit.
After a Minor Suit Transfer
3NT Maximum, doubleton in Responder’s Minor and stopper in opponent’s suit.
Cuebid Maximum, doubleton in Responder’s Minor and no stopper in opponent’s suit.
New Suit Maximum, doubleton in Responder’s Major and 5-card suit.
MODERN LEBENSOHL (Modern Transfer Lebensohl)
The modern version of Lebensohl is used when the opponents overcall 2♥ or 2♠ after our 1NT opening bid.
Here is a brief outline of how Modern Lebensohl (and Transfer Lebensohl) works:
The bids at the 3-level of new suits are unchanged (still natural or Transfers).
3NT is natural and to play – showing a stopper.
Cuebid is a Western Cuebid – asking for a stopper.
The 2NT relay is used to show 4 cards in the other Major instead of a stopper.
o 2NT relay then Cuebid is 4 cards in other Major and no stopper in their Major.
o 2NT relay then 3NT is 4 cards in other Major and stopper in their Major.
The key component of this system is that cuebids and 3NT are natural-sounding. Using the 2NT relay and then making either of these bids shows the same thing but also shows 4-cards in the other Major suit.
Example 2 – Regular Modern Lebensohl
1NT 2♥ __?
2♠ Natural, 5+card ♠, To play
2NT* Relay to 3♣*
3♣ 5+♣, Game Forcing values (Natural)
3♦ 5+♦, Game Forcing values (Natural)
3♥* Game Forcing Values, no ♥ stopper, not 4-card ♠ (Western Cuebid Style)
3♠ 5+♠, Game Forcing values (Natural)
3NT Game Forcing Values, ♥ stopper (Natural)
Example 3 - Regular Modern Lebensohl
1NT 2♥ 2NT* P
3♣* P __?
Pass To play, Long ♣ and a weak hand
3♦ To play, Long ♦ and a weak hand
3♥* Game Forcing values, 4-card ♠, no ♥ stopper
3♠ Invitational values, 5+card ♠
3NT* Game Forcing values, 4-card ♠, ♥ stopper
Bidding After Advancer Extends Preempt
One of the places where this new method can be helpful is after Advancer gets involved in the auction.
Example 4
1NT 2♥ 2NT* 3♥
P P __?
In this auction, especially playing Modern Transfer Lebensohl, no hand with values starts with 2NT unless it is relatively balanced. With a 5+card suit and values Responder bids directly at the 3-level. Let’s now look at how this helps in this auction.
When the auction comes back around to partner at 3♥, then the hands where Responder has enough values to act are generally:
A hand with a 4-card ♠ suit and ♥ stopper (planning to rebid 3NT before Advancer acted).
A hand with a 4-card ♠ suit and no ♥ stopper (planning to rebid 3♥ before Advancer acted).
Now, when Responder acts in this position they must have 4 cards in the other Major, ♠. This is true whether Responder doubles or bids 3NT. 3NT clearly must have a stopper in the opponent’s suit, while double is generally takeout, showing 4-card ♠ and no stopper in the opponent’s suit. At this point Opener is well placed to determine what to do.
No Modern Lebensohl Against 2♦ Preempts
This new method is effective when the opponents have shown length in one Major but not when they have shown ♦ because the relay is used to show 4 cards in the other Major suit. If we try to use this method after a 2♦ overcall, then it will not be clear which Major Responder is showing and the auction will be too high to explore for a fit. This method is not effective against 2♦ interference and thus we continue using traditional Lebensohl (or Transfer Lebensohl) in these situations.
Modern Lebensohl Against 2-Level Preempts
When applying Lebensohl after a 2♥ or 2♠ preempt by the opponent and then a takeout double from partner, this Modern Lebensohl system makes a lot more sense than traditional Lebensohl.
Example 5
2♠ X P __?
3♠ Game Forcing values, no ♠ stopper, no 4-card ♥ suit (Western Q)
3NT Game Forcing values, ♠ stopper, no 4-card ♥ suit
2NT* relay to 3♣*, then 3♠ GF values, no ♠ stopper, 4-card ♥ suit
2NT* relay to 3♣*, then 3NT GF values, ♠ stopper, 4-card ♥ suit
Conclusion
By changing the meaning of Lebensohl responses so that 3NT is natural and a cuebid is more like a Western Cuebid, asking for a stopper, then Responder’s bidding is more practical and effective (like jumping to 3NT when you know that is where you want to play). Using 2NT to start showing the hands that have 4 cards in the other Major allows Responder to be well placed in many other auctions that become more competitive. If you are looking for an upgrade to your competitive bidding systems, give this approach a try.