Previous Tip – Lebensohl Over Opponents Weak Two Bid

North East South You
2D/2H/2S Dbl Pass ???

This is a familiar situation that comes up frequently. It is easy enough to handle if your side has game points. The other hands need a way of being clarified. This is where Lebensohl over weak 2’s comes in. What you give up is the ability to bid 2NT showing the weak 2 suit is stopped and about 8 to 10 points.
As normal, bid game if it’s there and use Lebensohl to explore for the possibility of game or to try to bail out.

For the 0-7 point hands, you can bid at the two level if the weak 2 bidder has left you room.
North East South You
2H Dbl Pass ???
You could bid 2S with the following hands to the right.
North East South You
♠Jxxx ♥xxx ♦xxx ♣xxx
♠QJxx ♥Kxx ♦Jx ♣xxx

The doubler would need a very good hand to do anything but pass.

With a bad hand and no room to bid at the 2 level, you bid 2NT which partner alerts and says you are asking him/her to bid 3C and warns the opposition that you may pass it or bid a new suit promising 0-7 points and a 4+ card suit.
North East South You
2S Dbl Pass 2NT
Pass 3C Pass ??

You could now bid the following with the given hands:

Bid Hand
Pass ♠xx  ♥xx  ♦Kxxx  ♣xxxxx
3D ♠xx  ♥xx  ♦KJxxx  ♣Qxxx
3H ♠x  ♥Jxxxxx  ♦Qxxx  ♣xx

The Invitational 8-11 Point Hand

If your longest suit can be bid at the 2 level, you must bid 2NT instead and then over your pards expected 3C  you now bid that suit. I’ve chosen Weak 2 heart bid again, but the same would be true for I’ve a weak 2D bid. In this case you are showing 4+ spades and 8-11 ponts. Partner will pass with a very minimal hand or bid game with better hands. If your longest suit is a denomination below the weak 2 bid then a direct bid of the suit, as in the example below, shows the invitational hand and 4+ cards in that suit. This bid is not forcing but if doubler bids again your off to the races.

North East South You
2H Dbl P 2NT
P 3C P 3S(8-114+Spades)
 
North East South You
2H Dbl P 3C/3D (8-11 PTs 4+ Cards)

The Forcing 12+ Hand

Your bids in the examples below are all of 12+ point hand variety. The jump bids are all natural. If you’re balanced, you may want to look for a NT game. In the the second example, you use lebensohl 2NT and if P bids 3C as requested you bid 3NT which shows a stopper.
If you are interested 3NT and you don’t have a stopper you bid 3NT directly over the double. This asks P to pass if he/she has a stopper has a stopper or to choose another game knowing that you have a balanced hand and no 4 card major. Remember fast denies. That phrase will stand you in good stead if you decide to learn lebensohl over interference of your Pards 1NT bid.

North East South You
2D Dbl P 3H/3S/4C(12+)
 
North East South You
2D Dbl P 2NT
P 3C P 3NT (I have a stopper)
 
North East South You
2D Dbl P 3NT (No Stopper)

Consider This

Whenever you try to use the lebensohl 2NT, and your partner, the doubler, refuses to bid 3C he/she is saying game is still possible even if you have bad hand. They likely have 18+ points and maybe even a 2C opener and are forcing you to bid for at least another round.

If you are interested, here are all the previous Tips of the Week

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