From henk@desy.de Sat Jan 11 00:38:32 CST 1997 Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge Subject: Re: Rubensohl Steve Rogers writes: >Can anybody provide, or give me a web link to, a writeup of the >Rubinsohl convention or other bids that extend Lebensohl by adding >a transfer mechanism. 1NT-2?- 2 of a suit: to play there. X : Penalty 2 NT..3H: Transfer to the next higher suit. 3 S : Asks for a stopper for NT, usually with a long minor, opener bids 3NT with and 4C without a stopper. 3 NT : To play 4 ? : Whatever you play right now. 1NT-2x-(2NT..3H): If responder transfers to a new suit (e.g. 1NT-2S-3D(=H)), then the bid shows 5+ in the suit and invitational or better values. Opener now accepts the transfer to reject the invitation (1NT-2S-3D-P, 3H) or bids something else (1NT-2S-3D-P, (3NT, 4H, ...) to accept it. If responder transfers to their suit (1NT-2S-3H (Xfer to S), the bid replaces Stayman. As responses, I usually use: 1NT-2H-3D-P, 3H : Not 4S or a H stopper 3S : 4S, no H stopper 3NT: H stopper but not 4S Over 1NT-2S-3H-P, the bids are 3S, 4H, 3NT 1NT-2D-3C-P, 3D: No D stopper 3H(S): D stopper, 4H(S), where 3S denies 4H. 3NT: D stopper but not 4H/S 1NT-2D-3C-P 3C-P- 3H(S): 4H(S), where 3S denies 4H. And the same structure over 1NT-2C-2NT > or other bids that extend Lebensohl by adding >a transfer mechanism. Kokish uses standard Lebensohl (in a weak NT framework), but has added: 1NT-2S-3D : Invitational or better with hearts 3H : Forcing with diamonds For Rubensohl, there is a variation where 2NT shows either a weak hand with a red suit OR invitational plus with clubs: 1NT-2S-2NT-P, 3C : Does not accept the invitation -P -P Clubs, inv 3D/H D/H, weak hand 3S.. Clubs, GF 1NT-2S-2NT-P 3D Accepts invitation -P -P/3H To play 3S.. Clubs. This allows you to play in 3 of a red suit without inviting game, something that isn't possible in standard Lebensohl. >Also, if you use this system, do your at the table experiences lead you >to think that it improves standard lebensohl? Yes, I've played it for >10 years and think that, playing strong NT's, this is an improvement. The main advantage comes whenever the 4th hand bids, like: 1NT - 2 H - 2 NT (Lebensohl) - 3/4H Now, opener has no idea where responder is going (sign-off in a minor, Stayman, Invitational with 5+S, ...) and thus cannot bid anything. Also, responder doesn't have a clue what opener has, so any bid by him is a guess. Playing Rubensohl, opener knows what responder is up to and can act accordingly. In a weak NT framework, I prefer Lebensohl as I like to keep the competitive bids of 3 in a suit. Henk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Henk Uijterwaal Email: henk@desy.de University of Oxford WWW: http://www-zeus.desy.de/~uijter/ DESY-F01 Phone: +49.40.89983133 Notkestrasse 85 Fax: +49.40.89983092 Hamburg, D22603, Germany Home: +49.40.3898954 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ %DCL-E-NOCFFE, unable to locate coffee - keyboard input suspended.