Lebensohl over Reverses

Some of the most difficult and awkward of all bridge auctions are those after a reverse.  A reverse is opener’s 2-level rebid in a higher-ranking suit than his opened suit (1§ -1ª -2¨ or 2© ). A reverse always shows extra values and at least 5-4 distribution in the two suits.  The first suit is always longer than the second suit.

A reverse is forcing for one round, but it may be made with as few as 16-17 pts., so it does not promise forcing-to-game values.  Stopping below game, though, can sometimes be a problem.  Because the reverse uses up so much bidding space, it can often propel the auction into an unmakeable game when both responder and opener have minimums.

To solve this problem, many partnerships have adopted a convention called Lebensohl over Reverses.  After opener’s reverse, responder uses a 2NT rebid to show a weak hand (5-7 pts.) that wants to stop in a 3-level partscore if opener has minimum reverses values. Here’s how it works:

Responder’s use of 2NT Lebensohl

Lebensohl 2NT is used at your second bid after opener makes a reverse to the 2-level (1§ -1ª -2© ).  In this situation, 2NT by you usually shows weakness (5-7 pts.) and is a relay bid, asking partner to rebid 3§ if he has a minimum.  After this auction you have two ways to show weakness:

Pass  =  In this auction, clubs is the unbid suit, so you would pass the relay to 3§ only if you had a 6+-card suit and no support for either of partner’s suits – Qxxx, Jx, x, QJTxxx.  If partner’s first suit was clubs, a pass here would show a weak hand with a preference for clubs –
KJxxx, xx, QJx, xxx.

3 of one of partner’s suits (3¨ or 3© )  =  a preference to play in a partscore in that suit.  A retreat to 3¨ would be made with a hand like – JTxx, Kx, Jxx, Qxxx.  You would bid 3© with QJxxx, xxxx, xx, Kx or even Kxxx, QTx, x, Jxxx.

3 of your suit (3ª )  =  a preference to play in a partscore.  A hand like – KQTxxx, xx, x, Jxxx

Since the Lebensohl 2NT is used to show a weak response, bidding directly at the 3-level is positive and game forcing.

Note that if opener refuses your relay and bids past 3§ , he’s showing significant extra strength.  You must keep bidding to game level, no matter how weak you are.
 

Opener’s rebid after 2NT

If responder bids 2NT over your reverse, it’s the Lebensohl convention, which asks you to bid 3§.  You should accept the relay and bid 3§ if you have minimum values (16-18 pts.).  However, with stronger hands, those where you want to be in game even if partner has a bare 5-7 pts., you can refuse the relay and bid past 3§ .

After the auction: 1¨ /1ª /2© /2NT

3¨  =  Extra length in diamonds, probably with extreme shortness in clubs. You can use this bid to show a hand that has extra playing strength, but not necessarily a powerful high-card-point holding.   Jx, AKTx, AKJTxxx, void

3 or your second suit  =  Extra length in your second suit.  A reverse promises greater length in your first suit, so a rebid of your second suit here shows 5 hearts and 6 diamonds. X, KQTxx, AKQxxx, A

3 of partner’s suit  =  3-card support.  It’s advisable to stretch somewhat if you have secondary support for partner’s major, so you may refuse the relay here with a good 17-18 pts.  QJx, AKxx, AKxxx, x

3NT  =  Strong hand with at least one good stopper in the unbid suit.  Q, AJTx, KQJTx, AQx

Copyright © 2005 by Candy Griffey