Source: kwbridge.com 
This popular convention is used after partner opens 1NT and your RHO overcalls a suit. If you bid 2NT in this position, it’s Lebensohl, which asks opener to bid 3. You can then describe one of several different types of responding hands:
- A weak signoff with a long suit that’s lower in rank than the overcalled suit
- Invitational values with a long suit that’s higher in rank than the overcalled suit
- Game values with a 4-card major and a stopper in their suit
- Game values with a 4-card major and no stopper in their suit
- Game values with no major and a stopper in their suit
- Game values with no major and no stopper in their suit
When you play Lebensohl, you give up the use of 2NT as a natural notrump invitation. This is not much of a sacrifice, as when you hold this type of hand — 8-9 pts. and a stopper in their suit — you can, and usually should, show it with a penalty double.
If you’ve agreed to use the Lebensohl 2NT, here are the meanings of your bids as responder after:
| Partner | RHO | You |
| 1NT | 2 |
? |
Double = Penalty
2 = Signoff, showing a 5+-card suit and no interest in game (fewer than 7-8 pts., assuming a 15-17 notrump range)
2NT = Lebensohl convention (relays partner to 3)
3, 3, 3 = Forcing, showing a 5+-card suit and game values (8-9+ pts.). This is «standard» Lebensohl. A more useful treatment is to play non-jump bids in minors as constructive and invitational, but not forcing.
3 (cuebid of their suit) = Stayman (promising 4 cards in the other major) with game values and no stopper in their suit.
3NT = Game values, no 4-card spade suit, no stopper in their suit.
4/4 = Texas transfer, 6+-card suit with game values.
Memory aids:
The slow auction (bidding 2NT first, then rebidding 3NT or cuebidding their suit) shows a stopper.
Pnemonics: «Slow shows» or SAGS («Slow Auction Guarantees Stopper»)
The direct (fast) auction (an immediate cuebid or jump to 3NT) denies a stopper.
Pnemonics: «Direct denies» or DADS («Direct Auction Denies Stopper»).
Responder’s rebids
If your first bid was 2NT, partner (the 1NT opener) will bid 3. You can then bid:
Pass = 5+ clubs, no interest in game.
3
3
3
3NT = Game values, no 4-card major, with a stopper in their suit
If your first bid denied a stopper (direct cuebid or jump to 3NT):
Over your cuebid (Stayman), opener will bid a 4-card major if he has one. If he has no 4-card major but does have a stopper in their suit, he’ll bid 3NT. With no 4-card major and no stopper, he’ll run to his cheapest 4+-card suit. You can then pass, raise to game or bid your cheapest 4+-card suit if you don’t have a fit for the suit partner bid.
Over your jump to 3NT, opener will pass if he has a stopper. If he does not have a stopper, he’ll bid 4 of his cheapest 4+-card suit (as above).
- Summary: Showing long suits
- If you have a 5+-card major that’s higher in rank than the overcall (RHO bids 2 and you have spades), you can show three different hand strengths:
- Signoff (weak but competitive) — Bid your suit at the 2-level (1NT – [2] – 2 or 2)
- Invitational — Go through Lebensohl (1NT- [2] – 2NT – 3 – 3)
- Forcing — Jump directly to 3 of your suit (1NT – [2] – 3 or 3)
- If you have a 5+-card minor that’s lower in rank than the overcall, you can show three different strengths:
- Signoff — Go through Lebensohl (1NT – [2] – 2NT – 3 – Pass or 3)
- Invitational — Bid 3 of your suit (1NT – [2] – 3 or 3). This is constructive but not forcing. It neither shows nor denies a stopper.
- Forcing — Treat it as a notrump hand. Go through Lebensohl to show a stopper (1NT – [2] – 2NT – 3 – 3NT) or jump directly to 3NT to deny a stopper (1NT – [2] – 3NT).
- If you have a 5+-card major that’s lower in rank than the overcall (RHO bids 2 and you have hearts), there is no invitational sequence available. With borderline hands, you’ll have to decide whether you want to force to game (bid a direct 3) or sign off at the 3-level (go through Lebensohl — 1NT-2–2NT-3–3). The signoff sequence tends to show values, though, so partner is allowed to raise to 4 if he has a maximum and a good heart fit.
Lebensohl after a 2 overcall
Lebensohl is most valuable over the opponent’s overcall of 2, 2 or 2. If your RHO bids a natural 2, Lebensohl offers you no way to ask for a 4-card major and show or deny a stopper. After 1NT – [2] – 2NT, partner’s 3 bid takes away your 3-level cuebid, so there’s not much point in using Lebensohl when you hold a 4-card major.
One solution is to give up the penalty double of 2 and play double as Stayman, with all other bids «system on». If you have a game-forcing hand, you can use two forms of Stayman to show or deny stoppers:
Game values, 4-card major, with a club stopper — Double, then 3NT (1NT – [2
Game values, 4-card major, no stopper — Direct cuebid (1NT – [2
If you have invitational values with a 4-card major, it’s more difficult to show or deny stoppers because you cannot afford to go past 2NT. Here’s a set of agreements that can be useful in some auctions:
Invitational, one or both 4-card majors, with a stopper = Double, then 2NT if partner does not bid your suit.
Invitational, 4 spades, no stopper = Double, then bid 2
Invitational, 4 hearts or both majors, no stopper = Double, then bid 2
Note: If partner responds 2
After a 2 overcall, responder can still use Lebensohl sequences to describe hands without 4-card majors:
Game values, no major, with a stopper — Lebensohl, then 3NT (1NT – [2
Game values, no major, no stopper — Bid a direct 3NT.
Game values, 5+-card suit — Jump to 3 of your suit.
Invitational hand with a 5+-card suit — Lebensohl, then bid your suit (1NT – [2
You can also use Lebensohl treatments after RHO makes an artificial or two-suited overcall. If RHO makes a bid that shows:
Two known suits: Your Lebensohl stopper auction revolves around his known suit. For example, if the overcall is a Cappelletti 2 (hearts and a minor), treat it as a «regular» 2H overcall. Your stopper-showing and stopper-denying auctions will focus on hearts.
Two specific suits: You can still use the Lebensohl 2NT to sign off at the 3-level, but the 3-level stopper-showing sequences do not apply. If you have game values, use bids of RHO’s suits to identify stoppers. For example, if the overcall showed both majors (Landy 2 or DONT 2), you can bid 2 to show a heart stopper. 2 would show a spade stopper but no heart stopper. 3NT promises stoppers in both suits. If you have a penalty-oriented hand, you can double.
An unspecified one-suiter (artificial double): Redouble is penalty, showing invitational-or-better values and an interest in doubling their runout suit. All other bids are «system on» — 2 is Stayman, 2 and 2 are transfers, etc.
An unspecified one-suiter (2): Double is Stayman. All other bids are «system on».