Conventions: Better Minor Lebensohl

Source: www.abf.com.au/newsletters by Paul Lavings     

Lebensohl works brilliantly in sequences such as 1NT (2) 2NT, but in the second of the two Lebensohl situations, (2) Dbl (Pass) 2NT, many partnerships are reviewing the way they play 2NT. Traditionally 2NT says bid 3, and pass my next bid, showing less than 7 HCP. On the other hand, if responder bypasses 2NT and bids a suit, (2) Dbl (Pass) 3, then 3 shows a better hand, 7-11 HCP.

This is the sort of thing that happened under this scheme:

East’s 2NT asked partner to bid 3 East, quite reasonably, guesses to pass 3. However 3 will most likely fail, while 3, with eight combined trumps, is most likely a make. I have even seen a few 4-2 fits played using this method.

Germ warfare at the bridge table is on the increase, and weak twos showing exactly a five-card suit are growing in popularity. And why not: look at the problems they give opponents? It’s clearly important to play the method that copes well with the most frequent situation. The solution is to use 2NT to look for the best fit, rather than show strength. In Better Minor Lebensohl (BML) opener bids the better minor over 2NT, rather than an automatic 3. On the hand above, the final contract would be the winning 3. If responder bids a suit at the three level over the takeout double, (2) Dbl (Pass) 3, that shows at least a five card suit. You bid less games perhaps, but you play more often in the correct partscore.

Try these quizzes on the finer points of BML:

1). 2NT. This is the typical good hand for BML, where you will fi nd your minor suit fit. The only problem is that you have a lot of points, and may occasionally miss a game.

2). 3. Showing at least a five-card suit, nbso online casino reviews so you will be in at least a 5-3 fi t.

3). 3. You have to assume when partner doubles 2, they have four hearts. If you were playing IMPs, you could bid 2NT (BML), to make sure you reached your best fit, but at matchpoints you can’t afford to be in a 4-4 club fit when you also have a 4-4 heart fit.

4). Pass. You don’t have the choice of bidding 2NT natural, so it is pass, or 3NT. Pass looks a standout. You have four sure tricks, and it is not too much to expect partner to have at least two. Vulnerable versus not, the gamblers among us would try 3NT, but with your flattish hand, tricks in notrump may be hard to come by. It looks a typical hand, where you don’t make a game, but opponents fail by two or three tricks

5). 2NT. On the basis that if you have four hearts you will bid 3 at once, why do you bid 2NT and then 3 later? Must be an invitation, around 8-11 HCP.

1). 3. Easy, simply respond with your better minor. If responder continues with 3 this is now invitational, so you will continue on to 4.

2). 3. You have a big hand, so take the risk partner isn’t broke, and head for game.

3). 3NT. It may be very wrong, but you don’t have much choice but to gamble out 3NT