Bidding and conventions
Lebensohl
Lebensohl is an agreement for when an opponent overcalls partner's 1NT. A 2NT bid asks opener to bid 3♣, which lets responder sign off at the three level with a weak hand and keeps direct three-level bids for game-forcing ones.
What the overcall takes away
Without interference a weak hand with a long suit has an easy time: transfer, or bid two of the suit, and partner passes.
The overcall takes that away. Most of the bids you have left are at the three level, and the three level is where invitational and game-forcing hands live.
4 points. 3♣ is the limit of the hand and probably a better contract than 2♥ doubled.
15 points opposite a 15–17 notrump. This one belongs in 3NT or 6♣. 3♣ is far too low.
Both hands want to say "clubs" at the three level, and they want opposite things to happen next. Without an agreement, opener has to guess which one you hold.
How the puppet works
2NT by responder is a puppet. It carries no message about notrump and no message about strength. It obliges opener to bid 3♣ and nothing else.
That one relay creates a second, slower path to every three-level contract. Responder can reach 3♣ two ways (bid it, or puppet and pass), and 3♦ two ways, and so on.
With two routes to the same contract, each route can carry its own meaning.
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| 2♥ | 2NT | Pass | 3♣ |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
Slow shows, fast denies
The slow route, through 2NT, is the weak one. The fast route, bidding the suit directly at the three level, is game-forcing.
The same idea answers a second question: does responder hold a stopper in the opponent's suit? With a hand worth 3NT, the slow route shows a stopper and the direct bid denies one.
The full scheme after 1NT (2♥)
- 2♠: natural, non-forcing, weak. Anything you can still bid at the two level means what it says.
- 2NT: puppet to 3♣. Then pass, or bid a suit, to sign off.
- 3♣ or 3♦ directly : natural and game-forcing.
- 3♠ directly: natural and game-forcing.
- 3♥: a cue bid of their suit, asking opener to describe. Game-forcing, and typically shows the other major.
- 3NT directly: game values, denying a heart stopper. Through 2NT first, it promises one.
- Double: penalty, or takeout, by partnership agreement. Settle this one too.
After a weak two
Lebensohl is also used after partner's takeout double of a weak two. Partner doubles 2♠, you hold 4 points and five diamonds, and you must bid. 3♦ is the only way to name your suit, and it's the same bid you would make with 10 points.
The same puppet solves the same problem: 2NT forces 3♣, and the slow route to your suit shows a weak hand that was forced to bid. Bidding the suit directly shows real values.
Is it worth learning?
Not first. It's an advanced agreement with several follow-up questions, and it only applies when an opponent overcalls a 1NT opening, perhaps one deal in twenty-five.
Ahead of it, in order: Stayman, transfers, negative doubles and takeout doubles.
It's worth learning eventually because it handles a hand type with no other answer, and it can be the difference between playing 3♣ for down one and 5♣ for down four.