[42]

Hi!
In a 44 boards tourney we had 2 times trouble with this decision.
We play 15-17 NT and both times the auction went 1NT 2♣! Dbl (we play Lebensohl)


case 1: 2♣ was DONT = ♣s + any higher, the full sequence was:
1NT 2♣! dbl 2♥*
pass 2♠ dbl all pass

alerted (!), I asked and LHO said, his p does not like clubs, he was not really sure what 2♥ showed (♠-group) ... I held ♠KJxx.
He fell 2 times but we should have been playing 3NT.

case 2: 2♣ was a self-made convention, aked for majors but could have been any hand without majors. The full sequence:
1NT 2♣! dbl pass
pass 2♥ dbl all pass

Scoring: MP

---

Partner led a trump, won the ♦return with the Q, LOW♠ (we play attitude there) which declarer won with the A, playing a low♣ from dummy which I won with the K. Do you have an idea of the whole distribution right now? I had not and played trump A, followed by a ♠. Partner held ♠Kx, so I must have been playing ♠, p returns trump to my A and I could give him a ♠-ruff. We set this contract only 1 time for a zero, others played again 3NT.
My LHO is known as "crazy and fearless" bidder, he was 6-4 in the majors with 4pts.

My questions now:
A.) Who, opener or advancer, decides under which conditions to dbl opps or to play 3NT, if Lebensohl is out because both are balanced? I >felt< both times that we should play 3NT but I followed the captaincy principle (wrong understanding here?)

B.) Which weapons do you have against NT defences in general? Just Lebensohl?

C.) Which weapons do you use against such "could be this or could be that, does not necessarily show that and that"-conventions?

D.) Which exact meaning has partner's dbl?

Caren

[Kalvan14]

Case 1 is a bit funny. I play DONT, and it is quite unusual to dislike both ♣ and ♦ (intervention might as well be a ♣/♦ 2-suiter). The only reasonable explanation for 2♥ would be a 6-card suit. And this makes even funnier the idea that his pard bids 2♠. Well, roulette bridge. I doubt that these guys are in the top quarter of the results very often.

Case 2 is more run-of-the-mill. 10 cards in the majors are a powerful incentive to bid over 1NT, even with just 4 points.

To come to your questions, it is not always easy to guess right in these situations.
My rule is that in doubt I go for the penalty. Who knows? the distribution might be a funny one, and 3NT not be there. And if they bid at my table, there might be a lot of interventions in the room. People are becoming cheekier and cheekier in jumping in after 1N.

The "captain" is the responder. Opener more or less has quantified his hand, and indicated a shape. So, it's pard who must decide to go for blood or pull.

I would not be too crossed about the poor explanation. The bid was a bit strange

[Gerben42]

Hi Caren,

Play that after 2♣ anything other than both majors, ignore it and system is on.

If 2♣ shows both majors (or just sort of after this crazy convention), system is off. Dbl shows at least invitational strength and 2NT shows both minors. A suit at the 3-level is forcing at least 5 cards, to invite double then bid you suit.

A.) Who, opener or advancer, decides under which conditions to dbl opps or to play 3NT, if Lebensohl is out because both are balanced? I >felt< both times that we should play 3NT but I followed the captaincy principle (wrong understanding here?)

Responder decides where to go but should keep 3NT in mind.

B.) Which weapons do you have against NT defences in general? Just Lebensohl?

Transfer Lebensohl

C.) Which weapons do you use against such "could be this or could be that, does not necessarily show that and that"-conventions?

Depends a bit on what it is. Against 2♣ see above. Against non-penalty double: Ignore except when you feel like redoubling for BLOOD.

Against Multi 2♦ overcall defend as you like after Multi 2♦.
After other general strangeness, double to show strength and Lebensohl.

D.) Which exact meaning has partner's dbl?

Hand 1: First double was Stayman, about 6+HCP. Partner should have passed 2♠, thus denying 4♠ and promising invite or better with 4♥. You double showing 4♠. Then it's his decision to sit for it or not.

1NT (2♣) X (2♥)
P* (2♠) P** (pass)
X (pass) 3NT / P

* don't want to commit myself yet, partner may want to double this
** forcing

Hand 2: Double was "points", invite or better. Looks like partner forgot that doubling them with game values and just 3 trumps is usually not winning. He should have made a forcing pass instead, after which you will happily bid 3NT with a double stopper and maximum.

1NT (2♣) X (pass)
P (2♥) P* (pass)
3NT swish

* forcing