[MickyB]

How do you play 2NT on the above auction?

Most seem to play lebensohl. That seems pretty redundant to me. Firstly, I'm often bidding for the lead, so not being able to show my suit immediately isn't very useful. Secondly, if I've got a weak hand, but it's right for us to compete, it will usually mean partner is strong - in which case, he will usually double again.

It feels like there must be something better. How about, over 1♠-X-2♠ -

2NT = ♦ - now 3♣ is a range enquiry
3♣ = natural
3♦ = ♥, decent hand
3♥ = ♥, poor hand
And, if you feel you can double on all other hands, 3♠ could be played as strong with clubs.

[Cascade]

Natural. Have you seen what they raise on these days.

[andy_h]

Something similar was talked about a few months ago:

http://forums.bridge...topic=23632&hl=

[awm]

I rather like:

X = two places to play, including 4♥ and a 4+ minor
2NT = both minors
else = natural

While it's true that people raise on pretty bad hands these days, usually if partner has enough for 3NT opposite an invite he will double again (and you can bid 3NT or pass), and 2NT is not such a profitable partial that we really need to reach it all the time.

[ochinko]

Cascade, on Aug 3 2009, 06:18 AM, said:

Natural.  Have you seen what they raise on these days.

I, for one, raise to 2M after a double with 0-5 HCP and three cards in the major, so 2NT makes perfect sense to be natural. Double from advancer shows both minors.

[gnasher]

I prefer to play double as exactly four of the other major, 2NT as both minors, and the other major as five cards.

[mich-b]

Cascade, on Aug 2 2009, 10:18 PM, said:

Natural.  Have you seen what they raise on these days.

Agree, though natural bids seem to be out of fashion.

[gwnn]

Callous contemporaries! Abandoning natural 2NT bids in competition!

[Poky]

X = responsive (two-places or INV in hearts)
2NT = SO in clubs or INV in diamonds
3C = INV in clubs
3D = SO in diamonds
3H = SO in hearts

[the hog]

Scrambling. In my experience it rarely pays to play 2NT and contract for exactly 8 tricks once opps have bid and raised. It rarely pays to contract for exxactly 8 tricks anyway!

[Cascade]

The_Hog, on Aug 3 2009, 11:07 PM, said:

Scrambling. In my experience it rarely pays to play 2NT and contract for exactly 8 tricks once opps have bid and raised. It rarely pays to contract for exxactly 8 tricks anyway!

2NT is not so much an offer to play for eight tricks as an offer to play for nine tricks if partner has just a little extra.

You would like a pair that I played against recently. When I asked about their 2NT bid on a certain auction they were not sure but said it couldn't be natural because "2NT was not a contract it was a convention"

[the hog]

Cascade, on Aug 3 2009, 06:25 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Aug 3 2009, 11:07 PM, said:

Scrambling. In my experience it rarely pays to play 2NT and contract for exactly 8 tricks once opps have bid and raised. It rarely pays to contract for exxactly 8 tricks anyway!

2NT is not so much an offer to play for eight tricks as an offer to play for nine tricks if partner has just a little extra.

You would like a pair that I played against recently. When I asked about their 2NT bid on a certain auction they were not sure but said it couldn't be natural because "2NT was not a contract it was a convention"

roflmao
Well I must admit, Wayne, I hate playing 2NT, so much so that i bid 3 over any invite on virtually any excuse.

[OleBerg]

gnasher, on Aug 3 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

I prefer to play double as exactly four of the other major, 2NT as both minors, and the other major as five cards.

Me too. Love to be able to double freely with only three in the other major.

(Might bid 2♠ on a hand well suited to a 4-3 thrumph-suit, and no other possible denominations.)

[Fluffy]

I have always played lebenshol and double as take out (2 places to play or very strong).

So far I haven't seen the positive rsponses of 3m except once when the opponents psyched.

[benlessard]

Our meta agreements is transfer lebensohl anytime game is possible, otherwise 2Nt is scrambling.

So if partner isnt a passed hand.

(1S)----X-----(2S)------???

X = semi-penality
2Nt = clubs or many inv
3C = Diamonds GF or to play
3D = H GF or to compete
3H = stayman GF
3S = clubs GF
3Nt = to play.

We also play leaping michael type bids

Playing plain lebensohl is a rather weak treatment because they will often bid 3S.

Im willing to play something different if im pretty sure the opponents have the goods.