[1axbycz1]

I play 15-17 1nt.
I have learnt lebensohl to defend when LHO overcalls over my 1n opening, and I am generally satisfied and trying to learn transfer lebensohl now. However, I have yet to get a good defense when LHO passes and RHO overcalls. I use 2♣ as stayman play 4-suit xfers, and they are (obviously) all forcing. However, am I still forced to bid here?

If my stayman gets overcalled, i use pass=no 4cM, any major=4+, X shows stopper and no 4cM. If the overcall is 2♠, then X=4♥s, p=2 or 3♥s. Any improvements that I could use? Is this generally playable? Or do I need to keep the penalty X?

If my transfer gets overcalled (and the opps dont bid responder's suit) with a natural overcall like 1n-2♦-(2♠)-??, what do I do? And as for "cuebids" like 1n-2♦-2♥ I need to know the meaning of the bid, since it can't possibly be natural. What are these used to show?

I would think priorities here are showing support and stoppers after transfers. However, with good support, showing stoppers are less important (right?) since we wont end up in NT. At first I thought of using a lebensohl-like structure but I realised my job is to show how well my hand fit partner's, and not to show my own suit.

If the opps bid at the 3-level, what do I do? Advice here needed.

[helene_t]

You are not forced to bid over an intervention.

I think the most common agreement is
1NT-(pass)-2♦-(dbl), now
pass: doubleton hearts, at most a modest 4-card diamond
rdbl: good four-card diamonds or fivecard, doubleton hearts
2♥: 3-hearts.

And similarly when Stayman gets doubled, here 2♦ will not be a neutral bid denying a 4-card major, but will show diamonds.

1NT-(pass)-2♦-(2♠), here we have had some discussion about what double should mean. Obviously you pass with a doubleton hearts unless your hand qualifies for whatever you have agreed double to mean, but probably double should show three hearts.

Some experts play something less intuitive where they show whether or not they have a stopper in opps' suit.

1NT-(pass)-2♦-(2♠)
pass-(pass)-?,
here you could play 3♣/♦ as forcing so a weak hand with 5-5 uses 2NT lebensohl. It is not obvious what double should mean but if you generally play penalty doubles after opps overcall partner's 1NT opening, then I would assume it applies here also.

[Zelandakh]

1axbycz1, on Oct 6 2010, 01:17 PM, said:

However, am I still forced to bid here?

If my stayman gets overcalled, ... If the overcall is 2♠, then X=4♥s, p=2 or 3♥s. Any improvements that I could use? Is this generally playable? Or do I need to keep the penalty X?

If my transfer gets overcalled (and the opps dont bid responder's suit) with a natural overcall like 1n-2♦-(2♠)-??, what do I do? And as for "cuebids" like 1n-2♦-2♥ I need to know the meaning of the bid, since it can't possibly be natural. What are these used to show?

If the opps bid at the 3-level, what do I do? Advice here needed.

Opener is not forced to bid after interference. Remember that Responder can have a very weak hand and just be trying to escape.

When Stayman gets doubled there are many possible schemes. One option is to work around stoppers

P = stop
XX = 5 clubs, suggestion to play
2D = no major, no stop
2M = natural without stop

After 2 passes, Responder can redouble as a re-ask with standard responses. Helene gives an alternate scheme based around showing either major. A third possibility involves using the extra bidding space to show both majors. Your scheme after a 2S overcall of Stayman is the same as I use. A penalty double by Opener is a bad idea since your hand is known and partner can have almost anything.

Helene also gives the standard scheme for double of a transfer. Some use the redouble differently, for example as 3 card support and weakness in the opps' suit. Essemtially your job here is to cater to partner having a weak hand with a suit so only your distribution in partner's suit is particularly important.

The cuebid will usually have one of 2 possible meanings depending on the opps' agreements. In America the more common scheme seems to be cue = Michaels, X = take-out. In Britain is much more common to play X = transfer suit, cue = strong take-out. It does not really matter though - just pass with doubleton support or double with 3 card support.

If the opps bid at the 3 level then nothing much changes - you can double with 3 card support if you want to compete and should usually pass with doubleton support.