What to do with this weak 2-suiter?

[Rebound]

You pick up :

 

5

J

QJ974

1097532

 

and pass in 1st seat. LHO bids 1♥, partner overcalls 1NT, and RHO bids 2♥.

This is at IMPs, favourable vulnerability, with a pickup partner with no profile. What do you do?

 

Hidden text spoiler:

 

 

I chose 3 diamonds assuming the auction would not end there. Partner bid 3NT, I bid 4 clubs and he raised to 5. In terms of results, except for those pairs who got to defend for a plus, the result was almost unanimously 5 clubs going down.

Is there a better way to go with this hand?

 

 

[pigpenz]

well if i was goona bid i would bid something in the minors at the game level so maybe starting off 4♥ and correcting 4♠ to 5♣ if i was gonna bid, heck even 3nt could be right :P

[Guest Jlall]

Pass. I assume he'll take a bid as forcing, and lebensohl can't be assumed so I just go quietly. At least it won't be a disaster.

[Fluffy]

I would use 2NT leb then pass 3♣

[mike777]

I would use 2NT leb then pass 3♣

Great, I hope the p/u partner is on the same wavelength. For sure you have not discussed this.

 

I bid pass for now.

[Blofeld]

I'll bid 2NT and see what happens.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

Pass, as other have said, go quietly.

 

Partner may take 2 NT as lebensohl,

but do you know, which flavour he is playing,

... and this already assumes, he is playing it,

there is natural out there, and rubensohl and

what ever...

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[joker_gib]

I will also pass.

 

2NT seems dangerous.

 

Alain

[Walddk]

Can't see how Lebensohl applies in this auction. 2NT is for the minors, but I would be reluctant to do that opposite a pick-up partner from the United Nations. He may think it's natural (competitive).

 

Roland

[zhs1971]

2NT, partner will bid 3♣ and we pass it.

 

Certainly, it all based on the partner agreement.

[MickyB]

Can't see how Lebensohl applies in this auction.

I can't see why it wouldn't apply in this auction :)

[Walddk]

Can't see how Lebensohl applies in this auction.

I can't see why it wouldn't apply in this auction :)

Because it's more important to get to the right contract. How do you know, if partner must bid 3♣ and you are 5-5 in the minors?

 

Roland

[MickyB]

You don't. But the same applies after 1N (2H) when you are 5-5 in the minors.

[Trpltrbl]

I pass, with nothing discussed it can only lead to trouble.

 

GBB :rolleyes:

[pclayton]

If you pass, its conceivable that you might be able to bid either 2N or 3N to show the minors.

 

Systems on over NT overcalls, including lebensohl. It would be nice if 2N showed the minors but I don't know anyone that plays this.

[mikeh]

I would pass and then ask, after the hand, do we play lebensohl? That way the answer is not expensive as it might be if the answer were 'no' and I had found out by bidding :D .

 

As for Roland's point about lebensohl: it is true that lebensohl here is not as good a method as it is after a 1N opening bid. However, most play it (in my experience and as suggested by the posts) because it is simple. BTW, i prefer rubensohl or trnasfer lebensohl (not quite the same thing) as they are more felxible than lebensohl.

[Rebound]

Thanks for your replies. I have, more or less, been shown the error of my ways lol :-)

[Free]

I'd try to play in ♣ at the lowest level possible. So 2NT with most players ;)

[kgr]

Can't see how Lebensohl applies in this auction.

I can't see why it wouldn't apply in this auction :D

Because it's more important to get to the right contract. How do you know, if partner must bid 3♣ and you are 5-5 in the minors?

 

Roland

You don't. But the same applies after 1N (2H) when you are 5-5 in the minors.

 

Interesting...

I play Lebensohl (....Rumpelsohl in fact) after 1N (2X). Do you advise not to play it after?:

(1X)-1NT-(2X)

(1X)-1NT-(2Y)

Remark: I did not discuss this with my partner, but would assume it is still on.