Lehbensohl Problem

[P_Marlowe]

Play negative doubles.  Next hand.

I am not sure, that in the context of a weak

NT neg. X is best.

Because this assumes that partner is forced to

reopen, if he happens to hold xx in their suit,

when I passed, and sometimes I have to pass

with length in their suit, because I am dead.

 

The alternative: I have length and I am broke,

I am going bid, is also no a lot of fun.

 

In the current stuation, they got you, espesially

if they know, that a overcall over a weak NT

promises values.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[marcD]

No one has mentioned it yet, but I thought it was fairly common practice when playing penalty doubles in this auction to use 2NT as the rough equivalent of a negative double.  Partner knows you have some values but not enough in their suit to make a penalty double, and can sit or pull as his hand dictates.  Of course, this is incompatable with lebensohl.

To be honest, I have never seen anyone play this. I also think it is unsound as you will often end up too high.

Actually I think it may be a worthwhile idea . I play 1NT 10-12 non vulnerable and x is penalty. At MP you sometimes want to compete over 2♠ (say with a hand with 2 places to play) with 8-12 HCP . Guess it should be non forcing which create other problems. May be the best solution is not to play 10-12 at MP in the first place