Rubensohl

[thebiker]

One partner and I play Rubensohl in the following situation after 1NT is overcalled

 

1NT (2X) 2NT upwards are transfers - Rubensohl style

 

So

1NT (2S) 2NT Trf to 3C

3C Trf to 3D

3D Trf to 3H

etc

I have always played that in the Rubensohl did not apply if 1NT was passed by responder and then 4th hand protected ie

 

1NT (P) P (2S) say

P (P) ?

2NT competitive - both minors

3C or 3D natural

 

I thought that this was our agreement and also the way the majority of players would play in this situation

 

Recently partner told me that we had no such agreement and that standard Rubensohl transfers should still apply in this situation.

 

Clearly we alone have to sort our agreement out, but I would be interested to know the views of other players?

 

My main reasons for playing as above are:

(1) We gain the use of 2NT as a competitive bid (2) by playing 3C and 3D as natural we get the benefit of the overcaller having to lead away from their holdings

 

Thank you in advance for your input/views

 

Brian Keable

alias "thebiker"

[helene_t]

Agree with you, it should not apply.

[straube]

I agree with you. It does seem though that 2N should be 2-places to play...over their 2M balance anyway.

[barmar]

I don't see the benefit of the balancer having to lead. Against a strong NT, balancer should have a weak hand, they're betting on their partner to be sitting over the NT hand with most of their side's points. It doesn't pay to balance with a good hand, because most of your points are sitting under the strong NT hand, reducing their value.

 

So if you're going to compete, it's still a good idea to get opener to declare, so the strong opponent has to lead.

[kgr]

1NT (P) P (2S) say

P (P) ?

2NT competitive - both minors

3C or 3D natural

I play this..and

DBL=4c♥ and a minor

[thebiker]

QUOTE] barmar Posted on May 12 2010, 10:24 PM

I don't see the benefit of the balancer having to lead. Against a strong NT, balancer should have a weak hand, they're betting on their partner to be sitting over the NT hand with most of their side's points. It doesn't pay to balance with a good hand, because most of your points are sitting under the strong NT hand, reducing their value.

 

So if you're going to compete, it's still a good idea to get opener to declare, so the strong opponent has to lead

 

 

I should have pointed out in the original post that I normally play weak no trump

= thus if 4th hand balances and second hand comes back in, it is probably an advantage to have the balancer leading away from his hand

 

regards

Brian Keable

alias "the biker"[