Lebensohl and Transfer Lebensohl

[Bende]

The situation

• I play a system where 1♣ = balanced (11-13 or 17-19) or natural.
  
• I want to find an effective system to deal with interference.
  
• There are many possibilities but Transfer Lebensohl seems like a good option.
  
• Although I rate effectiveness higher, it is good for memory to play similar constructs in different parts of the system.
  
• Now I want comments from the forum if you think this is a reasonable attempt and if you can suggest some improvements.
  

Transfer Lebensohl

I have indicated with a question mark where I am not quite sure what makes sense.

 

1♣ - (2♥) -

dbl = Takeout

2♠ = Weak

2NT = Any strength with clubs or weak with lower ranking suit

---3♣ = Most common but opener can bid something else with good support for clubs

------pass = Weak with clubs

------3♦ = Weak with diamonds

------3♥ = Clubs and asking for stopper? GF with 31(45)?

------3♠ = 5+♣-4♠

------3NT = Clubs and suggestion to play? Slamish?

3♣ = Inv+ with 5+♦

---3♦ = Min

------3♥ = Asking for a stopper?

------3♠ = 5+♦-4♠

------3NT = Diamonds and suggestion to play? Slamish?

3♦ = 1. Asking for stopper and 2. Stayman

---3♥ = No stopper

------3♠ = 4♠

---3♠ = Stopper and 4♠

3♥ = Inv+ with 5+♠

3♠ = GF with 5♠ without a stopper

 

Approximately the same after interference with other bids at the two level:

 

1♣ - (2♣) -

2NT = 1. Asking for stopper and 2. Stayman

 

1♣ - (2♦) -

3♣ = 1. Asking for stopper and 2. Stayman

 

1♣ - (2♠) -

3♦ = Weak or GF with 5♥ ?

3♥ = Inv with 5♥

3♠ = GF with 4♥ without a stopper

 

I have also seen variants of Transfer Lebensohl where instead of one bid for stopper ask and Stayman, asker either shows or denies a stopper by either transferring to their suit or bidding 2NT followed by their suit. Is that a better construct?

 

Lebensohlish bids in other situations

First I thought it would make sense to use Transfer Lebensohl in many different situations to make it easier to remember but I had trouble getting that to work. Instead, how about this?

 

1♣/1NT - (2x = natural) - Transfer Lebensohl

1♣/1NT - (2x = artificial) - Transfer Lebensohl

1♦/♥ - (2M) - Transfer Lebensohl

 

(1x) - dbl - (2x) - Lebensohl (Transfer Lebensohl?)

(2x) - dbl - (pass) - Lebensohl

(2x) - dbl - (2y) - Lebenoshl (but dbl = penalty)

(2♦-multi) - dbl = 13-15NT - (2M) - Lebensohl (dbl = takeout)

(2x = artificial) - dbl - (pass = shows x) - Lebensohl

(2x = artificial) - dbl - (pass = relay) - Lebensohl

 

(1x) - pass - (2x) - dbl; (pass) - Scramblesohl

(2x) - pass - (pass) - dbl; (pass) - Scramblesohl

 

(Scramblesohl = After opponents bid spades, 2NT can be scrambling with minors, with red suits or weak with hearts, whereas 3♥ directly is constructive.)