Standard Lebensohl with t/o doubles

[mgoetze]

Your partner opens a strong 1NT and your RHO overcalls a natural 2♦ (yeah, I know, noone plays 2♦ as natural but indulge me for a moment). Naturally, you play double as takeout because that is what one does nowadays. Also, you play standard Lebensohl because partner is already using all his memory trying to remember the complicated T-Walsh system you gave him.

 

So, generally speaking, 2NT then 3NT would be to play and showing a stopper, while a direct 3NT would be to play but without a stopper. 2NT then 3♦ is Stayman and "by the way partner, I have a stopper, don't worry", so a direct 3♦ is... Stayman without a stopper? Hold on, why are you not doubling on that hand?

 

OK, maybe you would double with 3-4 in the minors and it's nice to show you definitely have 4-4. What about 1NT-(2♥)-3♥ then? Surely you would always double with 4 spades and no stopper?

 

How do you use the cuebid when playing t/o doubles?

[WesleyC]

I use the analogous Rubensohl bid (transfer to their suit) as showing a t/o hand with real shortage.

 

This means that an actual t/o double usually promises a doubleton in their suit (at least).

[barmar]

so a direct 3♦ is... Stayman without a stopper? Hold on, why are you not doubling on that hand?

Isn't that because standard Lebensohl doesn't include takeout doubles? It allows responder to make a penalty double, so he uses the cue bid as the takeout.

 

But you could also use the cue bid as a game force -- the takeout double allows you to stop on the 2 level, so it can be done with weaker hands. You might also use the cue bid with a hand holding a void in overcaller's suit, to prevent opener from leaving the double in.