Rubensohl

Rubensohl applies after a 1NT overcall also with RHO interfering.

Note: Transferring into their suit should also be a way of asking partner if he has a stopper in their suit as well as Stayman.

When the NT opener does bid a 4 card major and partner now bids 3NT he does not have a stopper. When you do not do either, scrambling for the best contract commences.

1NT - 2 (natural or not) - ?

Double is Stayman without a club stopper.

2/2/2 are natural, not forcing.

2NT (transferring into to their suit) is Stayman with a stopper.

3 is a transfer to diamonds GF (better hand than just bidding 2 to play).

3 is a transfer to hearts. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3NT and give partner a choice of game contracts.
Raise to 4 with 6 hearts.
Bid a new suit, natural, probably 5-5.
Bid 4NT RKC.

3 is a transfer to spades. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3NT and give partner a choice of game contracts.
Raise to 4 with 6 spades.
Bid a new suit, natural, probably 5-5.
Bid 4NT RKC.

3 is both minors (example Spade x Heart xx Diamond AQxxx Club Kjxxx)

3NT is Natural with a club stopper or to play if suit unknown.

4/4 is Minor Suit Keycard.

4NT is Quantitative.

1NT - 2 - ?

Double is negative.

2/2 are natural, not forcing.

2NT is a transfer to clubs. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3 asking for a diamond stopper.
Bid 3 or 3, natural, showing 6-4 with six clubs, forcing.
Bid 3NT to play.
Bid 4 Minor Suit Keycard

3 is (transfer to their suit) is Stayman for both majors and asks if partner has a diamond stopper. Responses are:

3 shows no diamond stopper but does not deny a 4 card major.
3 shows 4 hearts and a diamond stopper.
3 shows 4 spades and a diamond stopper.
3NT shows a diamond stopper with no 4 card major.

3 is a transfer to hearts. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3NT and give partner a choice of game contracts.
Raise to 4 with 6 hearts.
Bid a new suit, natural, probably 5-5.
Bid 4NT RKC.

3 is a transfer to spades. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3NT and give partner a choice of game contracts.
Raise to 4 with 6 spades.
Bid a new suit, natural, probably 5-5.
Bid 4NT RKC.

3 is both minors (example Spade x Heart xx Diamond AQxxx Club Kjxxx)

3NT is Natural with a diamond stopper

4 is Minor Suit Keycard.

4NT is Quantitative.

1NT - 2 (Natural or Maj-Min) - ?

Double is negative

2 is natural, not forcing.

2NT is a transfer to clubs. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3 asking for a heart stopper.
Bid 3 or 3, natural, showing 6-4 with six clubs, forcing.
Bid 3NT to play.

3 is a transfer to diamonds. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3 asking for a heart stopper.
Bid 3 or 4 to show six diamonds and four of the bid suit.
Bid 3NT to play.

3 is (transfer to their suit) Stayman. Opener bids:

Accept the transfer to their suit without 4 spades or a stopper.
With 4+ spades bid 3.
Bid 3NT with a stopper and less than 4 spades.

3 is a transfer to spades. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3NT and give partner a choice of game contracts.
Raise to 4 with 6 spades.
Bid a new suit, natural, probably 5-5.
Bid 4NT RKC.

3 is both minors (example Spade x Heart xx Diamond AQxxx Club Kjxxx)

3NT is Natural with a heart stopper

4/4 is Minor Suit Keycard.

4NT is Quantitative.

1NT - 2 (Natural or Maj-Min) - ?

Double is negative

2NT is a transfer to clubs. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3 or 3, natural, showing 6-4 with six clubs, forcing.
Bid 3 asking for a spade stopper.
Bid 3NT to play.

3 is a transfer to diamonds. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3 or 4 to show six diamonds and four of the bid suit.
Bid 3 asking for a spade stopper.
Bid 3NT to play.

3 is a transfer to hearts. After the transfer to 3 responder can:

Pass
Bid 3 asking for a spade stopper.
Bid 3NT and give partner a choice of game contracts.
Raise to 4 with 6 hearts.
Bid a new suit, natural, probably 5-5.
Bid 4NT RKC.

3 is Stayman (transfer to their suit). Opener bids:

Accept the transfer to their suit without 4 hearts or a stopper.
With 4+ hearts bid 4
Bid 3NT with a stopper and less than 4 hearts.

3 is both minors (example Spade x Heart xx Diamond AQxxx Club Kjxxx)

3NT is Natural with a spade stopper

4/4 is Minor Suit Keycard

4NT is Quantitative.

The Super Accept

Everybody knows one of the main advantages of a transfer bid is the super accept. Knowing that when partner just accepts the transfer, she is not overly excited with her fit makes invitational sequences and slam decisions easy. Rubensohl replaced Lebensohl for a number of practical reasons. The 1NT opener knows the suit immediately in competitive auctions. This prevents pre-emption by the opponents and responder's suit is not unknown as in Lebensohl. In addition, the transfer structure puts opener in a straight jacket so the transfer provides more room for responder to show her hand (two suiters, slam tries etc). Since the 1NT bidder is forced to bid the transfer suit, responder essentially gets in two bids by bidding again at the same level. A two for one so to speak (Useful Space principle recommends transfers).

1NT	2	2NT	Pass
3	Pass	3

You have already shown a 6-4 in clubs and hearts and you are at the same level as bidding 3 forcing directly! Of course, Rubensohl also right sides contracts to the stronger hand for opening lead purposes. In my opinion, there should be a 4th aspect to the advantages of Rubensohl and that is the super accept.

If partner makes a Rubensohl bid in the minors, a super accept of course should be a 3NT bid with a stopper as that is the goal for good minor fits anyway. If the NT opener just accepts the transfer in the minors, she is not enamored with that particular minor. If partner pulls the super accept to the minor at the 4 level that is KCB for that minor as the Rubensohl hand is of course unlimited. If partner super accepts with a cuebid (their suit) it means she has no stopper or has wasted values in their suit.

x xxx KJxxxx AKx and partner opens 1NT with RHO overcalling 2. You bid 3 Rubensohl and partner super accepts with 3NT so you pass and get your +630. What if partner super accepts with 3? Partner has xxx AK AQx QJ10xx so you drive the hand to 6 and pickup your +1370.

Super accepting works best with the heart suit as it prevents 4 doubled on a shot as well as getting to good 4 games or slams. You open 1NT and LHO opponent overcalls in the bully suit. Partner bids 3 as the heart transfer and you have KJxx Ax Jxxx AKx so you just bid 3 and play it there. Partner has void J109xx Q10xx QJ10x and just wanted to compete. Partner can super accept with a 4 bid probably showing 4 trump. KJx Axxx Jxxx AKx and 4 is odds on with the above hand.

What about the monster hands in support of hearts? It is those hands you can super accept with a spade cuebid for small and grand slam purposes. Opponents are always crawling into your NT auctions with any hands especially on favorable vulnerability. Rubensohl is a nice counter measure to recover transfer sequences with super accept understandings. One thing that has always annoyed me is that "braying jackasses" just by bidding can punch holes in your bidding system. Rubensohl is so far superior to Lebensohl that it hurts. Experts who have not converted to Rubensohl should run, not walk to their Bridge psychiatrist.

Two Suiters (Rubensohl)

Rubensohl unleashes the hidden power of transfers. Transfers allow useful bidding space as the NT bidder gives information by accepting or super accepting the transfer. Two suiters are shown by the time honoured principle of transferring into one suit and bidding the other. There is no ambiguity as the 2nd bid must be a second suit rather than an ambiguous cuebid.

Here is a hand from a Spingold where 3NT was reached at one table and at the other table 7. Only a 17 IMP swing. Axx xx AKxx AQ10x opposite x AKxxx xx Kxxxx.

The auction at one table went:

1NT	2	3	Pass
3NT

3NT for +630. At the other table they played Rubensohl so they bid 3 with partner denying good hearts or a strong preference for 3NT by just accepting the transfer (super accept inference). The negative inference of knowing that partner did not like hearts nor having duplication of value in spades, the Rubensohl bidder bid 4 over partners 3. This now was super accepted with a 4 cuebid and a 4 cuebid resulted. 4NT brought two aces, a specific king ask showed the heart King. 7 was an easy bid by the 1NT opener. Nice auction!

Transfers as a tool in competition are very under rated by the average Bridge player. They think it is just to let the strong hand play the hand. Far from it! The transfer allows super acceptance or denial, saves bidding room and announces your suit immediately in competition. All this in addition to right siding the contract!

Experts use the transfer after partner's major and the opponent's takeout double also. This assists the partnership to handle one suited hands or one suited hands with a fit. Do not just limit the transfer tool to a NT opener, there is more than meets the eye with this bid.