Rubensohl

Rubensohl (also referred to as Rubinsohl) is a bridge convention that can be used after an opponent's intervention over a 1NT opening bid. After opponent's two-level overcall, all bids starting from 2NT are transfer bids to the next strain.

Although Ira Rubin devised similar methods before, the Rubensohl convention is attributed to Bruce Neill who described Rubensohl as an alternative to the Lebensohl convention in a Bridge World article in 1983. [Henry Francis, Alan Truscott. Dorthy Francis, The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge.]

When playing Rubensohl, the following applies after an opposing 2Diams (natural) overcall over partner's 1NT opening:

1NT - (2Diams) - ??

:dbl : penalty:2Hearts/Spades : to play:2NT : transfer to 3Clubs:3Clubs : transfer to opponent's suit -> asks for four card major:3Diams : transfer to hearts (at least invitational):3Hearts : transfer to spades (at least invitational):3Spades : transfer to 3NT -> game values but no major suit and no stopper in opponent's suit:3NT : to play

Similar schedules apply following a natural two-level overcall in any of the other suits.

The advantage of Rubensohl (as compared to Lebensohl) is that partner of the NT opener can indicate his/her long suit at the first bid. This can be advantageous in case a competitive bidding develops.

The same transfer schedule can also be used following a conventional overcall over 1NT as long as this overcall indicates an anchor suit. For instance: following an Asptro 2Clubs overcall (showing Hearts and another suit) over partner's 1NT opening, the bids 2NT, 3Clubs and 3Hearts would be transfers to the next strain, whilst 3Diams would be an asking bid.

Partnerships that have agreed to use Rubensohl, often extend its use to include responses to partner's takeout double over an opposing weak two opening. For instance:

(2Hearts) - dbl - (pass) - ??

:pass = penalty:2Spades : to play:2NT : transfer to clubs (weak or strong):3Clubs : transfer to diamonds (weak or strong):3Diams : asking bid:3Hearts : transfer to spades (at least invitational):3Spades : transfer to 3NT -> game values but no major suit and no stopper in opponent's suit:3NT : to play

See also: Lebensohl

References