Lionel convention

Lionel is a bridge conventional defense against opposing 1NT openings. Utilising Lionel, over a 1NT opening of the opponents, a double is conventional and denotes spades and a lower suit (4-4 or longer), a 2Clubs/2Diams overcall denotes hearts and the suit bid (4-4 or longer), and the 2Hearts/2Spades overcalls are natural. Any of the overcalls denote high-card strength corresponding to 12+ (or good 11) hcp.

The convention is named after Lionel Wright from New Zealand who published it in the International Popular Bridge Monthly magazine of May 1993 [Lionel Wright, "Lionel in Action", International Popular Bridge Monthly, Vol. 19, No. 5 (May 1993).] .

Responses

Following the Lionel double, the partner of the double responds as follows:

(1NT) - dbl - (pass) - ??

:pass = 10+ hcp, all subsequent doubles for penalty

:2Clubs = pass-or-correct bid (doubler to pass or bid second suit)

:2Diams = Non-forcing, diamond length (typically 5+) with heart tolerance. Doubler can bid 2Hearts with hearts as second suit and less than two diamonds.

:2Hearts = Natural, non-forcing

:2Spades = Weak Raise

:2NT = Invitational spade raise without a singleton side suit

:3Clubs/Diams/Hearts = Invitational spade raise with singleton or void in bid suit

:3Spades = preemptive raise

After a minor suit Lionel overcall, the responses are straightforward. For instance:

(1NT) - 2Clubs - (pass) - ??

:Pass = to play

:2Diams = to play

:2Hearts = weak raise

:2Spades = to play

:2NT = invitational heart raise

:3Clubs = preemptive

:3Hearts = preemptive

Advantages/disadvantages

Like using Brozel or DONT, using Lionel has the consequence of losing the penalty double over opponent's 1NT. Although this is often seen as a loss, Lionel Wright argued that this loss turns into an advantage as it opens the possibility to defend 1NT doubled with split points between you and your partner. As a balanced holding of the majority of points is far more likely to occur than holding the majority of points in an imbalanced way, a conventional non-penalty double over 1NT holds the potential of paying-off on many hands. Also, non-penalty doubles are more difficult to deal with than traditional business doubles. [ [http://www.cavendish.demon.co.uk/bridge/1nt-complex.htm Chris Ryall's page on 1NT defenses] ]

ee also

*List of defenses to 1NT

References