[ArtK78]

Can someone provide me with a complete and comprehensible presentation of Rubinsohl (or Rubensohl - there is some dispute as to whether this is named for Ira Rubin or Jeff Rubens).

Thanks.

[RichMor]

Incomplete and maybe incomprehensible:

1. It was named for Jeff Rubens.
2. When the opps overcall our 1NT opening, responder's bids starting with 2NT are transfers; NT to Clubs, Clubs to Diamonds, Diamonds to Hearts, Hearts to Spades, and Spades to NT sort of.
3. A transfer response shows at least invitational values and a 5-card or longer suit.
4. A transfer cue to the opps' suit is Stayman-like. I don't remember if it shows a stopper in their suit, denies, or is ambiguous.
5. A 3 Spades transfer is a punt. It denies 4+ cards in other major(s) and denies a stopper in the opps' suit.

[blackshoe]

Brian Senior reprinted, in his book The Transfer Principle, Bruce O'Neill's original 1983 article in The Bridge World describing Rubensohl as an alternative to Lebensohl combining Lebensohl principles with Rubens Advances, whence the name. According to Wikipedia, Ira Rubin had developed similar methods, although apparently he didn't publish them before O'Neill's article. I suppose that may be why some people (mistakenly, IMO — otherwise we should call "Stayman" "Marx") call it "Rubinsohl".

[nickf]

blackshoe, on Dec 20 2008, 07:23 AM, said:

Brian Senior reprinted, in his book The Transfer Principle, Bruce O'Neill's original 1983 article in The Bridge World describing Rubensohl as an alternative to Lebensohl combining Lebensohl principles with Rubens Advances, whence the name. According to Wikipedia, Ira Rubin had developed similar methods, although apparently he didn't publish them before O'Neill's article. I suppose that may be why some people (mistakenly, IMO — otherwise we should call "Stayman" "Marx") call it "Rubinsohl".

Bruce's real last name is Neill.

nickf
sydney

[gnasher]

Bids from 2NT to 3S are transfers.

A transfer to a suit that we could have bid at the two-level is invitational or better. Completing declines the invitation.

A transfer to a suit that we could not have bid at the two-level is competitive or game-forcing. Opener normally completes.

A transfer to their suit is Stayman, promising at least one major. In reply, completing the transfer denies a stop. (If there is only one major in the picture, it also denies that major. If there are two majors in the picture eg 1NT (2D nat) 3D, bidding a major immediately promises a stop; with one major and no stop, opener completes the transfer.)

3S, transfer to notrumps, shows a raise to game without a stop, unsuitable for either a takeout double or a Staymanic transfer. Playing takeout doubles, that usually means one or both both minors.

A transfer to a major followed by bidding their suit offers a choice of games and denies a stop.

A transfer to a minor followed by a cue bid in their suit is a slam try. (Some people play this as just stop-asking, but I think it's silly to tell the opponents about responder's suit when we might instead have an unrevealing sequence to 3NT.)

[y66]

Nice summary above.

Marc Smith's discussion is here

[blackshoe]

nickf, on Dec 20 2008, 04:03 PM, said:

Bruce's real last name is Neill.

Okay, I either misread my source, or the source got it wrong.

[InTime]

If you can provide me your email adress via a PM, I will attach a document describing the system. Do not know how to do it otherwise.
Regards