Good-Bad 2NT

This is an extension of Lebensohl that allows you to distinguish between competitive and invitational hands when the opponents’ bidding has forced your rebid to the the three-level. For example:

TheyWeTheyWe
  1 1♠ Dbl
2♠ 2NT    
 
TheyWeTheyWe
  1♣ Pass 1♠
2 2NT    

Opener rebids 2NT as a relay to 3♣ to show a competitive rebid of his own suit, or responder’s major. Direct bids at the three-level show invitational hands that would have jumped to the three-level without competition. Both the 2NT bid and the 3-level bids are alertable.

When responder has a hand that cannot stand to be passed in 3♣, she should bid something else. This can be one of two hands: a weak hand with a better suggestion of where to play, or a hand that wants to try for game. The weak hand will only happen after a negative double.

For example:

TheyWeTheyWe
  1♣ 1♠ Dbl
2♠ 2NT Pass 3

Would show a weak hand with long hearts and no club tolerance (if you had a good hand, you would have bid 2 the first time).

TheyWeTheyWe
  1♣ 1 1♠
2 2NT Pass 3

Forcing for one round.