Defending weak 2-3-4's

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Following Weak 2's of 2♦ ♥ ♠ either as opening bids or weak jump o'calls

With a quality 6+ card suit and at least opening values: Rubinsohl is our defence: bid 3 of the suit below - effectively a transfer to partner.
DO PASS when these goals are out of sight! with nothing positive to bid leave them to it! otherwise! And above all avoid turning a positive result into a negative one by over bidding!

Rubinsohl requires a quality suit and sound opening values are required. Any good 6 card suit qualifies. Bid 3 of the suit below. These are transfer bids! 2N for clubs up to 3♥ for spades. Partner must complete the transfer unless :

Holding a shortage in partner's suit, game values and both of the 'unbid suits' then bid the lower ranking suit
Or holding a significant guard in the opponents suit AND and a semi-balanced hand - a doubleton in partner's suit - bid 3N (partner may return to his suit)

With 5-5 in two highest unbid suits first transfer to the lower ranking suit THEN rebid in the higher ranking suit
A transfer to the opponents suit is NOT natural of course! It shows at least good opening values, and promises 2 suits at least 4-4 [5-4 better] -Over a weak 2 opponent opening bid the two suits are the 2 highest unbid suits. If partner has opened the bidding then this transfer addresses specifically the 2 unbid suits.

Of particular interest is either of the following sequences: Either 1♣(p) - 2♦(opp)-3♣ | 2♦(opp)-3♣ simply a fake transfer to Diamonds: showing Spades and Hearts -Partner s options are varied given the nature of a 1♣ opening by partner!

3♠ Spades
3♥ Hearts
PASS effectively a rebid of Clubs
3N in the case of having opened in Clubs and also holding a good guard in the opponents ♦ suit.

If partner opened 1♦ and opponents o'call 2♥|♠ then showing unbid Major and Clubs similar options to the above are available to partner. Also 1♥(p)-2♠(opp)-3♥ operates similarly. The case 1♠-3♥ is excluded from Rubinsohl treatment.
If partner has not previously bid he merely selects preference in all cases.

A Double denies holding a suit as defined above but does show at least opening values, have some length and values in the opponents suit. This is primarily a penalty seeking T_O Double.

Partner by choosing to PASS: accepts the penalty double!
However if partners values suggests game, especially if vulnerable seriously consider taking-out the penalty double.. E.g. holding the unbid major and values for a potential game one should show it
Unless you rate your defensive prospects superior...then positive signs are: shortage in the opponents suit, ideally you are NV v VUL opps and possess quick tricks and NO likelihood for game: then PASS. [Note if opps are Vulnerable a 200 result is a prize very much worth going for unless your side can make a game!]
If opps are NVul going for penalties needs more certainty that you do not have game in NT or an unbid Major!]

With weak 2's being bid increasingly aggressively on ever lower values the tables really have turned the tide towards penalties. So our proposed Penalty Suggestive Double should be accepted UNLESS a game your way is on the cards!

3♠ is also a Rubinsohl bid - a transfer to 3N. This shows a 19+ HCP balanced hand with a good guard in the opponents suit. Partner should complete the transfer or shows a long suit aiming at a game call.
Rubinsohl is also used effectively over a 3♣ pre-empt - but is not practical over higher pre-empts....3D. 3Ma etc.
A direct overcall in a new suit at the 4 level or higher shows a 7+ card suit. Often when one player has shown up with a long suit other hands also may have long suits of their own. One often will have to weigh up the available options:

Compete believing opponents can make and you hope to go down but give opponents a lower score
Go for penalties!
Believe the hand is yours an go for your own game!

All options have risk - bringing experience to bear will be critical here.

BETA's 1C Opening is o'called by a weak 2♦ ♥ ♠

This is most unfortunate! However a solid opening of 1C with 12+ HCP provides a solid foundation and the opponents intervention narrows our search to 3 suits. Furthermore the unbalanced hand of the intervention suggests there are further unbalances around the table. Although our 1♣ opening can contain a singleton it is more likely to be charaterised as usually fairly balanced! This scenario does not lend itself to usage of Rubinsohl.

2NT inquires to the 1C bidder to consider guards held in Clubs as well as in the opponents weak two o'call. The outcome can be:
PASS play in 2N
Raise to 3N to play if game values are perceived - requires (14)15+
Take refuge at the 3 level in the most promising denomination

If responder's strength is 16+ he may propose 3N. In this case the 1C opener has the following choices:
PASS accepting a 3N contract being aware the initial lead originates from his RHO.
Taking-out into a suit at the 4 level.

A Negative Double is also available when all 3 UNBID suits may be presented Clubs included!. This is the simplest solution and the 1C opener is in a good position to make a selection.
This will be the only solution when unsuitable to offer a 2N or 3N choice.
It also presents the opener a 3rd option of converting the Double into a Penalty double
Other options are to play in NT's or in a suit.

Break-outs can also be shown:
2any-3Ma' Or 2any-4C|4D' Major 7+ cards; minor 8+ cards.

Following 3♦ ♥ ♠ pre-empts

Same level bids are Natural NF
3N is natural 18+ Balanced - partner may have other ideas!
* Suggests penalties - usually 15-18 Balanced or partly based on values and length in opponents suit: partner accepts or bids his own suit.
4-level bids show 2-suits 5-5 or better
Cue-bid: Shows a 16+ 3-suited hand: Partner chooses suit and level.

Following a 4-level pre-empt

Options are now very limited!

4Major are to play
4N shows Highest & lowest unbid suits (Note: following Beta - but classically shows lowest 2 unbid suits)
5♦ shows the 2 highest unbid suits
5♣ shows both lowest 2 unbid suits
* Penalty - partner may have other ideas!
PASS