Lionel convention

Lionel is a contract bridge bidding convention used in defense against an opposing 1NT openings. Using Lionel, over a 1NT opening of the opponents:

• a double is conventional and denotes spades and a lower suit (4-4 or longer),
• a 2♣/2♦ overcall denotes hearts and the suit bid (4-4 or longer), and
• a 2♥/2♠ overcalls is natural.

Any of the overcalls denote high-card strength corresponding to 12+ (or good 11) high card points.

The convention is named after Lionel Wright from New Zealand who published it in the International Popular Bridge Monthly magazine of May 1993.^[1]