Suction                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

                                        A Defense over 1NT and Strong 1 or 2 Club Openings

                                                                            Bill Hall/Mike Savage Version

 

1.  OVER STRONG 1 NOTRUMP:

            Dbl = Clubs or Hearts and a minor (Hamilton) See below in blue.

            2C  = Diamonds or Hearts and Spades Majors

            2D  = Hearts or Spades and Clubs Blacks

            2H  = Spades or Clubs and Diamonds Minors

            2S   = Spades and Diamonds (Pointy)

         2NT  = Clubs and Hearts (Six Clubs and four Hearts)

                      Continuations over Dbl after a pass and 2C by partner (semi-forced):          

                                 Pass = Clubs                 

                              2D = Diamonds and Hearts (Reds)                         

                                   2H = Clubs and Hearts (Usually five Hearts & four or five Clubs)

                                     2S = Six Clubs and four Spades

                                  2NT = Six Clubs and four Diamonds

 

2.  OVER WEAK 1 NOTRUMP (upper limit 15 or less): You could keep the same

     structure as over strong 1NT but we make these changes over weak, shown in red:

            Dbl = Penalty

            2C, 2D & 2H = All have the same meaning as they do over strong 1NT above.

            2S  = Clubs or Diamonds and Hearts Reds

         2NT  = Clubs and Hearts (Rounded)

            3C = Diamonds and Spades (Pointy)

 

3.  BASIC GENERAL RESPONSES TO SUCTION OVER 1NT (Continuations):

A.    SUCTION primarily shows the suit above your bid or the two suits above that.

      Almost always accept the transfer to partner’s presumed one-suiter.

B.     After partner of the bidder of SUCTION accepts the transfer, bidding the next higher suit shows the two-suiter but any other suit bids shows four of the suit bid and six of the one-suiter (bidding notrump shows the “unbiddable” 4/6). 

C.  With three plus cards in the single suit and four plus cards in one of the two

suits, bid at the highest level that seems right. Partner will pass, raise or correct.

            D.  If you have a very good suit of your own, bid it at the two-level.

E.  Bid 2NT as a general invitation with an “uncertain” fit but a good hand.

F.  Over Dbl by Responder (partner to the 1NT opener):

Pass = Length in the suit doubled and shortness in indicated suit.

            Rdbl = Good hand and with or without a fit

G.    Over a Two of a Suit by Responder (partner to the 1NT opener):

Dbl = Shows values, no certain fit, asks partner to bid, or pass if it’s their

                                          suit. Double of “4th suit”, the one partner can’t have, is penalty.

 

 

4.  SUGGESTED DEFENSES vs. SUCTION OVER 1NT:

            Dbl (or Rdbl) = Eight good or more HCP.  We play it or they play it doubled.

                       Rebids by the Opening side after the opponents bid a suit:

                        Dbl = Penalty; in the immediate seat, showing good trumps and in the  

                                  pass-out seat, penalty also but may be on power, not trumps.

                       2 of a Major = If they accept the one suit shown or one of the two suits

                                                 shown, at the two level, a bid of  2 of a major not shown

                                                 by the opponents, in the pass-out seat, shows a four card

                                                 suit and is forcing.

                        2NT in the pass-out seat = Invitational. Denies strength in opponent’s suit.

            2 of a Major (over 2C or above) = To play

            2NT, 3C, 3D, 3H = Invitational or better transfers. Generally bid game or 

                                            show HCP concentration with a maximum, in response.

            Over Dbl by the opponents: Systems are on (Stayman, Jacoby, etc)

            Over 2C by the opponents:  Dbl = Eight good or more HCP, penalty oriented

                                  2D = Stayman

                                  2H/2S = To play

                                                          2NT = Lebensohl   

 

5.  SUCTION after STRONG 2C (or STRONG 1C):

            Dbl = Diamonds or Hearts and Spades Majors

              2D  = Hearts or Spades and Clubs Blacks (1D)

            2H  = Spades or Clubs and Diamonds Minors (1H)

         2S  = Clubs or Diamonds and Hearts Reds (1S)

          2NT = Clubs and Hearts (Rounded) (1NT)

             3C = Diamonds and Spades (Pointy) (2C)

               Jump Overcalls = Natural and preemptive

 

6.  SUCTION after 2D RESPONSE to Strong 2C (or 1D RESPONSE to Strong 1C):

              Dbl = Hearts or Spades and Clubs Blacks

           2H  = Spades or Clubs and Diamonds Minors (1H)

            2S  = Clubs or Diamonds and Hearts Reds (1S)

          2NT = Clubs and Hearts (Rounded) (1NT)

            3C  = Diamonds or Hearts and Spades Majors (2C)

            3D  = Diamonds and Spades (Pointy) (2D)

            Jump Overcalls = Natural and preemptive