INVERTED PSYCHO SUCTION

The following is the device of Mr. Thomas Andrews. The variation addresses the inherent disadvantage of the player defending against a No Trump opening by using the Suction convention, which can be, for presentation purposes, reviewed below. Following the original version of the Suction convention, Mr. Thomas Andrew offers his variation of Inverted Psycho Suction. See also his device called Psycho Suction.

2 :		shows Diamonds, or Spades and Hearts
2 :		shows Hearts, or Spades and Clubs
2 :		shows Spades, or Clubs and Diamonds
2 :		shows Clubs, or Diamonds and Hearts
2 NT:		shows Pointed - Diamonds and Spades or Rounded - Clubs and Hearts

The problem with Suction is that it is easy for a prepared partnership to defend against it. After all, the bidder never has the suit he has bid. Therefore, it is relatively safe to use a double of the Suction bid as generically value-showing with some desire of defending.

The natural auction:

First Seat		Second Seat		Third Seat		Fourth Seat
1 NT		2		Pass		Pass

is much more troubling to the No Trump opener, because his partner might have the values to compete, but not have had a penalty double or a hand with a clear competitive bid. The problem that is presented to the opener and responder is: How do you decide whether to double this contract? If the responder passes zero information, the opener cannot (often) safely double for penalty on his own, but the only two calls responder has which allow him to defend are 1. Pass and 2. Double.

But if 2 is artificial, the responder can double to show values, and the opener can later double when he has a stack in the suit the opponents have bid.

I then realized you can minimize the number of times you must pass by inverting the calls:

Opener		Overcaller		Meaning
1 NT		2		Shows either Minors or Hearts
		2		Shows either Red Suits or Spades
		2		Shows Major suits (or Clubs? How different from 3 ?)
		2		Shows Black Suits (or Diamonds?)
		2 NT		Shows non-touching pairs: + or +

I call this system Inverted Psycho Suction, just because that sounds pretty threatening. In general, if the advancer has no preference for the two suits overcaller might have, the advancer takes a preference for the higher suit. For example, after the auction:

First Seat		Second Seat		Third Seat		Fourth Seat
1 NT		2		Pass		?

and you hold:

	xx
	xxxxx
	xxxx
	xx

you would bid 2 , since you do not prefer Clubs to Diamonds, and do not want to miss Hearts, if that is what partner holds.

As a corrolary to this, bidder is allowed to be 5-4 with 5 in the second suit and 4 in the bid suit, since partner will take the preference for the second suit with equal holdings.

This system can be played over artificial 1 and 2 openings, too.

I have played Psycho Suction a little, but sadly, I have not had a chance to play the Inverted form. It seems like it would be fun, even if it did not work. Plus, just the name is good enough to make me want to use it.

Incidentally, I think you should avoid table feel playing systems like this, unless it is really obvious that the table feel is coming from the opponents alone. You are already guessing, and if you are often guessing based on table feel, rather than your own holding, you might find yourself wired by accident, resulting in ethical breaches, or the appearance of ethical breaches. You might even want to discuss strict rules about when you guess to pass. Your opponents would be entitled to that information, of course.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

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