[Free]

With good methods, suction indeed doesn't do that much like people want to suggest. But natural methods sometimes take away so much bidding space, that they get us in slams which we wouldn't bid otherwise because of the lack of space to properly investigate. I remember there was such hand a while ago in a high-level tournament. LHO intervened with 3♦, now that's usually not easy! We had a Dbl and some bids, ending up in slam. Nobody bid this! Tnx to a decent lead I was able to bring it home . I told my p "that shall learn them to intervene OUR 1♣". This was the first board in a 2 board/table MP session. Second hand we also opened 1♣, they kept their mouth shut

[Gerben42]

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I have played a big C system for years. Suction, or Twerb as it is called here in Oz, would have to be one of the worst methods for competing against a big C. We thoroughly enjoy playing against such practitioners as the often go for a number or else give away bad breaks. The same applies to those who bid on any sort of trash.

Why is Suction different from other bids in this sense? Many people will bid shapely hands regardless if you opened a strong ♣ or a natural 1-bid.

[the hog]

A number of reasons Gerben. I think the guesswork principle of "either or" bids largely works in the favour of the big clubbers, at least that has been my experience. Bidding a 2 suiter when you have little desire to sacrifice is losing tactics as I don't need to tell you - this is not peculiar to Suction of course. Showing specific 2 suiters when you have a good chance to sacrifice allows your partner to guage the value of the double fit.

There is another suction issue I should maybe noit mention, but here goes. In my experience many players subject themselves to sever UI and other ethical problems when using stuff like this. I am not haveing a go at anyone here by the way - I am talking about a LARGE number of ftf players who use this crap against us to try and disrupt our C auctions. What sort of ethical problems? Bidding "2 suiters" on 4333 so often that it is an agreement for example. Hesitations are another classic case, where the pd of the suction bidder tries to work out what is likely to be going on.

As an aside, we now play that a X of any overcall of a big C is a balanced/semi balanced gf. This works well, and allows us to pick up quite a few penalties. We picked up a decent one last Wed when the opps ended in a 4-4 S fit at the 2 level and my pd was able to make a penalty X with KJx of trumps. This went for 8s against our 420.

[skorchev]

With two of my partners I play suction. It's working perfecly! The difference is that 1♠ shows ♠+♦ or ♥+♣ and 1NT is ♣ or ♦+♥, and we use it up to level 7. Against not a good players this work very very well. Against regular pairs it works good, do not win always, but much better than natural interferences. For example once against regular partners (Advanced skill level) after suction interference they played 4♥ with 4-2 "fit", and I had 6 cards in ♥!

Skorchev

[Gerben42]

My strategy when playing Psycho Suction is very simple.
If I have the 1-suiter, bid as I would have when bidding naturally.
If I have the 2-suiter, bid at the level I would if I was playing specific 2-suiters.

If I am responder, I figure out "where do I want to play opposite the 1-suiter" and "where do I want to play opposite the 2-suiter" and bid the lowest of those.

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What sort of ethical problems? Bidding "2 suiters" on 4333 so often that it is an agreement for example. Hesitations are another classic case, where the pd of the suction bidder tries to work out what is likely to be going on.

On "fake" 2-suiters. I don't believe in this kind of fooling around. It just hurts partnership confidence inwhat, accept it or not, is a logically complicated situation. Second, overcaller has bid his hand just like any other preempt. His partner can think what he likes, I"m not going to take a second bid unless specifically asked.

I really hate it when people misuse similar and also Brown Sticker conventions to give them a bad name. Remember that one of the biggest problems top players have with BSC is the ethical problems and full disclosure problems that they bring up.
These are however problem with the PEOPLE, not problems with the conventions. When you play complicated conventions you have a big responsibility to fully disclose any agreement and experience to your opponents.

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Against 1♣ however, I like to intervene a lot on 2-level. That's why we play a structure which can bid with EVERY hand (even 4333's).

I've seen your DOSC (disturb opponents strong club) 4333 hands don't belong on the 2-level. They need to be overcalled on the 0-level.

Playing psycho suction by definition you can bid every 1- and 2-suiter on your beloved 2-level. Other hands don't belong there in the first place.

[kfgauss]

Gerben42, on Sep 19 2005, 09:28 AM, said:

My strategy when playing Psycho Suction is very simple.
If I have the 1-suiter, bid as I would have when bidding naturally.
If I have the 2-suiter, bid at the level I would if I was playing specific 2-suiters.

If I am responder, I figure out "where do I want to play opposite the 1-suiter" and "where do I want to play opposite the 2-suiter" and bid the lowest of those.

I realize that a big advantage of psycho suction is that if they double then pass suddenly becomes an option, but if they pass, do you ever choose to pass, and if so when?

Andy

[pbleighton]

"As an aside, we now play that a X of any overcall of a big C is a balanced/semi balanced gf."

Ron:

What do you do with invitational hands (~5-7 opposite a 16+ club)?

Peter

[the hog]

Pass with 5, 6-8, we bid sliding rubensohl at the 1NT level+:
1H/S natural, 6-8, can be 4 cards
1N= t/f to C etc invit+

[tysen2k]

Has anyone tried "inverted psycho suction" where bids are like:

2♣ = minors or hearts
2♦ = reds or spades

My partner and I have agreed to play it but we don't often play against strong club pairs so we don't have a good sample size. For 2-suiters at the 2-level we require 4 in the suit bid and 5 in the next one up so that partner usually "corrects" if he is relatively equal in both suits. If we only have 44 (or 45 with a longer lower ranking suit) we usually just use CRASH at the 1-level.

Dbl and 1♦ overcalls should be very rare so we use those to show hearts and spades respectively with real values (say 11+ HCP).

Has anyone else tried inverted psycho?

[waychan]

1S/2S = natural
1NT/2NT ＝ suction C or D+H
1D/2D = suction H or S+C
X = suction D or H+S
1H = 5D-4X
2C = 5C-4X
2H = 5H+5S
3C = 5C+5D

How about this? modified suction?