Summary of Suspensor's Opening Bids in 1st and 2nd seat

Back to Systems page. Summary of Suspensor's Opening Bids in 1st and 2nd seat

Pass	all hands of 13+ points. This pass is forcing.
1C	3 to 5 cards in each major, 8-12 HCP (similar to a weak 1NT)
1D	all hands of 0-7 points
1H	8-12 points, 0-2 or 6+ hearts (a suspense bid)
1S	8-12 points, 0-2 or 6+ spades (a suspense bid)

DEFENCE

This defence is cobbled together from Peter Gill, Murray Green and Mark Abraham, specialised for TOSR with the overcall structure.

versus Pass: (13+,any)

We assume they have opened a natural club. Thus all actions of 1D or higher are normal overcalls of 1C, except that natural notrump bids don’t require club stoppers. A bid of 1C is 15+ any and our system is on as normal. Of course this will be a rare sequence. This doesn’t matter much, because interference of 1C or 1D has no immediate preemptive value, and like an overcall of 1D over 1C in our sys, actually gains them space to show weaker hands.

Their relays are never more than up one step. Their notes say they have exceptions, but I don’t see what they are.

versus Pass - Pass - 1H (or higher)

Overcall normally - i.e. no Overcall Structure. Responder has shown 7-10, opener has 13+. While it is true partner couldn't make a bid, there may still be a partscore to compete for. Don't bid here on marginal hands or bad suits.

versus 1C (8-12, 3 to 5 cards in both majors)

A scientific defense is to treat 1C as a weak NT, which it most commonly is. It can be three-suited or two-suited or one-suited, but these all lose on frequency to the weak notrump shapes.

Double	penalties with 3+ clubs, 13+points
1D,1H,1S	opening bids usually with 5+ cards
1NT	one-suiter, < opening strength, correctable responses
2C	Minors
2D	Majors
2H	hearts + minor
2S	spades + minor

This defense is based on the Cappelletti defense to a weak 1NT. The vulnerability is crucial -if they're vulnerable and you're not, you tend to double; if you're vulnerable and they're not, you tend to bid your suit. Strong hands tend to start with doubles.

Subsequent doubles are our normal shortage-based doubles.

versus 1C - Pass - 1H/1S

Treat these NNF responses as a normal 1H or 1S opening, so the Overcall Structure is on.

versus 1D (the so-called fertilizer or fert)

Double = 15+ any, others = natural 10-14 (1NT 12-14 with 'system on').

In response to your "overcall" of 1H or 1S, 1NT is forcing for one round, jumps in new suits are forcing, new suits are not forcing. Alternate: we open 1H and 1S as our normal canape openings, but with the suit opened. Step 1 is then relay, but there is no immediate min/max since we’ve lost that step. In this alternate we have 2C as the 10-14 minors option, and no Ekrens.

After the 15+ double, we have our normal transfer continuations. After a double, their system notes indicate that the partner of the fert opener will pass only with 3+D and will redouble with 0-2D and no clear bid (strong hands will probably choose one of these two options). Be prepared to pass the double on occasions :-). Alternate: we can play relay responses to the double as if it is a 1C.

Against 1D - Pass - Pass

Here responder is showing unwillingness to choose another denomination to play in. Fourth hand should act as if the auction has run Pass - Pass - 1D but be aware that neither of the opponents need have any values. The Overcall Structure is available.

Against 1D - Pass - 1H

This is their relay bid showing 18+. Bid only if you would overcall a strong notrump. 2NT is Unusual with 55 both minors. Action at the three level is preemptive, as normal. The Overcall Structure is not available.

Against 1D - Pass - ?? (except Pass or 1H)

Their action should be 0-17, natural and non-forcing. Act as if responder has opened the suit he has bid at the one-level. The Overcall Structure is available after a 1S bid, Cappelletti is available after a natural 1NT bid, and normal actions at the two- and three-level. If they make an action that is described similarly to a weak two or a weak anchored two-suiter, then we have X->Rubensohl available. If they make a transfer, cue of the shown suit is takeout, with Rubensohl continuations.

versus 1H (8-12 0-2 or 6+H)

The Martel defense (invented by one of USA's top experts) is that 2H by you shows 0-2 or 6+ hearts and a reasonable or better hand (i.e. a similar meaning to their bid!). They now have to expose their hand-type (i.e. the suspense is over). Responses to 2H are correctable, i.e. 3C says I want to play in 3C if you don't have hearts otherwise please correct to 3H in your 6 card suit partner. Double thus shows 3+ cards in H and opening strength, 1NT is 16-18 with a H stopper and an overcall is a normal overcall.

I think this sucks because you’ll get 6223 hands where opener will pass you in 2H vulnerable for hurtingness. Alternately treat it as a natural 1H opening and have the normal overcall structure. That could be interesting.

If they raise 1H to 2H then double should be "penalty or take-out" - i.e. a two-way bid showing either 5+ hearts or 0-2 hearts - in the direct seat (1H) pass (2H) x = penalty or takeout. This forces the next hand to declare length or shortage (passing or bidding). This "raise" is short in hearts, of course.

If they bid a new suit e.g. 1H (pass) 2C then double should be takeout of responder's suit. Opener is heavy odds-on to declare a six card major now if that's what they have.

versus 1S - similar to 1H above.

versus 1NT

Overcall normally at the two- or three-level with hands that normally want to.

Double with strength (16+). Future doubles by both hands are normal shortage-oriented.

versus 2C or 2D

These bids show a 4-card major and a 5+card minor. Bid the shown major for takeout of the major (three-card minor suits are OK). Doubles by both hands are normal shortage-oriented

versus 2H, 2S or 2NT

Double with shortage in the suit doubled, overcall normally. Future doubles by both hands are shortage-oriented.