Suction convention

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This article concerns Contract Bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.

Suction is a bridge convention used for intervention over an opponent's 1NT opening.

When suction is agreed, a suit overcall of a 1NT opening is conventional and denies the suit actually bid. It shows either (1) a one-suiter in the next higher ranking suit or (2) a two suiter in the other two suits.

If responder passes, advancer is required to bid the next higher ranking suit. If overcaller has the one-suited hand, he passes. Otherwise, he bids yet the next higher suit, showing that suit plus the remaining, unbid suit. Advancer then takes a preference by passing or bidding the remaining suit.

To summarize:

2♣ shows either diamonds or both majors
2♦ shows either hearts or both black suits
2♥ shows either spades or both minors
2♠ shows either clubs or both red suits

[edit] Restricted use

Suction is not permitted in events governed by the ACBL General convention chart, except as a defense to artificial opening bids (such as precision, strong 2c openings, flannery, etc.).