Swine Convention

The term Swine is an acronym for Sebesfi-Woods-1-Notrump-Escape, and was developed by Mr. Robert (Bob) Sebesfi of Australia. This is a method of defending against an overcall, either a direct overcall or a balancing action, and is mainly used in the Acol bidding system. The partner opens 1 No Trump. The left hand opponent makes a direct overcall.

Opener		LHO		Responder		Meaning
1 NT		Double		Pass		Responder's pass forces opener to redouble.
						Opener's Redouble is to play or bids the cheaper of touching suits.
				Redouble		Responder shows a single suited holding, and forces opener to rebid 2 Clubs.
				2		Responder shows a 2-suited holding in Clubs and Hearts.
				2		Responder shows a 2-suited holding in Diamonds and Spades.
				2		Responder shows moderate values, a natural bid, and prepared to reach the Three Level.
				2		Responder shows moderate values, a natural bid, and prepared to reach the Three Level.
				2 NT		Game-forcing, artificial, showing a strong, unbalanced holding, possibly a Two-Suiter.
				3		Preemptive in nature.
				3		Preemptive in nature.
				3		Preemptive in nature.
				3		Preemptive in nature.

If the overcall is in the pass-out seat, then the 1 No Trump opener should first pass, awaiting the verdict of his partner. Under normal circumstances, the partner of the overcaller is obliged to take action. As soon as this action is taken, then the partner of the 1 No Trump bidder can re-enter the auction with less than sufficient values. Otherwise the partner would have taken action before passing on the first round

In those rare instances, when the advancer of the intervenor passes his partner's double, hoping for penalty points, the partner of the 1 No Trump bidder can redouble, showing a one-suited holding. The 1 No Trump bidder is forced to rebid 2 Clubs as a relay bid. If the partner's suit is Clubs, then he passes. If Clubs is not his suit, then he rebids his suit on the second round.

If the partner, after passing on the first round and the partner of the doubler passes for penalty, and the partner of the 1 No Trump bidder bids 2 Clubs, 2 Diamonds, or 2 Hearts, then he shows the bid suit and a higher-ranking suit. The partner is two-suited, but has less than sufficient values to bid on the first round.

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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