Defense to Strong 1C

I am starting to lose track of what I have written about, but I met a woman in Tupelo, MS who was very interested in defenses to the strong 1C opening which Meg and I employ. She uses a system called "Preference," but I haven't come across any notes on the system. I did, however, some research on different defenses to strong artificial 1C and 2C openings, and there are a plethora of them.

The one that most bridge players agree has the most success is called Suction. Here's how they work: any suit bid over 1C shows either a 1-suited hand in the suit directly above the bid suit OR a 2-suited hand in two touching suits that don't include the bid suit or the one above it. For example, (1C) 1D would show either a 1-suited hand in hearts or a 2-suited hand in spades & clubs. Responder would bid the next suit and let partner correct to the 2-suited hand if necessary. That takes care of most types of hands you would want to overcall except the non-touching 2-suited hands; for these, you would bid 1NT and correct if necessary after partner bids the compulsory 2C. One last bid, the double. Most use the double to show a real hand like 15+ pts. After this, bidding proceeds naturally. You could also use this idea for overcalling a standard strong 2C opening.

I have never played this defense due to the fact that no one we play against on a normal basis plays Precision. I found another defense you might like to try. I can't remember the name of it, but it employs the Suction bids at a higher level and allows the bidding for other shapes.

Dbl = clubs

1D/1H = Transfer to hearts/spades

1S = 4 spades & longer minor

1NT = 4 hearts & longer minor

2C = suction. 6+ diamonds OR 5-5 in majors

2D = suction. 6+ hearts OR 5-5 in spades/clubs

2H = suction. 6+ spades OR 5-5 in minors

2S = 5-5 in spades/diamonds

2NT = 5-5 in hearts/minor

This takes away the opening point hand double, but I find that since 1C is forcing, a pass can show this as long as you bid the second time around. Also it gives you the ability to get in there with what seems like one of the most likely shapes you see, the 5-4 hand with 4 in a major (canape bids). See if you like it. If you're from Oxford, I highly recommend you employ this system against us, as I have no idea what to do after you get in there with these bids.