SUTLI is an acronym that stands for steps up-the-line. It is the ideal agreement for any situation in which you need to give partner stepped information about your hand. The agreement could not be simpler. The cheapest bid shows the weakest holding, the next bid shows the second weakest, and so on. If the last bid was by an opponent:
- Pass is always step 1.
- [Re]double is always step 2.
- Bids are steps 3 and up.
SUTLI takes all the pressure off partner to remember what each step means. If she cannot remember, she can work it out at the table. Even if you do not use complex methods, you should adopt SUTLI principles for situations where the opponents interfere.
SUTLI in competitive auctions
The most valuable use of SUTLI is to combat enemy interference in your auctions.
They double a fourth-suit forcing bid
When your side makes a fourth-suit-forcing bid, the opposition may double to show strength in the suit. Your priority is clarify your holding in the danger. If you play SUTLI principles:
- Pass (step 1): neither stopper nor shortage the danger suit, hence Qx, Jx(xx) or worse.
- Redouble (step 2): single stopper in the danger suit.
- Suit bids: shortage in the danger suit.
- Notrump bids: double stopper in the danger suit.

- Pass with ♠︎Q ♡xx ♢AQxxx ♣︎KQJxx.
- Redouble with ♠︎x ♡Kxx ♢AQxxx ♣︎KJxx.
- Bid 2♠︎ with ♠︎Qxx ♡x ♢Axxxx ♣︎KQJx.
- Bid 2N with ♠︎x ♡KQT ♢Axxxx ♣︎QJxx.
They double a transfer bid
When the opposition double a transfer bid for lead, showing length and strength in the suit doubled, you can use SUTLI principles to show your holding in partner’s suit.
- Pass (step 1) shows 2-card support.
- Redouble (step 2) shows 3-card support, minimum.
- Transfer (step 3) shows 3-card support, maximum.
- Other bids (steps 4 and up) show 4-card support.

- Pass with ♠︎QJTx ♡Kx ♢Axx ♣︎AKxx.
- Redouble with ♠︎QJTx ♡Kxx ♢Axx ♣︎KQx.
- Bid 2♡ with ♠︎KJTx ♡Kxx ♢Ax ♣︎AQxx.
- Bid 3♣︎ with ♠︎AKx ♡KTxx ♢Kxx ♣︎Ax (maximum)
- Bid 3♡ with ♠︎AKx ♡KTxx ♢Kxx ♣︎Qx (minimum).
After a pass, responder can redouble to ask partner to complete the transfer. Any other bid by responder is natural; if it is a new suit at the 3-level, it is forcing.
They double a control (cue) bid
When you are cue bidding, the opposition may double a cue to show strength in the suit, usually to ask for the lead of the suit doubled. The suit doubled is the danger suit. The player after the doubler uses SUTLI principles to clarify the situation in the danger suit.
- Pass: nothing in the danger suit. Now a bid of the agreed suit is a sign-off; any other bid promises control and continues slam exploration.
- Redouble: something in the danger suit. This denies first-round control but promises that they cannot cash two rounds. The king, queen, or a singleton are suitable holdings to redouble.
- Bids: first-round control in the danger suit.

- Pass with ♠︎AKxxxx ♡Qx ♢AKx ♣︎xx.
- Redouble with ♠︎AKxxxx ♡xx ♢AKx ♣︎Qx.
- Bid 4♢ with ♠︎AKxxxx ♡Qx ♢AKx ♣︎xx.
- Bid 4N with ♠︎AKxxxx ♡Kx ♢Axx ♣︎Ax.
This method is much easier to remember and just as effective as any I have seen when a cue is doubled for lead.
They double a Puppet Stayman bid
When you use 3♣︎ as Puppet Stayman or Muppet Stayman, the opposition may double to ask for a club lead. You can use SUTLI principles to clarify your holding in the danger suit (clubs).
- Pass: no stopper. Responder redoubles to ask opener to make his normal rebid.
- Redouble: one stopper, no 5-card major.
- 3♢: double stopper, no 5-card major but one or both 4-card majors.
- 3♡ or 3♠︎: one stopper with a 5-card suit.
- 3N: double stopper, no 4-card major.
If you play Muppet Stayman, the 3♡ and 3N bids are switched, but it makes no difference to the structure.
SUTLI in constructive auctions
SUTLI can be used powerfully in constructive auctions too. If you choose to use relay methods, the memory benefit of using steps up-the-line is immense. There are two basic use cases for SUTLI.
- Use SUTLI to show hand strength. This answers the question, “How many of X do you have?” X could be points, tricks, losers, aces, keycards, or any other unit of quantity. If the question is, ”How many losers do you have?” and you have promised 7 losers, then step 1 = 7, step 2 = 6, step 3 = 5, etc.
- Use SUTLI to show side-suit features. This answers the question, “Where do you have X?” This invariably means you have an agreed trump suit. There are three side suits, which are classified as lowest-ranking, middle-ranking, and highest-ranking. If you are asked to show a shortage in a side suit, step 1 denies a shortage, step 2 shows shortage in the lowest-ranking suit, step 3 in the middle-ranking suit, and step 4 in the highest-ranking suit.
The range of uses is potentially endless, so let us use three examples to illustrate.
SUTLI to show shortage
When a trump suit is agreed, you can use SUTLI methods to show shortages to help the partnership assess whether the values are working or wasted for game or slam purposes. The responding structure is simple:
- Step 1: no shortage
- Step 2: shortage in the lowest-ranking non-trump suit.
- Step 3: shortage in the middle-ranking non-trump suit.
- Step 3: shortage in the highest-ranking non-trump suit.
I would define a “shortage” as a singleton or void, but not a singleton ace or king. In our first example, we are using SUTLI methods to make short-suit trial bids after a major has been bid and raised to the 2-level.

- Bid 2♠︎ with ♠︎Kx ♡AQJxxx ♢Axx ♣︎xx – no shortage.
- Bid 2N with ♠︎Kxx ♡AQJxx ♢Axxx ♣︎x – ♣︎ shortage (low suit).
- Bid 3♣︎ with ♠︎Kxx ♡AQJxx ♢x ♣︎Axx – ♢ shortage (middle suit).
- Bid 3♢ with ♠︎x ♡AQJxx ♢Axxx ♣︎Kxx – ♠︎ shortage (high suit).
You can use the same methods for slam tries when a major is agreed at the 3-level. In the following example, you are playing 2-over-1. The 3♡ bid agrees hearts and shows slam interest. Opener’s priority is to show a feature. Since he has bid diamonds, he cannot be short there. Therefore, a feature in diamonds should be a broken suit, such as ♢KJTx.

- Bid 3♠︎ with ♠︎Jx ♡AQJxx ♢Axxx ♣︎xx – no shortage.
- Bid 3N with ♠︎Jxx ♡AQJxx ♢Axxx ♣︎x – ♣︎ shortage (low suit).
- Bid 3♣︎ with ♠︎Jx ♡AQJxx ♢KJTx ♣︎xx – ♢ feature (middle suit).
- Bid 4♢ with ♠︎x ♡AQJxx ♢Axxx ♣︎Kxx – ♠︎ shortage (high suit).
In both of these examples, when opener uses step 1 to deny a feature, this can function as a feature ask to responder. Responder would also use SUTLI principles where the first step denies a feature, while higher bids show a feature in the lowest, middle, and highest non-trump suits.
SUTLI to show strength
You can use SUTLI methods to show strength in steps. In the next example, you are playing SUTLI over a Jacoby 2N response. Responder’s 2N raise promises ≤7 losers. After opener’s rebid, responder shows losers in steps.

- Bid 4♠︎ with ♠︎QJxx ♡AQx ♢KQxx ♣︎xx – jumping to 4♡ says that your hand is now sub-minimum, i.e. more than 7 losers.
- Bid 3♡ with ♠︎QJxx ♡Axx ♢AQxx ♣︎xx – step 1 shows 7 losers.
- Bid 3♠︎ with ♠︎KQxx ♡Axx ♢AQxx ♣︎xx – step 2 shows 6 losers.
You get the idea—responder revalues her hand in the light of the shortage shown and tells partner exactly how many losers she has.
SUTLI in RKCB
You can even use SUTLI principles when playing Roman Keycard Blackwood. When partner asks for the queen of trumps:
- Step 1 denies the queen.
- Step 2 shows the queen with no side kings.
- Step 3 shows the queen with one side king.
- Step 4 shows the queen with two side kings.
- Step 5 shows the queen with three side kings.
The follow-ups can also apply SUTLI principles.
Conclusion
SUTLI is the ideal structure for handling step responses. You would benefit from using it in competitive auctions, especially when you need to show the strength of your holding in a danger suit, whether stoppers for 3N or controls for a slam. The constructive uses are more advanced and complex. The big advantage to SUTLI is that it makes the meaning of bids easy to remember or work out at the table.