As an early frequent user of the technique, Dorothy Rice Sims is often thought to be the originator of the psychic bid; however, according to bridge player and writer, Albert Morehead, "She did not actually invent the psychic bid, though it is generally credited to her, but she did give it its name and she wrote the first and only book about it.
After two successive passes, this hand might be opened with 1♠ as a psych, trying to stop opponents from reaching a likely game or even slam.
Per rules of the game, the partner of a player who has psyched must not take advantage of any special knowledge of the partnership's habits.
[8] In addition, if the partner is perceived to have bid abnormally due to taking account of a psych, then the score may be adjusted.
Also, partnership agreements to use a "check bid" or psychic control to verify the psych may either be banned entirely (as by the ACBL) or limited in their usage (as by the World Bridge Federation, which designates them brown sticker conventions).