Precision

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by Eric RodwellCopyright OKbridge, Inc. 2001

System Summary:

Bid Rule

1 16+, any shape 1 11-15, 2+ s 1 , 1 11-15, 5+ cards 1NT 13-15 2 11-15, 5+ s 2 11-15, 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5 2NT 20-21 other normal preempts

System in Detail:

I. Why Play Precision?

The key is bids have limits -- it is much easier to focus on what you can make (game, slam, etc) if partner's bid is limited. In precision, openings show 11-15 instead of 11-21 in Standard.

II. Some General Points:

1) Use hand evaluation in any situation. Points in aces and kings are good, as are good distribution and points in long suits. Open 1 with

A-Q-J-10-x-x     A-x-x     A-x-x     x, in spite of only 15 points.

2) The two main "variables" in Precision are your 1NT opening range and whether you require 6+ clubs to open 2 . I will take the standard Precision 1NT of 13-15 and 2 shows 5+ first, but I recommend a 1NT range of 14-16 and that a 2 opening promises 6+ clubs.

3) In response to a 1NT or 2NT opening, use your normal response methods. Precision has nothing to add to this subject. Similarly, in response to 1 or 1 , or preempts use your normal methods. The "Precision" openings are 1 , 1 , 2 , and 2 .

III. Responses to 1 (16+, any shape).

1 -1 : 0-7, artificial negative. All other responses are game forcing.1 , 1 , 2 , 2 : 8+, 5+ cards in suit. Bid longest suit first. With 5-5, bid the higher-ranking suit first.1NT : 8-10 balanced, can contain 4-card Major(s).2NT : 11-13 balanced, can contain 4-card Major(s).3NT : 14-15 balanced, can contain 4-card Major(s).

This leaves two hand-types that aren't described: 4-4-4-1 shapes with 8+ HCP, and 16+ balanced. With 16+ balanced, respond 1NT and after looking for a fit, take over with Blackwood and put the hand in a slam. With 4-4-4-1, jump in your short suit starting with 2

:

1 - 2 : 4-1-4-4, 8+.2 : 1-4-4-4, 8+.3 : 4-4-4-1, 8+.3 : 4-4-1-4, 8+.

Opener sets the trump suit over these 4-4-4-1 responses. With a minimum, Responder bids game; with extra strength Cue-bid, with a strong hand bid Blackwood.

If Responder responds in NT, Opener's cheapest bid in clubs is Stayman. No transfers are used, since we want opener to declare the hand if possible (ie other bids are natural). Opener can show a club suit by bidding Stayman and rebidding clubs over the reply.

If Responder bids 1 , 1 , 2 , or 2 , Opener can raise with a fit (especially a Major), or bid his own 5+-card suit. With a balanced hand, or 4-4-4-1 short in Responder's suit opener bids NT, over which all bids are natural. The bidding continues naturally.

If Responder bids 1 , opener's rebids are:

1 - 1   1NT 16-19 (or whatever your 1NT opening range

would dictate). 2NT 22-23. Use the 1NT opening or 2NT opening

structure in response. 3NT To play, but use Stayman and transfers in

response. 1 , 1 , 2 , 2

16-20, non-forcing. The simple way is to play that 5+ cards are promised. The most effective way, however, is to allow a 1 or 1 rebid with a 4-card suit and a 5-card side minor.

2 , 2 , 3 , 3

Forcing. Shows a hand that is worth opening 2 with in Standard. Respond to these bids as if

partner had opened 2 and you had responded 2 , waiting.

IV. Responses to 1 (2+ , 11-15).

Responses to 1 are "normal bridge." Responder must remember that Opener could have 2 or 3 and 4 or 5 , and not raise diamonds without 5-card support.

1 - 1 , 1

4+ cards in the suit. You can choose to respond with less than 6 HCP, or to Pass 1 with up to 8 HCP since opener is limited.

1NT 7-10 (6-10 if you prefer), no 4-card Major. 2NT 11-12, invite, no Major. 3NT To play. 2 Forcing, either to game or one round depending

on preference. 2 Inverted, forcing one round (or weak standard

raise if you prefer). 2 , 2 , 3

Whatever you play jump shifts to show (strong, weak, other).

3 Preemptive (unless you don't play a 2 raise as inverted).

Bidding continues as if you opened a Standard 1 . If Opener rebids clubs on the 2nd round that should show both diamonds and dlubs, as in Standard:

1 -12 :at least 5-4 or 4-5 in the minors. With 5C and no 4D, rebid 1NT (or open 2 or 1NT).

V. Responses to a 2 Opening.

In "Standard Precision" 2 promises 6+ , or 5+ and a 4-card Major.

Responses:

2 - 2 Artificial, asking. Opener bids a Major if he has one. Lacking a Major opener rebids 3 to show a minimum and 2NT to show a maximum. If Responder raises later that is non-forcing; if Responder bids a new suit that is GF.

2 , 2 5+ cards, non-forcing, up to invitational strength. Opener raises with 3+ card fit, and should try to "run" from the Major with a singleton or void in the suit.

2NT Invitational, no Major. 3 Preemptive raise. With values, bid 2 then 3

next time (still non-forcing). 3 , 3 , 3

Game forcing, 6+ cards in the bid suit.

4 Distributional raise, invites a 5 bid to make or as a save.

VI. Responses to a 2 Opening.

In "Standard Precision," = 11-15 with short , either 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5.

Responses:

2 - Pass, 2 , 2 , 3

To play. With maximum and 4-4-0-5 opener can raise.

3 , 3 , 3 , 4 Invitational. 2NT Asks for distribution. No reason it

shouldn't be GF.Responses:3 :4-4-1-4 minimum.3 :4-4-1-4 maximum.3 :4-4-0-5 minimum.3 :4-4-0-5 maximum.

VII. Competition over Precision Openings.

Over 1 , I prefer that Pass shows 0-5 HCP (or a Penalty X of the overcall, shown by leaving in a reopening X or Cue-bidding later). Bids show 8+ and are GF in the same style as responding to 1 . A Cue-bid shows a balanced hand looking for a stopper. Double shows 6-7 HCP with any shape.

1 - 1 - X : 6-7 with any shape. Opener's 1NT rebid can be Passed (system on over NT rebids if Responder Passed to show 0-5, or X'd to show 6-7). Opener's Jump is Game-forcing; opener's non-jump new suit bids are forcing for one round.

For Opener, if Responder could have no points (1 - P - 1 , or 1 - overcall - Pass), Opener's X is for takeout, new suit bids are non-forcing, and jumps are forcing. If Responder has promised points, then Pass and bids are forcing, and X is Penalty.

Over 1 Opening, use normal methods as if 1 was Standard.

Over a 2 Opening, Negative X's are used (through 3 is my preference). Bids of 2 , 2 , and 2 are the same, if available. New

suit bids at the 3-level are forcing. Over a 2 opening, no Negative X's. Bids retain the same meaning if available.

VIII. Some parting thoughts on 1NT range, 2 and 2 opening style.

I prefer a 1NT opening to show 14-16. This makes for nice 3-point ranges: 1 followed by 1NT = 11-13, 1NT opening = 14-16, and 1 followed by 1NT = 17-19.

I prefer a 2 opening show 6+ clubs. When the hand is 5-4-2-2, I consider it balanced and plan to rebid 1NT (of course I raise a Major with 4 trump, and rebid 1 over 1 with 4 ). With 4-1-3-5, or 1-4-3-5, I rebid 1 over 1 , or 1NT over 1 .

I prefer a 2 opening can contain 3-4-1-5, or 4-3-1-5. This complicates the responses so this is not for new Precision users. The 2NT response is still game forcing but the responses are different:

2 - 2NT3 : 4-3-1-5. Responder sets trumps and opener shows his range by raising or Cueing.3 : 4-3-1-5. Ditto.3 : 4-4-1-4 minimum.3 : 4-4-1-4 maximum.3NT : 4-4-0-5 minimum.4 : 4-4-0-5 maximum. Responder might have to use 4NT as an ace ask, since he doesn't have room to set trumps.

表單的頂端Comment on: Precision by Rodwell!Subject: canape By: MrPsyche

Date: 2004-11-27 19:59  what openings would you recommend if playing

canape?

Subject: Prefer 6+C for 2C? By: adholmes

Date: 2004-07-17 03:52  If 2C= 6+ Clubs what do you do with 4-1-3-5 or 1-4-3-5

open 1D also??

Subject:

I have much better methods

Subject: 2C continuation suggestion. By:

Date: 2003-01-09 16:01  I have played Precision variants for a long time and

have the following suggestions over a 2C opening.

2D: Relay

2H: F1 round; 5+ in suit

2S: F1 round; 5+ in suit

2N: Bad raise of clubs

3C: Good raise of clubs

After 2C - 2D:

2H/2S: 4 cards in suit

2N: Single suited in clubs (strong)

3C: Single suited in clubs (weak)

3D: Strong two suited in clubs and diamonds

Subject: Printer Version By: GB1

Date: 2002-10-04 13:53  How come the Printer 'Friendly' version doesn't work ??

Geoff Barrett

Subject: printing By: valis

Date: 2002-05-23 14:59  Of course it will print. If you see it on your screen, you

can see it on your printer, if you handle it correctly. It

may take more than just a alt-F-P.

If it won't print as text try printing it from a graphics app

like Corel or Adobe, etc. Even MS Paint in a pinch.

Subject: 1NT opener By:

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Date: 2002-02-14 10:13  When I open 1nt, I have 14-16 HCP vul and 11-15 not

vul. This is just a bit different but I think it works great.

Subject: Printer friendly version By:

Date: 2001-12-31 21:59  It looks good, but it wont print.

I have Internet Explorer.

Many thanks, Eric. I wish there were a book of hands.

Subject: please post a Precision

convention card By:

Date: 2001-10-21 11:17  It would be nice to have an OKBridge standard for

those of us who like Precision as well as those who

encounter Precision opponents. Maybe the same for

Acol. Don't see much Roman or Polish Club or anything

like that, but the first two do have players.

Subject: Precision, which version? By:

Date: 2001-10-13 07:38  There are many modifications of precision system.

version 1, 2, 3----etc.Is there any standardized, most

popular one?

Subject: More modern? By:

Date: 2001-09-16 01:04  Can someone point to a more modern reference

online? Thanks...

Subject: System Summary By:

Date: 2001-09-03 15:20  Very poor ( bad ) description. Missing basic ideas and

explains. For example: can add word 'good' for clubs for

opening 2c.

Bambam Precision is created 1965-1970 ( not 1940 )

Subject: precision By:

Date: 2001-08-07 11:39  these notes are from 1940

bambam

Subject: 4315/3415 2D-2NT rebids

typo By:

Date: 2001-07-30 00:08  In the section on 3415 2D openings, the 3C and 3D

rebids after 2NT ask are identical. Is one intended to be

4315 and one 3415?

Subject: precision by Rodwell By:

Date: 2001-07-26 20:25  It seems many people's response to precision being my

favorite system to bid is "I DON'T PLAY PRECISION. I

think viewing this summary will convince more partners

to use precision. The major advantage being the limited

openers.

Subject: 2d-2nt By:

Date: 2001-07-25 15:26  3c = 3-4-1-5

3d = 4-3-1-5

Subject: interference By: ocr

Date: 2001-07-25 04:54  It might be interestíng how to handle best 1- and 2-

suited interference over a strong c opening.

A subject Eric has surely given much attention.

otto "ocr"

Subject: Typo By:

Date: 2001-06-13 10:51  Thanks "sly," it's been fixed! -- Webmaster

Subject: mistake By: sly

Date: 2001-06-12 20:12  Hi all!

I think was a misprint after 2D responsese. Probably

CTRL+V was used after 3H/S:-)) Logically 3H/S is INV,

isn't it?

Gyorgy Szalay, "sly"

Subject: Great summary By:

Date: 2001-06-12 09:03  Thanks for the summary of "simple" precision. This

should make pick-up precision partnerships LOTS

easier.