PrecisionL

Relay Precision by R.J. Danielson only published 5 volumes in softback pamphlet form, 1977-79.

Recent books published on Strong Club Systems: Milkwood, Thomas Dullan, 2017 Positive responses show hcp, not recommended. Barcelona Strong Club, Assalit & Sabate, 2017 Positive responses show controls, not recommended. BFUN, Bridge For the UNbalanced, Cadmus, 2015 Positive responses show QP points (AKQ), other subjects are interesting, including canape. Edited: June 2, 2018 0822 hrs EDT: I just re-read Barcelona Strong Club and strongly recommend this book as it is probably the best theory book on Strong Club Design. Positive responses are Transfers, not control showing. The authors argue that 5-5 hands are more frequent than 4441 hands and thus have 3 bids to show 5-5 hands and a positive response at a low level (2♥, 2♠, and 2NT). Bids from 3♣ through 4♠ contain the 4441 hands. I would put all the 4441 hands in one bid to be unpacked with a relay. If opener makes the cheapest response after a positive response, it is a relay for responder to describe his/her hand. Edited September 1, 2018 12:30 AM EDT: Pattern Precision, by J.W. Hawthorne, published: August 13, 2018. A very interesting read. 1NT and higher responses to 1♣ show minor(s) and distribution. 2♣ response is balanced, 2♦ and 2♥ are 5 or 6-cd minor with a singleton, 2♠ is unusual or 6m331, 2NT is 4441 and 11+ hcp, higher bids are 4441 and weaker.

Yes, the first published book on the Nottingham Club was 1954 by Margery Burns. She claimed it had taken her 10 years to write the book which incorporated the Loose Diamond opening bid (usually in 3rd seat with 11-12 hcp). Nottingham also used the opening 2♦ as strong, 22+ or game in hand. 9/14/18: Precursor of Schenken's Strong 2♦ asking for aces? (Initially used by Vanderbilt in "The Club Convention," 1964.) The first Precision book was published in 1969. If Acol is an Attitude of Mind, then "Nottingham" is a Triumph of Mind over Matter ...

I would try 1NT overcall for takeout promising short in the minor opened. Double for takeout with 3,4-cards in the opened minor and better than minimum hand.

Horns of a Dilemma, by Pierre Chidiac, Beirut, pg. 75-76. 1♦ - 1♠ - 3♦ - ? 3♥ = spades, 5 or more, or values for 3NT if opener stops ♣s. 3♠ = willing to play 3NT if opener stops ♥s. 4♣ by opener shows ♠ fit, no ♥ stopper; 4♦ neither. 3NT= stoppers in both unbid suits. When opener's main suit is clubs, there is room to show stoppers under 3NT.

Interesting design Adam. I have been playing 2♥ or 2♠ 10-14 hcp and no void or singleton with a good 5-cd suit or not-so-good 6-cd suit for over 10 years in a strong club system with reasonable results. This 2M design allows responder to get out in his 5-cd or 6-cd suit with a void or singleton in opener's major. Plus: opportunities for penalty doubles of overcalls abound. Minus: a weak 2-bid in a major is lost, but could be in the 2♦ opening.

This is accepted as common knowledge, however we have NOT found it to be necessarily true. The 1♣ opener can abort the relay scheme and ask for support (SAB-3) for his own good suit(s). Our scheme allows responder in such a case to show 0-1, 2, 3 or more card support (zooming to controls with 3-cd or better support).

5-5

Since partner has two places to play, maybe he should double for takeout?

Simple continuations: pass with 0-5 hcp, double with 6+ hcp and show a natural suit with Hxxxx and 6+ hcp. Bids at the 3-level are forcing to game.

I love 4-cd majors and Canape, but we play it with a 11-14 NT and a strong ♣, 15+ hcp.

My favorite system (C3) uses unlimited positive transfer responses into 4-cd majors over an opening of 1♣ (Most 16+ hcp hands). We did NOT use Symmetric Relay, but our own artificial distribution scheme. If there was an 8-cd fit, then the bid of that suit (after distributional asks) was a Beta for controls (Aces & Kings) that would usually solve the question of how strong responder was. On the rare occasion where responder had extra distribution, he could bid again. After showing controls, opener could bid again asking for extra strength or length. Edit: 3/25/18: Sometimes denial cue bidding is used if 1-2 controls (A or K) are missing. Note: Some but not all of the distribution schemes are in Ultra Club, reference below:

I would open all of them if playing a weak NT, 11-14 hcp.

Yes, yes, and yes. It is a very good opening hand. Your reference may be out-of-date, many 12 hcp hands are worth opening with 2 or more quick tricks and a 5-cd suit.

Book #8 was published January 20, 2018: GUS Two Clubs and Two Notrump, 55 pages, $12. 2♣ = 6 clubs, may have a side 4-card suit. 2♦ is the Relay (I prefer transfer continuations over 2♣ and have played them for 5 years) 2NT is 15-18 points and 5♥ and a 5 or 6-card minor.

What should 3-level responses be? Using a modified idea of Eric Rodwell: 3♣ = 5♣ + 5 another suit (3♦ asks) 3♦ = 5♦ + 5♥ or 5♠ (3♥ pass/correct) 3♥ = 5♥ + 5♠

I have never seen a Flight C above 750 MP. Something seems wrong.

16-17 hcp hands are problem hands in most systems of bidding. That reason is why Precision does so well with these strength hands. As to defensive bidding, 16-17 hands are again problems and many of my partnerships use the Power Double to show 16-17 hcp hands, even with a 5 or 6-cd suit.

Super 69: I would rebid 3NT (as South) with 23 hcp and all the aces and AK in two 4-cd suits.

Update on suit quality methods: I have been synthesizing a new strong club system combining elements of Fantunes & Nightmare & Millennium Club. Just recently we decided to use 1♣ - 2♣ as the catch all G.F. response which can include 5-cd suits without 2 of the top 3 honors. We also have solid 7-cd suits with and without extras in the design. With 2 honors or more we transfer at the 2-level for majors and at the 3-level for 6-cd minors (with A or better). We treat xxxxx as a 4-cd suit and xxxxxx as a 5-cd suit.

We allow opener to have up to 17 hcp for 1M opening to minimize problems over opponent's pre-empts, been doing this for one year now.

4♣ shows a control in ♣ and usually denies a ♠ control, because 3♥ agrees ♥s.

I would make it 2 sections and score across both sections with 3 board rounds. This will also solve your time constraints. Balancing the sections will be a challenge. Larry, an ACBL Club Director

"CC Wei was a bidding theorist, he never actually even played." - Bermy (see above) As a matter of fact, C.C. Wei played Precision with Ron Anderson as described in his book, Match Point Precision, 1975. He details an 83% game they had at a New York Winter Regional in 1974 before he published his book mentioned above. C.C. also won the Puerto Rico Open pairs 1970, Swiss Teams 1972, Mid-Atlantic Summer Swiss 1972, Metropolitan Open Pairs 1974.

Actually Precision was preceded by the Nottingham Club, 1954, 1959, 1969 publications, Margery Burns. I have been to that club in England and played the system with a local player. However, the opening bid of 2♦ was the strong Game Forcing bid in the system. Weak two bids in the majors were added in 1969. Before then, 2♥ & 2♠ were intermediate, less than16 hcp, but not long enough for a four bid, and two strong for a one bid. 1♦ was the "loose" or prepared diamond opening bid. 1♣ was 16-22 hcp, 1NT was 13-15 and 2NT was 21-22.