May you provid a precision system?

[TD1995]

I took part in a tournament recently, our opps use precision system. Their 1NT opening means 11-13HCP, and they use nebulous diamond. May you provide a precision system including this? Thank you very much. (Sorry for my bad English)

[blackshoe]

I suppose it depends on the tournament's regulations, but in general, sure, why not?

[BunnyGo]

If you wish to read up on such a system, I'd recommend Berkowitz's book "Precision Today". I believe it has this as one of the variants.

[glen]

Here's an example:

 

www.bridgematters.com/express.pdf

[PrecisionL]

I took part in a tournament recently, our opps use precision system. Their 1NT opening means 11-13HCP, and they use nebulous diamond. May you provide a precision system including this? Thank you very much. (Sorry for my bad English)

 

Google Precision System:

 

http://www.turboirc.com/precision/

 

http://www.duralbridge.com/precision.ing.htm

 

http://www.larryco.com/OldStuff/files/DB-LC-2007CONVCARD.pdf

[glen]

Google Precision System:

 

http://www.turboirc.com/precision/

 

http://www.duralbridge.com/precision.ing.htm

Both links seem to be a 13-15 1NT, not the 11-13 as op.

 

edit: He is now adding more links, perhaps he will hit one with a 11-13 1NT (or maybe not as it turns out below)

[PrecisionL]

Both links seem to be a 13-15 1NT, not the 11-13 as op.

 

edit: He is now adding more links, perhaps he will hit one with a 11-13 1NT.

 

So change the NT to whatever you want!

 

14-16 V is popular now.

[Zelandakh]

Here are some different options for building such a system from a base of modern precision.

 

1) Reverse the 11-13 and 14-16 balanced hands. That is an opening 1NT is 11-13 while opening 1D and rebidding NT shows 14-16.

2) As above but move the 16hcp balanced hands to 1C. Now use traditional precision rebids for balanced hands.

3) As 2 but use a Kokish-style relay for balanced hands in the 19-21, 24-25, etc ranges.

4) As 2 but use a 2D Opening for 19-20 balanced

 

There are additional possibilities but I think the above is a reasonable collection. They are arranged in (my opinion) order of complexity, simplest first.

[mycroft]

I can't tell if the OP is looking for a basic description of that system, or something that they can play. Links are likely to be information overload if they just need "what do we need to defend against it?"

 

So, I'll try to give a basic "here's what to expect" for Precision. Don't think that it's enough to play it!

 

• All* bids other than 1♣ are limited to a bad 16 or so (some play decent 16, some play 17, some play 1 bids limited to 15, but constructive 2 bids could be 16, check the card). So that's information right there that can help you on defence or play.
  
• Because of the limited nature of the non 1♣ bids, most Precision pairs open lighter than standard - shapely 10s, or All 11s, or all 10s and some 9s, or... Check their agreements.
  
• As a result of the above, there are many more nonforcing sequences, and different ranges for their nonforcing sequences, than in standard. (For instance, my partner and I play 1♥-4♥ as "either 5 hearts and a singleton, weak hand *or* flat 14-16 with 3-card support". Which one does he have? I don't care - he thinks we can't make slam. Also, we play a weak double raise of 1M - but "weak" is "0-bad 9", not the normal "0-5 or so".)
  
• You should have some sort of interference system over their 1♣ - but don't worry about it too much. Just find some way of getting in with shape, and raising with a fit, before opener (who has just showed 16+ points) gets a rebid.
  
• If your country's system regulations allow, you might think about an ambiguous defence system over their ambiguous diamond, as well. It is one of the minus points to the system. Oh, and know if they can open 1♦ with fewer than 2 diamonds.
  
• Know what their 2-bids mean.
  
• The "you can just change the NT range" talk is about there only being two non-1♣ ranges: basically minimum (11-13) and maximum (14-16). So they'll pick one for 1NT directly, and one for 1♦ (usually) - 1M; 1NT. It is important to know what balanced hand the 1♦ bidder could have if the auction continues in a way that opener might still have the balanced hand. In this case, it would be 14-16. "13-15" is an old range, predicated on "we don't open light" - which minimised the times when they opened 1♦ without 3 cards. Nobody does that any more - but then 1♦ is 11-12 (or 10-12) when they have a flat hand. Again, useful to know.
  
• I don't know the level of the event you're in, but many Precision players have only an uncomfortable grasp on their system, and are much more comfortable when you're asking questions that allow them to confirm that they're still on the same page**. If they open 1♣ and you don't need to know what an alertable bid means, DON'T ASK during the auction - wait until the end and ask about the entire auction afterwards. You're also much more likely to understand when you have the full information rather than piecing it out bid by bid ("the first two rounds were totally artificial. 1NT shows 20-21; then Stayman, 4 hearts, game. Dummy is limited to 7 high" vs all the meanings of 1♣!-1♦!; 1♥!-1♠!; 1NT!-2♣!; 2♥-4♥). Even if they do know their system, it also makes the game go faster.
  

 

* - For some it's really "any", for some it's apart from the odd call like 2NT still 22-24 or 2♦ being any strong (4441). Basically "any call", though, still.

** - Yes, I know that using that information, even it's for "oh good we still think the same thing" is not legal. Minus screens, there's no way to stop it from happening (unconsciously, at least) except by not asking.