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© Copyright 1996, Jim Loy
1. Hand Evaluation
Only high-card points (HCP) are used, except when in the process of raising a suit, when 5-3-1 (5 for a void, 3 for a singleton, 1 for a doubleton) distribution points are added in. In this article, both are called pts.
2. Convention Card
General Approach - Precision: A forcing 1C opening system.
Strong 1-Club Opening: Opening 1C shows 16+ pts. 1D negative response.
Weak 1NT: Opening 1NT shows 13-15 pts, balanced.
Double-Barrel Stayman: 2C response, to 1NT opening is Non- Forcing Stayman. 2D response is Forcing Stayman.
Limit Major Raise: A double raise response of a major (1H- 3H) shows 10-13 pts, invitational to game.
Inverted Minor Raise Over 1D: A single raise of 1D (1D-2D) shows 10-13 pts. A double raise (1D-3D) is a signoff (8-10 pts).
5-Card Major: Opening one of a major shows a 5-card suit.
Nebulous 1D: With no biddable suit, open 1D (as short as 2 cards). Some either pass (with 11-12 pts) or bid a Weak 1NT, if diamonds are three cards or shorter.
Weak 2-Bids (2H-2S): 8-10 pts, good 6-card suit.
Unusual 2NT Overcall: 2NT overcall shows 5 cards in both minor suits.
Weak Jump Overcall: Jump overcall is preemptive, 10 pts or less, 6-card suit.
Direct Cuebid Artificial: Direct cuebid, of opponent's suit, shows 14+ pts and a two-suited hand. The cuebid will be repeated if partner bids the suit that the cuebidder doesn't have.
Gerber After 1NT Opening Bid: 4C after a 1NT opening bid is Gerber.
Blackwood Over Suit Bid: 4NT after a suit opening bid is Blackwood.
DOPI/DEPO: See my article on 5-Card Majors.
Asking Bids: Asking bids allow a player to ask about partner's trump quality, controls, or aces. See below for better description.
See the topics below, for more detail.
3. Opening Bids
Strong 1C: Artificial. 16+ pts.
Nebulous 1D: 11-15 pts. 2+card suit. Some bid 1D only with 4+ diamonds, either passing (11 pts) or bidding a weak 1NT with fewer diamonds.
1-major: 11-15 pts. 5-card suit.
Weak 1NT: 13-15 pts. (see 17. Popular Options). Balanced. No 5-card majors. Probably pass with 11-12 pts, balanced, and no other bid.
2C: 11-15 pts. 5-card suit and 4-card major, or good 6-card suit.
2D: Artificial. 11-15 pts. 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5 (or 4-3-1-5 with weak 5-card club suit).
2-major: Weak two bid. 8-10 pts. Good 6-card suit. 2NT is the only forcing response, asking for more info. Opener bids a singleton or void. He rebids his suit with no singleton or void.
2NT: 22-23 pts. Balanced.
3NT: 24-26 hcp. Balanced. Stoppers in all four suits. The range of pts will vary from partnership to partnership.
3 or 4 of a suit: Preempt. Weak hand. Long suit. Little side strength.
4. Responses To Strong 1C
Reminder: 1C is artificial and shows 16+ pts.
1D: 0-7 pts. Negative response. Or 8+ pts, Impossible Negative, with 4-4-4-1 distribution. To show the Impossible Negative, responder will probably jump shift to show the singleton or jump in NT if partner bid the singleton.
1H-2D: 8+ pts. 5-card suit.
1NT: 8-10 pts. Balanced. 2C rebid by opener is Stayman.
2H-2S: 4-7 pts. Mostly in bid suit. 6-card suit.
2NT: 11-13 pts. Balanced. Forcing to game. 3C is Stayman.
3C-3S: 4-7 pts. Mostly in bid suit. 7-card suit.
3NT: 14-15 pts. Balanced. 4C is the same as Baron in Acol, asking partner to bid 4-card suits up the line.
5. Rebids After A Strong 1C
1C-1D (Negative. 0-7 pts.)
| suit | 16-21 pts. 5-card suit. | ||
| pass or raise | Minimum | ||
| other | Maximum | ||
| jump shift | Imp. Neg. Short suit | ||
| jump NT | Imp. Neg. Partner bid short suit | ||
| 1NT | 16-18 pts | ||
| 2C | Stayman | ||
| suit | 5-card suit. Signoff | ||
| jump suit | Imp. Neg. Short suit | ||
| jump shift | Strong two-bid | ||
| raise or NT | Minimum | ||
| new suit or jump raise | Maximum | ||
| jump NT or jump shift | Imposs. Neg. Short suit | ||
| 2NT | 19-21 pts. Balanced. Probably use Stayman with Imp. Neg. | ||
| 3NT | 24-26 pts. Balanced. 4C asks partner to bid 4-card suits up the line. |
1C-suit (1H to 2D. 8+ pts. 5-card suit)
| new suit | 5-card suit. Forcing | ||
| nonjump | Minimum | ||
| jump | Maximum | ||
| NT | No 5-card suit. Forcing | ||
| nonjump | Minimum | ||
| jump | Maximum | ||
| raise | Trump asking bid. Force to game | ||
| step 1 | 5-card or more. Jack hi or worse | ||
| step 2 | 5-card. Ace or king or queen hi | ||
| step 3 | 5-card. AK or AQ or KQ | ||
| step 4 | 6-card. Ace or king or queen | ||
| step 5 | 6-card. AK or AQ or KQ | ||
| step 6 | 5-card or more. AKQ | ||
| jump raise | 19-21 pts. Good support. Forcing to game | ||
| new suit | Feature showing | ||
| jump shift | 19+ pts. Solid suit. Force to game | ||
| new suit | Cuebid. Interest in slam | ||
| 3NT | 16-18 pts. Balanced. Stoppers | ||
| new suit | 5-5 distribution. Partner chooses a suit | ||
| raise game | 16+ pts. 3-card support | ||
| new suit | Cuebid. Interest in slam |
1C-1NT (8-10 pts. Balanced)
| 2C | Stayman | ||
| suit | 5-card suit. Forcing | ||
| any NT | Natural |
1C-2major (4-7 pts, mostly in bid suit. 6-card suit.)
| pass | No chance of game | ||
| 2NT | Forcing raise | ||
| new suit | Singleton or void | ||
| rebid | No singleton or void | ||
| raise | Invitational | ||
| new suit | Forcing | ||
| raise | 3-card support | ||
| 3NT or new suit | Poor support. Maximum | ||
| rebid | Poor support. Minimum |
1C-2NT (11-13 pts. Balanced. Forcing to game.)
| 3C | Stayman |
1C-3suit (4-7 pts, mostly in bid suit. 7-card suit.)
| pass | No chance of game | ||
| raise | Invitational | ||
| game | Signoff | ||
| new suit | Forcing | ||
| raise | 3-card support | ||
| 3NT or new suit | Poor support. Maximum | ||
| rebid | Poor support. Minimum |
1C-3NT (14-15 pts. Balanced)
| 4C | Asks partner to bid 4-card suits up the line |
6. Responses To 1D
Reminder: 1D shows 11-15 pts and a 4-card suit.
pass: 0-7 pts.
1major: 8-15 pts. 4-card suit. Forcing.
1NT: 8-10 pts. Balanced. No 4-card major.
2C: 11-15 pts. Good 4-card suit. No 4-card major or 6-4 with weak 4-card major. Forcing.
2D (inverted raise): 11-15 pts. 4-card support. No 4-card major. Forcing.
jump shift: 16+ pts. 5-card suit. Forcing to game.
2NT: 16+ pts. Balanced. No good 5-card suit. Forcing to game.
3D (weak raise): 8-10 pts. 5-card support. Signoff.
3NT: 14-15 pts. Balanced. No 4-card major.
8. Rebids After 1D Opening
1D-1major (8-15 pts. 4-card suit. Forcing.)
| nonjump | Minimum. Natural bid | ||
| jump | Maximum. Natural bid |
1D-1NT (8-10 pts. Balanced. No 4-card major.)
| new suit | Not suitable for NT play |
1D-2C (11-15 pts. Good 4-card suit. Forcing.)
| rebid | Minimum. No stoppers | ||
| major | Stopper in that major only | ||
| NT | Stoppers in both majors | ||
| raise | Maximum. No stoppers |
1D-2D (limit raise) (11-15 pts. 4-card support. Forcing.)
| raise | Minimum. No stoppers | ||
| major | Stopper in that major only | ||
| NT | Stoppers in both majors | ||
| 3C | Artificial. Maximum. No stoppers |
1D-jump shift (16+ pts. 5-card suit. Forcing to game.)
| raise | 3-card support | ||
| new suit | 4-card suit | ||
| 3NT | Minimum | ||
| rebid | None of the above |
1D-2NT (16+ pts. Balanced. Forcing to game.)
| 3NT | Minimum. Balanced | ||
| 3C | Artificial. Minimum. Unbalanced | ||
| 3D | Maximum. Balanced | ||
| new suit | Maximum. Unbalanced |
9. Responses To One Of A Major
Reminder: One of a major shows 11-15 pts, and a 5-card suit.
pass: 0-7 pts. or poor fit.
raise: 8-10 pts. 3-card support.
new suit: 1/1=8-15 pts. 2/1=11-15 pts. 4-card suit. Denies good support. Forcing.
Forcing 1NT: 8-15 pts. Poor support. No good new suit. Forcing.
2NT: 16+ pts. Balanced. Forcing to game. No good new suit. May have support.
jump shift: 16+ pts. 5-card suit. Forcing to game. May have support.
jump raise: 11-13 pts. 3-card support.
3NT strong raise: Artificial. Strong raise. 14-15 pts. Good 3-card support.
triple raise: 14-15 pts (less than 11 hcp) 4-card support.
double jump shift: Splinter raise. 11-15 hcp. 3-card support. Singleton or void in bid suit.
10. Rebids After One Of A Major
1major-raise (8-10 pts. 3-card support.)
| new suit | Maximum. Game try. Asks for help in this suit |
1major-new suit (1/1=8-15 pts. 2/1=11-15 pts. 4-card suit.)
| raise major | Minimum. 4-card support | ||
| rebid | Minimum. 6-card suit | ||
| 2 new suit | Minimum. 4-card suit | ||
| NT | Minimum. None of the above | ||
| raise minor | Maximum. 4-card support | ||
| jump raise major | Maximum. 4-card support | ||
| jump rebid | Maximum. AQJxxx or better | ||
| 3 new suit | Maximum. 4-card suit | ||
| jump 3NT | Maximum. None of the above |
1major-1NT (8-15 pts. Poor support. Forcing.)
| new suit | Minimum. 4-card major or better 3-card minor | ||
| rebid | Minimum | ||
| reverse or jump shift | Maximum. 4-card suit | ||
| jump rebid | Maximum. AQJxxx or better | ||
| 2NT | Maximum. None of the above |
1major-2NT (16+ pts. Balanced. Forcing to game.)
| 3NT | Minimum. Balanced | ||
| 3C | Artificial. Minimum. Unbalanced | ||
| rebid | Maximum. Balanced | ||
| new suit | Maximum Unbalanced. 4-card suit |
1major-jump shift (16+ pts. 5-card suit. Forcing to game.)
| raise | 3-card support | ||
| 3NT | Minimum. Balanced | ||
| new suit | Good 4-card suit | ||
| rebid | None of the Above |
1major-3NT (Strong raise. 14-15 pts. Good 3-card support.)
| new suit | Cuebid. Maximum. Slam try |
11. Weak 1NT
Reminder: An opening bid of 1NT shows 13-15 pts. (see 17. Popular Options), balanced.
Responses to 1NT:
2C: Non-Forcing Stayman, showing 8-11 pts and a 4-card major.
2D: Forcing Stayman. 12+ pts. Forcing to game. Opener shows 4-card major or 5-card minor or 2NT otherwise. Another option is Jacoby Transfers.
2 major or 3 minor: major=5-card suit, minor=6-card suit. Signoff.
2NT: 10-11 hcp. Invitational to 3NT.
3 major: 5-card suit. Forcing to game.
3NT: 12-15 hcp. Signoff.
4NT: Invites 6NT.
12. Responses to 2C
Reminder: 2C shows 11-15 pts. It shows a 5-card club suit and a 4-card major, or a good 6-card club suit.
2D: Artificial, asking bid. 11+ pts. Requests more information.
Responses:
| 2 major | Minimum. 4-card suit | ||
| 2NT | Minimum. 6-card club suit. 2 side suits stopped. Responder bids 3D to ask where the stoppers are: 3H=H&D, 3S=S&D, 3NT=S&H | ||
| 3C | Minimum. 6-card club suit. One suit stopped. Responder bids 3D to ask where the stopper is: 3H=H, 3S=S, 3NT=D | ||
| 3D | Minor 2-suiter (6-5) | ||
| 3 major | Maximum. 4-card suit | ||
| 3NT | Maximum. Solid 6-card club suit | ||
| 4C | Maximum. Long broken club suit |
2 major: 8-10 pts. 5-card suit. 3C is signoff.
2NT: 11-12 pts. Balanced. No 5-card major. 3C is signoff.
3C: 8-10 pts. Partner passes with minimum.
jump shift: 14+ pts. Good 5-card suit. Forcing to game. Responses: 3NT=poor support, raise=minimum, new suit=cuebid ace.
game: Signoff.
13. Responses to 2D
Reminder: 2D shows 11-15 pts. It shows 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5 (or 4-3-1-5 with weak 5-card clubs) with short diamonds.
pass: 0-10 pts. 6-card diamond suit.
new suit: 0-7 pts. Signoff.
2NT: 8+ pts. Artificial asking bid. Requests more info.
Responses:
| 3C | 3-4-1-5 (4-card hearts). 3D asks for pts: 3H=minimum, 3S=maximum | ||
| 3D | 4-3-1-5. 3H asks for pts: 3S=minimum, 3NT=maximum | ||
| 3H | Minimum. 4-4-1-4 | ||
| 3S | Maximum. 4-4-1-4 | ||
| 3NT | Maximum. 4-4-1-4. Singleton A or K | ||
| 4C | Minimum. 4-4-0-5 | ||
| 4D | Maximum. 4-4-0-5 |
3D: Minimum. Semi-solid 6-card diamond suit. Invitational to 3NT.
3NT: Minimum. Solid 6-card diamond suit. Signoff.
14. Competitive Bidding
Competitive bidding in Precision is similar to that shown in my article on 5-Card Majors.
Overcalls:
suit: 11-15 pts, KQxxx.
1NT: 16-18 hcp. Stopper in opponent's suit.
2NT: Unusual 2NT Overcall. Less than 11 pts. 5-cards in both minors.
jump: Weak Jump Overcall. Similar to preemptive bid at that level.
cuebid opponent's suit: 14+ pts. Two-suiter. Repeat cuebid if partner guesses the wrong suit.
15. Asking Bids
Trump Asking Bid (1C-1suit-raise):
| step: | 1 | 5+ cards | none of the top 3 honors |
| 2 | 5 cards | 1 of the top 3 | |
| 3 | 5 cards | 2 of the top 3 | |
| 4 | 6+ cards | 1 of the top 3 | |
| 5 | 6+ cards | 2 of the top 3 | |
| 6 | 5+ cards | all three top honors |
Control Asking Bid (a-new suit after trump asking bid or b-new suit after ace asking bid):
| step: | 1 | no control (first, second, or third round) | |
| 2 | 3rd round control (doubleton or Q) | ||
| 3 | 2nd round control (singleton or K) | ||
| 4 | 1st round control (void or A) | ||
| 5 | 1st and 2nd round control (AK or AQ) |
Ace Asking Bid (jump shift by 1C opener after any positive response):
| cheapest NT | no top honor (A, K, Q) in asked suit, no side A | ||
| raise | top honor in asked suit, no side A | ||
| new suit | no top honor in asked suit, A in bid suit | ||
| jump new suit | top honor in asked suit, A in bid suit | ||
| jump NT | no top honor in asked suit, 2 side aces | ||
| jump raise | top honor in asked suit, 2 side aces |
Other schemes of asking bids are possible. See Roman System, Super Precision, or others, for alternative asking bids.
16. Forcing Bids
In Precision, an opening 1C bid is the only forcing opening bid. A new suit by responder is forcing, unless opener just bid 1NT. The numerous artificial bids are, of course, forcing.
17. Popular Options
A few popular conventions, commonly used with Precision: Jacoby Transfers, Roman Asking Bids, and others.
Nowadays an opening 1NT is probably 14-16 for most Precision bidders.