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Home , Balanced hand, Bidding system, Negative double, Precision Club

MG PRECISION HANDBOOK

Greg Earnest Acknowledgements

I would like to thank David Howorth, first and foremost, for introducing me to the game that has taken over my life. He has been a driving force in the betterment of bridge in Oxford, Mississippi.

I would like to thank Ann Gill for running the Oxford duplicate game for many years, allowing me to play bridge without driving to another town thirty minutes away. She is also the one I know who never gave up on this club, and I hope she never does.

I would like to thank all of the bridge authors out there who have published bidding systems online like Daniel Neill; Richard Pavlicek; Jan Larsson; Peter John Oakley of New Zealand for publishing The Diamond Major system, the first non- standard system I read; and Ken Allan for publishing a complete Precision system that I could understand well enough to play.

Lastly and most importantly, I would like to thank Meaghin Burke, my wife, my best friend, my regular bridge partner, and my editor. We entered this world of bridge together, and you’re the best partner an obsessed guy could ever ask for. I love you.

2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...... 6 1 – MG OPENING BIDS ...... 8 Of course, in fourth seat you may want to only open 2 of major with a good suit and 8-12 points; otherwise, you would just pass out the hand...... 10 You could also include 2♥ into this system (Meaghin and I do), but that is something you should discuss with your regular partner before playing. Losing 2♥ as a preemptive bid is certainly a tradeoff that not all partnerships would be willing to make. ....10 2 – OPENING 1♣ ...... 11 2.1 The Negative Response ...... 12 2.2 The Positive Transfer Responses ...... 15 2.3 The Positive Minor Responses ...... 16 2.4 The Positive Balanced Responses ...... 18 2.5 The Positive Canapé Responses ...... 19 2.6 Responding with Positive 4441 Hands ...... 20 2.7 Interference over 1♣ Opening ...... 22 3 – Opening 1♦ ...... 25 3.1 Responses ...... 26 3.2 Opener’s Second Bid ...... 26 3.3 Interference after a 1♦ Opening ...... 28 4 – Opening 1♥ or 1♠...... 30 4.1 Responses ...... 30 4.2 Opener’s Second Bid ...... 31 4.3 Optional GF Raises: the MGQ ...... 32 4.4 Interference after Opening 1M ...... 33 5 – Opening 1NT ...... 34 5.1 Responses ...... 34 5.2 Interference after Opening 1NT ...... 35 5.3 Run-out Scheme if 1NT Is Doubled ...... 36

4 6 – Opening 2♣ ...... 41 6.1 Responses ...... 41 6.2 The 2♦ ...... 43 6.3 Interference after Opening 2♣ ...... 44 7 – Opening 2♦ ...... 45 7.1 Responses ...... 45 7.2 The 2NT Asking Bid ...... 45 7.3 Interference over 2♦ - 2NT ...... 46 8 – Opening 2♥/2♠ ...... 49 9 – Opening 2NT ...... 51 10 – Preemptive Openings ...... 52 11 – Opening 3NT Gambling ...... 53 12 – Slam Conventions ...... 55 12.1 Roman Keycard Blackwood (1430) ...... 55 12.2 Cuebids ...... 57 12.3 Asking Bids after Opening 1♣ ...... 57 12.4 Example Hands ...... 62 13 – Defensive Bidding ...... 66 13.1 ...... 66 13.2 Doubles ...... 66 13.3 Defense to 1NT ...... 67 13.4 Against Weak Two Bids ...... 69 13.5 Against ...... 69 14 – Defenses against Artificial Openings ...... 71 14.1 Against Strong 1♣ ...... 71 14.2 Against Strong 2♣ ...... 71 14.3 Against Multi 2♦ ...... 72 14.4 Against Gambling 3NT ...... 72 14.5 Against Unusual 2NT ...... 73 15 – A Final Word...... 75

5 INTRODUCTION

This is the bridge used by Meaghin Burke and Greg Earnest of Oxford, Mississippi. The first version of Precision bidding was created by C. C. Wei for his national China team. Because he wasn’t an expert at the time, his system didn’t garner much attention until the Chinese finished in second place in the in 1969, then again in 1970. After that, the from Italy used the system with a few modifications and won the Bermuda Bowl many times with it.

The first Precision system Meaghin and I tried was the K-Club by Ken Allan of Ontario, Canada. MG Precision still has a lot of the same elements of that system. Other systems that made contributions to this one include Viking Precision (by Glenn Groetheim and Alan Sontag), Meckwell Precision (notes of ’s and ’s Precision system done by Daniel Neill), and The Unbalanced Diamond by Marshall Miles.

This is a highly scientific bidding system which means there is a lot of memorizing to do if you want to play this system in its entirety. I suggest that you start with the basics (openings, first responses, and rebids) then slowly add elements as you get comfortable with the system. For

6 instance, don’t try the Asking Bids until you feel comfortable with them, or don’t include the run-out scheme after 1NT(X) until you’ve been burned once for opening a 10 HCP 1NT.

7 1 – MG OPENING BIDS

Opening Bids in 1st and 2nd seat 1♣ 16+ Any shape except for 20-21 Balanced 1♦ 13-15 Balanced (could be as short as 2 diamonds) 11-15 4+ diamonds, unbalanced 1♥ 11-15 5+ hearts 1♠ 11-15 5+ spades 1NT 10-12 Balanced (no 5-card major) 2♣ 11-15 5+ clubs (if only 5 clubs, then a side 4-card major) 2♦ 11-15 3-suited, short in diamonds (4414, 4315, 3415, 4405) 2♥ 5-10 6 hearts, 2 of the top 4 honors in hearts 2♠ 5-10 6 spades, 2 of the top 4 honors in spades 2NT 20-21 Balanced (may have a 5-card major) 3x 0-9 Preemptive 3NT 9-11 7+ card solid , nothing outside 4x 0-9 Preemptive

The only thing that differs between 1st / 2nd seat and 3rd/4th seat is the NT structure. When 1NT means 10-12 HCP, we need to open balanced 13-15 HCP 1♦ first then rebid NT (or support partner). If 1NT means 12-15 HCP, then there’s no

8 need to lump balanced bids with 1♦, and therefore that opening becomes completely natural.

Opening Bids in 3rd and 4th seat 1♣ 16+ Any shape except for 20-21 Balanced 1♦ 11-15 4+ diamonds, unbalanced 1♥ 11-15 5+ hearts 1♠ 11-15 5+ spades 1NT 12-15 Balanced (no 5-card major) 2♣ 11-15 5+ clubs (if only 5 clubs, then a side 4-card major) 2♦ 11-15 3-suited, short in diamonds (4414, 4315, 3415, 4405) 2♥ 5-10 6 hearts, 2 of the top 4 honors in hearts 2♠ 5-10 6 spades, 2 of the top 4 honors in spades 2NT 20-21 Balanced (may have a 5-card major) 3x 0-9 Preemptive 3NT 9-11 7+ card solid minor suit, nothing outside 4x 0-9 Preemptive

9 Of course, in fourth seat you may want to only open 2 of major with a good suit and 8-12 points; otherwise, you would just pass out the hand.

You could also include Flannery 2♥ into this system (Meaghin and I do), but that is something you should discuss with your regular partner before playing. Losing 2♥ as a preemptive bid is certainly a tradeoff that not all partnerships would be willing to make.

10 2 – OPENING 1♣

We come to the lynchpin of the Precision system, the big club. Since opening 1C promises at least 16+ points, responder can force to game with less points than in standard bidding. There are a wide variety of responses to a Precision 1C, but I have found, after tweaking and experimenting, these are my favorite.

Responses to 1♣ 1♦ 0-7 Any shape 1♥ 8+ 5+ spades 1♠ 8+ 5+ hearts 1NT 8-10 Balanced (no 5+ card major) 2♣/2♦ 8+ 5+ cards in bid suit 2♥/2♠ 8+ 4 card bid major & 5+ cards in unknown minor 2NT 11-13 Balanced (no 5+ card 16+ major) 3♣ 8-11 4441 hand with black singleton (also bid this with 12+ HCP and 0-3 controls) 3♦ 8-11 4441 hand with red singleton (also bid this with 12+ HCP and 0-3 controls) 3♥ 12+ & Any 4441 hand 4+ ctrls 3♠ 9+ A long, solid 6+ card suit somewhere

11 3NT 14-15 Balanced (no 5+ card major)

2.1 The Negative Response

Responding 1♦ to an opening 1♣ GUARANTEES 0-7 HCP. Opener has the following rebids after the negative 1♦ response:

Bidding after 1♣ - 1♦ 1NT 16-19 Balanced (typically without a 5-card major) 2NT 22-24 Balanced (typically without a 5-card major) 1♥/1♠ 16-21 5+ cards in bid suit 2♣/2♦ 16-23 5+ cards in bid suit 2♥/2♠ 22+ Game-forcing, natural 3♣/3♦ 24+ Game-forcing, natural 3♥/ 24+ 4441 hand, short in bid suit 3♠/ 4♣/4♦

After 1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT, Stayman is specialized so that opener can limit his points.

After 1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT - 2♣

12 2♦ 16-17 No 4-card major 2♥/2♠16-17 4 cards in bid major 2NT 18 No 4-card major 3♣ 18-19 4 cards in some major (3♦ asks which) 3♦ 19 No 4-card major

Other bids after 1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT include Jacoby Transfers, 2♠ is puppet to 3♣ (after which responder passes or corrects to 3♦), and 2NT invites to 3NT. Basically, we use the same responses as when we do after an opening 1NT. The same goes for 1♣ - 1♦ - 2NT.

After 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥/1♠, the responses are specialized again to differentiate between different types of support and HCP ranges.

After 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ 1♠ 0-7 4+ spades (bid this before showing 3 card support) 1NT 2-5 No 3+ card support (& no 4+ spades) 2♣ 6-7 0-2 card support 2♦ 6-7 3 card support Raise 1-5 3+ card support Dbl-Raise 6-7 4+ card support Jump- 5-7 Splinter with 4+ card Shift support

13 After 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♠ 1NT 2-5 No 3+ card support 2♣ 6-7 0-2 card support 2♦ 6-7 3 card support 2♥ 6-7 5+ hearts Raise 1-5 3+ card support Dbl-Raise 6-7 4+ card support Jump- 5-7 Splinter with 4+ card Shift support

After any of these bids, bidding reverts to natural except for 2 sequences:

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♥ is forcing responder to further describe his hand. In priority, responder bids 3♥ with 4 hearts, 3 of a minor to show a 5+ card minor, 2NT to show a balanced hand with decent suits, and 2♠ to show 2 spades.

1♣ - 1♦ - 1M – Y – 3m is forcing and shows a 5- 5 or better distribution in the major and minor suit bid.

After 1♣ - 1♦ - 2m, responder can pass, but should bid on with 5-7 points. Further bidding is natural with opener as captain (responder can’t pass a new suit by opener).

14 Any higher rebid by opener promises a GF hand, and the auction proceeds naturally until a game is reached.

2.2 The Positive Transfer Responses

When responder wants to show a game- forcing hand with 5 or more cards in a major, he bids the other major at the one level. This allows opener to explore at a lower level (if responder has spades) for slam. The rebids after a positive transfer response are as follows:

Bidding after 1♣ - 1♥ 1♠ 16+ Asking Bid (should have 3+ spades) 1NT 16+ Control Asking Bid (Ace = 2 controls, King = 1 control) 2♣/2♦/ 16+ Support Asking Bid 2♥ (should have 5+ card suit) 2♠ 16-19 Balanced with 3-4 spades (4333 shape if 4 spades) 2NT 16-19 Balanced with 2 spades 3♣/3♦/ 22+ Delta Asking Bid 3♥

15 3♠ 22-24 Balanced with 3-4 spades (4333 shape if 4 spades) 3NT 22-24 Balanced with 2 spades

So, as you can see, opener starts the asking bid sequences at the 1-level if he has spade support. This is not necessarily so if responder has hearts.

Bidding after 1♣ - 1♠ 1NT 16+ Control Asking Bid 2♣/2♦/ 16+ Support Asking Bid 2♠ (should have 5+ card suit) 2♥ 16+ Trump Asking Bid (should have 3+ hearts) 2NT 16-1 Balanced with 2 hearts 9 3♣/3♦/ 22+ Delta Asking Bid 3♠ 3♥ 16-1 Balanced with 3-4 hearts 9 3NT 22-2 Balanced with 2 hearts 4

See the section on slam techniques for responses to TAB, CAB, SAB, and DAB.

2.3 The Positive Minor Responses

When responder has a minor suit only (or two minor suits), bidding is very much like standard Precision. Responder typically

16 doesn’t have even a 4-card major as there is a different response for those kind of hands.

Bidding after 1♣ - 2♣ 2♦/2♥/ 16+ Support Asking Bid 2♠ (should have 5+ card suit) 2NT 16-19 Balanced 3♣ 16+ Trump Asking Bid (should have 3+ clubs) 3♦ 16+ Control Asking Bid 3♥/3♠ 22+ Delta Asking Bid in bid suit 3NT 22+ Delta Asking Bid for diamonds

Bidding after 1♣ - 2♦ 2♥/2♠/ 16+ Support Asking Bid 3♣ (should have 5+ card suit) 2NT 16-19 Balanced 3♦ 16+ Trump Asking Bid (should have 3+ diamonds) 3♥ 16+ Control Asking Bid 3♠/4♣ 22+ Delta Asking Bid in bid suit 3NT 22+ Delta Asking Bid for hearts

17 2.4 The Positive Balanced Responses

Perhaps the most frequent positive response are the ones where responder has a balanced hand, with 8-10 points being the more likely point range.

Bidding after 1♣ - 1NT 2♣ 17+ Specialized Stayman 2♦/ 16+ Specialized SAB (shows 5+ 2♥/ cards) 2♠/3♣ 2NT 16 Balanced, non-forcing

After 1♣ - 1NT - 2NT, responder may have only 8 points across from a partner with only 16 points. Usually, game is not possible with only 24 points in two balanced hands, so this sequence is non- forcing. Otherwise, game is on.

After the 2♣ Stayman rebid, responder bids the suit below his 4-card suit (2♦ shows hearts, 2♥ shows spades, 2♠ shows neither 4-card major, and 2NT shows both). After this bid, if opener bids the intended suit (e.g. 1♣ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 2♠), it is an mTAB (see slam techniques).

After any of the natural bids over 1♣ - 1NT, responder bids in steps to show support: 1st step shows xx 2nd step shows Hx

18 3rd step shows xxx 4th step shows Hxx 5th step shows xxxx 6th step shows Hxxx Since responder is limited to 8-10 points, asking for controls isn’t necessary. After 3rd step response or higher, any new suit by opener is SCAB. After the 1st and 2nd step, any new suit is natural showing a second suit.

Bidding after 1♣ - 2NT is very similar to the above table, 3♣ is Stayman (normal responses) and 3 of any other suit is natural and game-forcing, but not a support asking bid.

After 1♣ - 3NT, 4♣ is Baron (bid 4-card suits up-the-line), 4♦ and 4♥ are transfers, and 4♠ is Ace-asking (like regular Blackwood).

2.5 The Positive Canapé Responses

I included these bids because it is a bit difficult to find a 4-4 major fit when the bidding starts 1♣ - 2 minor. These bids take the place of a more natural, preemptive bid, but since opener is strong, there isn’t as much a need for preempting.

Bidding after 1♣ - 2M 2NT 16+ Asks for responder’s minor suit

19 New 16+ Natural (5+ cards) suit Raise 16+ mTAB

When opener has 4-card support for the major, he can bid game or raise to ask about the trump suit as a modified Trump Asking Bid (and start a slam-try). When he doesn’t, he can ask for responder’s minor suit with the 2NT rebid or just start bidding naturally.

2.6 Responding with Positive 4441 Hands

If responder has 8-11 HCP OR if he has 12+ HCP with only 0-3 controls, he responds 3♣ (black singleton) or 3♦ (red singleton). With 12+ HCP and 4+ controls (this is typically slam-going), then he responds 3♥.

After 3♣ or 3♦, if opener bids the next suit (e.g. 1♣ - 3♣ - 3♦), then he is asking responder where his shortness is. The cheapest suit bid shows a singleton in the lower-ranking suit and the next cheapest bid shows a singleton in the higher- ranking suit.

After 3♥, if opener bids 3♠, he is asking where responder is short. Responder bids the suit directly below the singleton (e.g.

20 1♣ - 3♥ - 3♠ - 4♦ shows a singleton heart).

21 2.7 Interference over 1♣ Opening

Responding after an up to 2♠ Pass 0-4 Any shape New Suit 5-8 5 cards Jump-shift 5-8 6+ cards Cheap NT 6-8 Balanced with a stopper in overcaller’s suit Jump NT 9-11 Balanced with a stopper in overcaller’s suit 3NT (over 12-14 Balanced with a stopper 1-level in overcaller’s suit overcall) Dbl 5-8 Balanced with NO 9+ stopper 5+ card suit somewhere Cuebid 9+ 2- or 3-suited, short in overcaller’s suit

After overcaller doubles, the responses are similar, but a little simplified.

Responding after a Double of 1♣ Pass 0-4 Any shape New Suit 5-8 5+ cards 1NT 6-8 Balanced (with club stopper if dbl showed clubs) 2NT 9-11 Balanced (with club stopper if dbl showed clubs)

22 3NT 12-14 Balanced (with club stopper if dbl showed clubs) XX 9+ Any shape

When overcaller decides to really muck up the works and bids at the 3-level or higher, then responses must be a bit more helpful to opener, especially when opponents are attempting to steal the auction.

Responding after an overcall of 2NT or higher Dbl 4-7 Points are located in overcaller’s suit 3NT 8-1 0-2 controls, balanced, 0 stopper in overcaller’s suit Pass 0-2 controls 1 Step (not 3 controls NT) 2 Steps 4 controls, no Ace or King in overcaller’s suit 3 Steps 5 controls, no Ace or King in overcaller’s suit Cuebid 4+ controls with Ace or King in overcaller’s suit

After 1♣ (3x) Pass (P), opener doubles for take-out or cuebids opponent’s suit to force to game.

23 24 3 – Opening 1♦

Now we can get into the limited opening bids. These are the real strength of Precision or any big club system. In standard bidding, when opener has close to game-forcing values, he has to open at the 1-level and any sign of life from partner is enough to jump to game, but when the opponents interfere, it’s difficult to know how high the partnership should get when partner doesn’t bid. With opening bids, other than 1♣, limited to a maximum of 15 HCP, opener no longer has to worry about how high to compete when partner remains silent after interference. Responder can also just bid game when opponents get into the auction without the worry of missing a slam when opener has 18 as opposed to 13 points.

The 1♦ opening is usually the catch-all bid in precision. For this system in 1st or 2nd seat, it can only mean two things: natural diamond suit OR balanced hand 13-15 HCP. In 3rd and 4th seat, it is definitely a natural suit (4+ cards). So when you open this bid in 1st or 2nd seat, your partner must announce, “Could be short.” When they ask how short, you can tell them as short as 2 diamonds (in the case of a 4432 hand or a 5332 hand with 5 clubs and 2 diamonds). Even though it could be short, responder should still feel comfortable bidding his own real diamond

25 suit without worrying too much about whether opener has diamonds in support.

3.1 Responses

Responses to 1♦ 1M 6+ 4+ cards in bid major 1NT 7-10 No 4+ card major and no support for diamonds 2♣ 10+ 5+ clubs & no 4+ card major 2♦ 10+ 5+ diamonds & no 4+ card major 2♥ 0-9 5-5 or better in the majors 2♠ 0-9 6+ cards 2NT 11-13 Balanced, no 4-card major 3♣ 0-9 6+ cards (typically 7) 3♦ 0-9 5+ diamonds, unbalanced 3M/ 13+ Splinter, 5+ diamond 4♣ support 3NT 14-17 Balanced, no 4-card major

3.2 Opener’s Second Bid

In 1st or 2nd seat, opener bids 1♦ with a balanced 13-15 HCP hand. With an unbalanced hand holding at least 4 diamonds, opener bids 1♦ as well, so

26 when it comes around to opener’s rebid, bidding NT and raising responder’s suit are the only ways to show a balanced hand. Any other rebid shows the diamond hand. The only exception to this rule is when opener has a balanced hand with 4 spades, and the bidding goes 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠. I feel that showing the 4-card spade suit is more important than differentiating between a balanced hand and an unbalanced hand. It would be nice for responder to know if diamonds are ok to go back to, but if spades aren’t good for him, then he can bid 1NT, and an opener with an unbalanced hand will go back to diamonds for him.

In 3rd or 4th seat, 1♦ only shows an unbalanced hand with 4 or more diamonds. This means that the 1NT rebid is free to mean whatever you might like. We play that after 1♦ - 1M, 1NT shows a singleton or in responder’s major (so that he doesn’t keep talking about it unless it is a SERIOUS suit).

There is a discussion on continuations after 1♦ - 1M - 1NT later in this book, but there are a couple of other sequences to look at. First, after 1♦ - 2♣, opener should bid the following in priority: 2M to show a 4-card major, 2NT to show a 13-14 HCP balanced hand with exactly 3-3-4-3 distribution, 3NT to show the 15 HCP balanced 3-3-4-3 hand, 3M to show club

27 support (4+ clubs) and shortness in bid major, 3♣ to show club support without shortness, finally 2♦ to show 5+ diamonds.

Second, after 1♦ - 2♦, opener bids 2NT to show the balanced 13-15 HCP hand, bids a new suit to show a real diamond hand with shortness in bid suit, and bids 3♦ to show a real diamond hand with no shortness.

Some special sequences include 1♦ - 2♣ - 2M - Y - 3M (which shows a 6-5 hand in diamonds & bid major), and 1♦ - 1M - 2NT (which shows what is called the “Bridge World Death Hand.” opener has a good 6+ diamond suit and 3-card support for partner’s major)

Opener can also show 6-5 hand with diamonds and a major by jump-shifting after 1♦ - 1M (e.g. 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♠ shows 6-5 in diamonds and spades).

3.3 Interference after a 1♦ Opening

Standard bidding applies. Such things as negative doubles, cuebid limit-raises, negative free-bids, etc. should be discussed with your partner before playing.

28 29 4 – Opening 1♥ or 1♠

When it comes to responses to 1 of a major, I don’t think there is any one great set of responses, so feel free to use any responses you currently use. Now, I will say that since opener is limited to a max of 15 points, there isn’t a real reason for responder to differentiate between 3 and 4 card support when raising his suit (responder should be the only one looking for slam).

4.1 Responses

Responses to 1♥ 1♠ 6+ 4 or more spades (tends to deny 3+ hearts) 1NT 6-9 No heart support 2♣ 10+ Natural (4+ cards) 2♦ 10+ Natural (5+ cards) 2♠ 12+ MGQ (4+ hearts, & 1st round control of spades) 2NT 11-13 Balanced 3NT 13-16 Balanced with 3 hearts 3♣/3♦ 12+ MGQ (4+ hearts, & 1st round control of bid suit) 3♠/4♣/ 12+ Splinter, 4+ card heart 4♦ support Raise 6-9 3+ card support Dbl-raise 10-12 3+ card support 4♥ To play

30 4NT RKCB 1430 for hearts

Responses to 1♠ 1NT 6-9 No spade support 2♣ 10+ Natural (4+ cards) 2♦ 10+ Natural (5+ cards) 2♥ 10+ Natural (5+ cards) 2NT 11-13 Balanced 3NT 13-16 Balanced with 3 spades 3♣/3♦/ 12+ MGQ (4+ spades & 1st 3♥ round control of bid suit) 4♣/4♦/ 12+ Splinter, 4+ card spade 4♥ support Raise 6-9 3+ card support Dbl-raise 10-12 3+ card support 4♠ To play 4NT RKCB 1430 for spades

4.2 Opener’s Second Bid

Most of the responses to 1M are similar to Standard bidding. After responding with a natural bid, opener then bids his second suit of 4+ cards in that suit, rebids his major with 6+ cards, or bids notrump with neither of these.

One convention you might want to implement is Checkback Stayman (1♥ -

31 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ asks for 3-card support for responder’s major).

After a single raise, opener may want to investigate for game (some 14-15 HCP hands are better than others), so we use Help-Suit Game Tries and Short-Suit Game Tries. After 1M - 2M, the next step (e.g. 1♠ - 2♠ - 2NT) is a Help-Suit , and responder bids the first suit he or she can help with (1st or 2nd round control). When opener bids a new suit after 1M - 2M (that isn’t the next step), he is showing a short suit, and if responder has no wasted values, he or she goes to game.

4.3 Optional GF Raises: the MGQ

This is a convention that I and my regular partner invented when we played Standard. We’ve had a lot of fun with them, but most bidding theorists would argue that these take up too many available bids with hands that just don’t happen that often. But if you like, give them a try.

Responding with a jump-shift after 1M shows a game-forcing hand with 4+ card support and 1st round control of the bid suit. After this opener will cuebid controls, and responder will sign off in the original major if he feels slam is unlikely. These bids take the place of a more preemptive

32 natural bid or other such treatments like , but bidding an unlikely slam short on points but high on controls is more important to me than bidding the correct part-score or game.

4.4 Interference after Opening 1M

Standard bidding applies. Such things as negative doubles, cuebid limit-raises, negative free-bids, etc. should be discussed with your partner before playing.

33 5 – Opening 1NT

In 1st or 2nd seat, 1NT shows 10-12 HCP with a balanced hand, and in 3rd and 4th seat, it shows 12-15 HCP. Either way, it is considered a weak NT (the 10-12 is sometimes referred to as Micro NT or Kamikaze NT). Don’t be scared of opening a 10 HCP balanced hand, vulnerable! You very rarely go for a phone number (or even a low MP ), and there are ways of getting out of a double. The preemptive nature of this opening far outweighs the times you look at a dummy and say to yourself, “I have to find 4 tricks let alone 7! Sheesh!”

5.1 Responses

Standard responses are good here. I usually play that 2♣ is Stayman, 2♦/2♥ are transfers, 2♠ is puppet to 3♣ where responder can pass or correct to 3♦, 2NT invites to 3NT, 3♣ is weak with 5-5 in the minors, and 3♦ is weak with 5-5 in the majors.

Any responses you currently play with a strong NT (15-17 or the older 16-18) will work. Now, I know you may be wrong- siding the contract when you have GF values and a 5+ card major by transferring first, so I propose you make 3♥ and 3♠ mean GF hands with exactly 5 cards in

34 the bid major. That way if opener has support, you’ll play in the right place, and he can still bid 3NT with only 2 card support. Also, I don’t suggest playing Texas Transfers (the 4-level transfers) as they typically wrong-side the contract as well. Just bid game in the suit you want to play.

5.2 Interference after Opening 1NT

Again, what you play over interference with a strong NT works in this situation as well. Personally, I play that after an overcall at the 2-level, applies. Here’s what I mean:

After the overcall, bidding a new suit at the 2-level is sign-off and bidding a new suit at the 3-level is natural and forcing. If responder bids 2NT over the overcall, then opener must bid 3♣. After this, bidding a new suit lower-ranking than the overcall is sign-off, and bidding a new suit higher- ranking is invitational and natural.

To find a 4-card major in opener’s hand, responder must cuebid the overcaller’s suit. If he cuebids directly, he denies a stopper in the overcaller’s suit. If he bids 2NT first, then cuebids, he has a stopper.

35 To bid 3NT directly over interference means responder has the points, but not a stopper. If he or she bids 2NT (the Lebensohl trigger) first, then bids 3NT, he or she DOES have a stopper.

This leaves double as penalty when the opponents get a little bid-happy or feel safer because you opened such a low point NT.

5.3 Run-out Scheme if 1NT Is Doubled

So, there will be times when an opponent will hear “10-12” or “12-15” from the partner of the 1NT opener, and think that they can’t let you get away with this. Out comes the red card! Most times, you’ll want to escape to a suit bid, but you also want to punish the opponents for being so bold, so you bid according to the Sardine Run-out bids. They are the brainchild of a guy who goes by the alias Sardine on Bridge Base Online. ™

The bidding after 1NT (X) is a bit complicated, but if you learn it, it will save you on numerous occasions. One way to remember the direct 2-level bids is to compare them with the overcalls.

36 Bidding with a weak hand after 1NT (X) 2♣ 2-suited in clubs & hearts 2♦ 2-suited in diamonds & hearts 2♥ 2-suited in hearts & spades 2♠ 2-suited in spades & clubs Pass Forces opener to XX XX (automatic) 2♣ 2-suited in clubs & diamonds 2♦ 2-suited in diamonds & spades 2♥ 0-4-4-5 or 0-4-5-4 distribution 2♠ 4-0-4-5 or 4-0-5-4 distribution XX Forces opener to bid 2♣ 2♣ (automatic) 2♦/ 1-suited in bid suit 2♥/ 2♠/3♣

For the purposes of getting to a suit contract, a 2-suited hand could be as few as 4-4, a 1-suited hand could be a good 4 card suit, and we don’t have enough bids to find the best place opposite a 3-suited hand (but you can pick 2 of the 3 that look the best and treat them like a 2- suited hand).

37 When responder believes 1NT would make, he or she has the ability to play 1NT XX by passing first (forcing opener to redouble), and then passing again.

There are occasions where you were thinking of bidding game somewhere across from your 1NT opening partner when all of a sudden, you see a red card fall in front of RHO (your right-hand opponent). Well, we have ways of dealing with that, too, and it involves the 2NT bid. Here’s what I mean:

Bidding with a strong hand after 1NT (X) Pass Forces opener to XX XX (automatic) 2NT GF, 3-suited hand. Forces opener to bid 3♣ 3♣ (automatic) 3♦/ 4441 distribution 3♥/3♠ with singleton in the bid suit 3NT 4441 distribution with a singleton club XX Forces opener to bid 2♣ 2♣ (automatic) 2NT GF, 1-suited hand. Forces opener to bid 3♣ 3♣ (automatic) 3♦/ 5 cards in bid suit 3♥/3♠

38 3NT 5 clubs 2NT GF, 2-suited hand. Forces opener to bid 3♣ 3♣ (automatic) 3♦ Diamonds & hearts 3♥ Hearts & spades 3♠ Spades & a minor 3NT Clubs & a red suit

Now when it’s a game-forcing situation, you want to use these bids only when the end contract is ambiguous (2-suited hands should be 5-5 or 5-4, 3-suited hands should be 4441, etc.)

Sometimes as responder it will go 1NT (Pass) Pass (by you) X! LHO sees an opportunity to punish, so opener is the first one to talk. His only bid should be a 5-card minor suit (we don’t open 1NT with a 5-card major), else he should pass. If it comes back around to you (e.g. 1NT (P) P (X) P (P) ?), then you can find a suit contract in the following way:

Bidding after 1NT (P) P (X) P (P) as Responder 2♣ 2-suited in clubs & diamonds 2♦ 2-suited in diamonds & hearts 2♥ 2-suited in hearts & spades 2♠ 2-suited in spades & clubs XX Forces opener to bid 2♣

39 2♣ (automatic) Pass 1-suited in clubs 2♦ 1-suited in diamonds 2♥ 2-suited in hearts & clubs 2♠ 2-suited in spades & diamonds

40 6 – Opening 2♣

This is one of my favorite bids. It takes away a whole level of bidding (even 1NT) to show a natural club hand, what 1♣ does in Standard bidding. The only issue some have to this bid is that you can make it with 5-4 in clubs and a major. So, responder won’t be able to find a 4-4 major fit with weak values, making the partnership play in 2♣ when the field is playing in 2M. When choosing a bidding system, though, you have to find the pluses and minuses, and then make a decision of what is more important. In this case, the preemptive nature of 2♣ is important to me, but if you like you can include 5-4 hands in the 1♦ opening (making that bid a bit more ambiguous).

6.1 Responses

Responses to 2♣ 2♦ 10+ Artificial, asking for a 4-card major 2♥/ 7-11 5+ cards in bid suit 2♠ 2NT 0-9 Forces opener to bid 3♣ (responder has club support) 3♣ 10-13 Invitational to 5♣ (or 3NT if other suits are stopped) 3♦ 10-13 5+ good diamonds and 2 clubs (no 4-card major)

41 42 6.2 The 2♦ Asking Bid

We do allow a 4-card major to be in the same hand with the clubs, but if opener only has 5 clubs, he MUST have a 4-card major in order to open this bid. So in order to prevent missing a better contract in a 4-4 (or even 5-4) fit in a major, we must use a response to ask opener if he has a 4-card major to go with his clubs, hence the 2♦ response.

When the bidding goes 2♣ - 2♦, opener must show a 4-card major by bidding it at the 2-level. If he doesn’t have one, then he bids 2NT with 11-b13 HCP, 3♣ with g13-15 HCP, 3♦ with 5 diamonds and a longer club suit, and 3♥/3♠ to show a running 6+ card club suit with a feature in the bid suit. After whatever opener bids in response to 2♦ (except for 3M after which responder can place the contract), responder can bid 3M to show a GF hand with a natural suit (which opener can support to game or bid 3NT or 4♣ without support).

There is room after 2♣ - 2NT - 3♣ for showing other types of hands in response to 2♣ opening, but I leave that for you to decide. Some ideas include game-forcing 2-suited hands (without clubs). You could make 3♦ show diamonds & hearts, 3♥ show hearts & spades, and 3♠ show spades & diamonds (this would allow

43 opener to bid 3NT without support for the .)

6.3 Interference after Opening 2♣

When the opponents interfere at the 2- level, the responses are similar to the responses without interference (2NT forces opener to bid 3♣), but a new suit implies invitational or better values, and we have a at our disposal.

Bidding after an overcall over 2♣ at the 2- level New Natural with suit invitational values Dbl Negative (showing 4+ cards in the other major) 2NT Forces opener to bid 3♣ 3♣ (automatic) Pass Weak club raise New 5+ cards in bid suit and suit a GF hand 3♣ Invitational raise in clubs Jump- Weak, preemptive shift

44 7 – Opening 2♦

All of the previous opening bids take care of all the different types of distributions and point ranges except for one – the unbalanced hand with no 5-card major, no 5-card club suit, and less than 4 diamonds: the 4-4-1-4 hand! So we dedicate what used to be a weak 2 in diamonds, which was usually overcalled easily anyway, to this type of hand in the minimum opening range.

7.1 Responses

Responses to 2♦ 2♥/2♠/ 0-9 Sign-off in bid suit 3♣ 3♥/3♠/ 10-12 Invitational in bid suit 4♣ 3♦ 10-12 Good 5+ diamonds (opener can pass or bid 3NT) 2NT 10+ Artificial, asking for shape clarification

7.2 The 2NT Asking Bid

Because this opening is so descriptive, responder can often bid the correct contract on his first bid! Now, if you want to ask partner a question about exactly

45 what kind of distribution he has (as we allow 5431 and 5440 hands with 5 clubs and short diamonds), we have the 2NT ask. Here’s how it goes (next page):

Bidding after 2♦ - 2NT 3♣ 3-4-1-5 (3♦ asks for range now: 3♥ shows min, 3♠ shows max) 3♦ 4-3-1-5 (3♥ is to play unless opener is at a max) 3♥ 11- 4-4-1-4 b13 3♠ g13-1 4-4-1-4 5 3NT g13-1 4-4-1-4, Ace or King in 5 diamonds 4♣ 11- 4-4-0-5 b13 4♦ g13-1 4-4-0-5 5

After any of these answers up to 3NT, 4♣ is RKC Blackwood (1430) for clubs, 4♦ is RKCB 1430 for hearts, and 4NT is RKCB 1430 for spades.

7.3 Interference over 2♦ - 2NT

When the opponents interfere over 2♦ before you ask, you lose the ability to ask

46 (that’s the way it goes sometimes). You should be able to place the contract with good accuracy, though. Now if you ask partner to describe his shape and THEN an opponent speaks up, opener has the following bids available to answer your asking bid:

Bidding after 2♦ - 2NT (3♣) Pass 3-4-1-5 Dbl Penalty Others Same as if they didn’t interfere

Bidding after 2♦ - 2NT (3♦) Pass 3-4-1-5 Dbl 4-3-1-5 Others Same as if they didn’t interfere

Bidding after 2♦ - 2NT (3♥ and higher) Pass Minimum length in overcaller’s suit Dbl Maximum length in overcaller’s suit

47 48 8 – Opening 2♥/2♠

I prefer to open these with 6 cards in the bid suit and 2 of the top 4 honors. I also think 3 of the top 5 honors is ok, but only in 1st or 3rd seat (in 2nd seat, it’s a 50-50 chance that you’re preempting your partner). As responder to a Weak 2 opener, you can bid a new suit which is non- forcing or bid 2NT to ask for a feature.

Another option for the 2NT ask is the set of Ogust responses. They are as follows: 3♣ = poor suit, minimum 3♦ = good suit, minimum 3♥ = poor suit, maximum 3♠ = good suit, maximum

The idea of a poor suit is usually described as 1 of the top 3 honors or QJ, good suit as 2 of the top 3 honors. Even if the opening was hearts, this way the best response you get will commit you to game, which should be fine, else why did you ask with 2NT anyway?

A new suit in response to 2M opening could be a for those who think that exploring for game in a different suit is important after a weak 2 opening. That means when you have no support for the major and weak to middling values, you have to sit in that contract. Again, you have to weigh the benefits and the risks

49 and find what you feel is right, and then discuss it with your partner.

50 9 – Opening 2NT

This opening is like Standard bidding in that it shows 20-21 HCP and a balanced hand. It typically doesn’t have a 5-card major (we would just bid 1♣-1♦-1M), so I suggest you play regular Stayman.

If you would like to include balanced hands with 5-card majors, I would suggest you use Puppet Stayman in one form or another. This is the system of responses created by Marshall Miles in his book, “My System: The Unbalanced Diamond.”

Bidding after Opening 2NT 3♣ Puppet Stayman 3♦ No 5-card major 3♥/ 4 cards in the other 3♠ major 3NT To play 4♣ 5-4 in hearts & spades (respectively) 4♦ 4-5 in hearts & spades (respectively) 3♦/ Transfer 3♥ 3♠ Puppet to 3NT 3NT (automatic) Pass To play 4M Splinter with 4-4 in the minors and slam-try

51 4m 1-suited in bid minor, slam-try 3NT 4-4 in the majors

These are a little scientific, but I find that system books are rarely ever played to the letter, so you don’t have to include this in your bidding. Again, when opener starts with 20-21 HCP, it would be bad to miss slam because you started so high and didn’t have bids to explore what the best contract might be. 10 – Preemptive Openings

I typically follow the Rule of 2 and 3 for these. To open a suit at the 3-level, you need a 7-card suit (or a good 6-card suit and side 4-card suit) and to open at the 4- level, you need an 8-card suit (or a good 7- card suit and side 4-card suit). You should be careful when preempting in a minor with a side 4-card major (I only do it in 3rd seat, since you’re probably not missing a game).

The Rule of 2 and 3 goes like this: you count the number of winners in your hand if your long suit is trumps, then add 2 at unfavorable vulnerability and add 3 at equal or favorable vulnerability (some add 4 at favorable) and that is the level you should bid. For example, I have 7 spades with 7 winners if spades is trumps. At

52 unfavorable vulnerability, I would add 2 to 7 and get 9, so I bid 3♠. At equal or favorable vulnerability, I would add 3 to get 10; thus, I would bid 4♠.

Something optional you might want to try is a convention called (that’s the word “Stayman” backwards). With this convention, 4♣ would show a serious hand just shy of game in hearts and 4♦ would show a serious hand just shy of game in spades. 4M is bid with a normal in that bid major. This means you’ll have to drop the next convention, the Gambling 3NT, and use 3NT as a preempt in either minor (responder would bid 4♣ and you would pass or correct). Long, solid minor suits with nothing outside (hands you would bid Gambling 3NT with) hardly come up anyway; I don’t think you would miss it. Also, this means that 1♣ - 1♦ - 2M would mean you have a real game-forcing hand or a near game- forcing hand with only a 5-card suit.

11 – Opening 3NT Gambling

Opening a Gambling 3NT means that 3NT shows a long (7+ cards), solid (AKQ and sometimes the Jack, too) minor suit with at most 1 Jack outside the long suit. If partner has the other suits stopped, it would probably be better to play in 3NT rather than 5m. If he doesn’t have the

53 other suits stopped, he’ll bid 4♣ and you can pass or correct to the minor suit (it’s usually obvious which suit it is, but not always).

54 12 – Slam Conventions

One of the great things about Precision is that it is great for finding slams. In order to do so, however, you must be well-versed in all the conventions used to find slam.

12.1 Roman Keycard Blackwood (1430)

When a suit has been set as trumps in the auction, a bid of 4NT asks for keycards (there are 5 keycards: 4 Aces and the King of trumps). Partner responds in steps: 1st step shows 1 or 4 keycards, 2nd step shows 0 or 3 keycards, 3rd step shows 2 keycards without the Q of trumps, 4th step shows 2 keycards with the Q of trumps.

Sometimes after hearing the 1st or 2nd step in response, the RKC bidder wants to know about the Queen of trumps, so he asks by bidding the next step that isn’t the trump suit (e.g. 1♥ - 4NT - 5♣ - 5♦). Answers are: Cheapest trump bid = NO Queen Jump in trump suit = Queen & no side King Side suit = Queen & King of bid suit Cheapest NT = Queen & 2 side Kings

55 After any of the step bids over 4NT, 5NT is asking for Kings (there are only 3 of them in question so the answers are 1st step = 0, 2nd step = 1, etc.)

56 12.2 Cuebids

Once a trump suit has been established, bidding a side suit shows 1st round control of that suit, and cuebidding continues until the initial cuebidder signs off in trumps (at the game-level) or passes. There are a number of resources on this subject, and sadly, I’m not one of them. But the book “Cuebidding at Bridge” by Ken Rexford is an excellent source on the subject.

12.3 Asking Bids after Opening 1♣

These bids are the heart and soul of precision bidding. The main reason we lump all the stronger HCP hands into the lowest possible bid (pass would be lower, but ask ACBL about why that’s not allowed) is that we want as much room as possible to explore for slam when we’re more likely to have the points for it. So, in the Opening 1♣ section of this book, we discussed some of these bids (when they’re bid, not what the responses are).

Trump Asking Bid (TAB)

This bid is used when opener accepts the responder’s positive major transfer, or when he raises responder’s minor suit to the 3-level. It helps to have a mnemonic to

57 remember the responses; I think of the pattern 012312 (it helps me, at least).

1st step = 0 of the top 3 honors 2nd step = 1 of the top 3 honors, 6+ cards 3rd step = 2 of the top 3 honors, 6+ cards 4th step = AKQ of trumps 5th step = 1 of the top 3 honors, 5 cards 6th step = 2 of the top 3 honors, 5 cards

After any answer to TAB, bidding the agreed trump suit is asking for length clarity (answer in steps from lowest possible up), bidding a new suit is SCAB (see below), NT is natural, and 4NT is RKCB 1430.

Control Asking Bid (CAB)

This bid is used when opener bids 1NT over responder’s positive major transfer. Controls are defined as Ace = 2 controls and King = 1 control.

1st step = 0-1 controls 2nd step = 2 controls 3rd step = 3 controls, etc.

58 After any answer to CAB, a raise in responder’s suit is TAB, any other suit is SAB (see below), and NT is natural (even 4NT which is a slam-invitation).

Support Asking Bid (SAB)

This is used when opener bids a new suit after a positive major transfer or a positive minor bid or after a response from a CAB. For these responses, good support is defined as Hxx or better.

1st step = poor support, 0-3 controls 2nd step = poor support, 4+ controls 3rd step = good support, 0-3 controls 4th step = good support, 4+ controls 5th step = xxxx support, 4+ controls

After the 1st or 2nd step, bidding reverts to natural until at least a game is bid. After the 3rd, 4th, or 5th step, a new suit is SCAB, 4♣ is asking for control clarification (unless agreed suit is clubs, then 4♦ is asking), and 4NT is RKCB 1430.

Side Control Asking Bid (SCAB)

This is used when opener bids a new suit after trumps have been established through TAB or a supporting response to

59 SAB. A good rule of thumb is a new suit below game is SCAB and above game is a cuebid.

1st step = 4th round control or worse (Jxx) 2nd step = 3rd round control of suit (Queen or doubleton) 3rd step = 2nd round control of suit (King or singleton) 4th step = 1st round control of suit (Ace or void) 5th step = AK or AQ of suit

After any answer to SCAB, a new non- trump suit is SCAB for the new suit, rebidding the original SCAB suit is asking for clarification (answer in steps, 1 for length, 2 for strength).

Modified Trump Asking Bid (mTAB)

This is used when responder or opener have shown exactly 4 card in a major via 1♣ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦/2♥ OR 1♣ - 2M - 3M.

1st step = 0 of the top 3 honors 2nd step = 1 of the top 3 honors 3rd step = 1 + Jack of trumps 4th step = 2 of the top 3 honors 5th step = 2 + Jack of trumps 6th step = AKQ of trumps

60 After any answer to mTAB, bidding a new suit is SCAB, NT is natural, and 4NT is RKCB 1430.

Delta Asking Bid (DAB)

This bid is used when opener has a real hand, and is setting trumps after any positive response to 1♣

Cheapest trump suit = NO Ace of trumps Lowest new suit = Ace of trumps New suit (non-lowest) = Ace of trumps & Ace in skipped suit(s) Cheapest NT = Ace of trumps & NO Aces in

skipped suit(s)

61 12.4 Example Hands

North ♠ K8 ♥ QJT53 ♦ KT94 ♣ T4

South ♠ AJ7 ♥ K764 ♦A7 ♣ A953

South North 1♣ 1♠ (pos. transfer to hearts) 1NT (CAB) 2♦ (2 controls) 2♥ (TAB) 3♥ (1 honor, 5 cards) 4♣ (SCAB) 4♥ (3rd round control of clubs) Pass

This is an example of the ability to ask all these questions and still stop below game. Typically, after responder showed only 2 controls opener would just jump to game in hearts, slam being unlikely (you need 10 controls or crazy shape and you have neither in this case). You don’t want to give away too much information to the opponents, especially if slam isn’t very likely. ------North ♠ 9764 ♥ AKQJ ♦ T6 ♣AQJ

South ♠ AQ8 ♥ 87 ♦ A7 ♣ KT8762

South North 1♣ 2♣ (positive in clubs) 2♥ (SAB) 2NT (poor support, 4+ controls) 3♣ (natural) 3♦ (cuebid)

62 3♥ (cuebid) 3♠ (cuebid) 4♣ (cuebid) 4♦ (RKC Kickback) 5♣ (2 keys w/ Q) 6♣ This is a cold 6, and a 50-50 grand slam. The 2♥ bid usually shows 5 or more hearts, but exceptions can be made for particularly strong 4-card suits. After a poor support response to SAB, bidding reverts to natural. ------

North ♠ AQJ92 ♥ Q6 ♦ T862 ♣ KT

South ♠ K876 ♥ AK74 ♦ QJ75 ♣ A

South North 1♣ 1♥ (pos. transfer to spades) 1♠ (TAB) 2NT (5 cards, 2 honors) 3♦ (SCAB) 3♥ (4th round or worse in diamonds) 4♠ (whoa!)

There was a problem suit here, and with SCAB, opener found it and stopped short. ------

South ♠ KJ875 ♥ T ♦ AQJ73 ♣ 63

North ♠ AQ3 ♥ 9752 ♦ K6 ♣ AQJ8

North South 1♣ 1♥ (pos. transfer to spades) 1♠ (TAB) 2♠ (5 cards, 1 honor)

63 3♥ (SCAB) 4♣ (2nd round control of hearts) 4♦ (SCAB) 5♥ (AK or AQ of diamonds) 6♠

Here, north needed to know about responder’s red suits. When he got good responses about both of them, slam was good to go.

North ♠ KQJ73 ♥A7542 ♦ J ♣ KJ

South ♠ A92 ♥ KJ ♦ AK42 ♣ A852

South North 1♣ 1♥ (this is cheaper) 1NT (CAB) 2♠ (4 controls) 3♠ (TAB) 4NT (5 cards, 2 honors) 7♠

All 12 controls?! Grand slam here we come! It’s good to make sure the trump suit is going to likely behave (partner having the Q with 5 is as good as having 6).

64 65 13 – Defensive Bidding

13.1 Overcalls

Bidding over the opponents’ openings in a new suit is natural, and shows roughly 8-15 HCP. The better the suit and/or the more space it takes up, the lower the point count can be (down to 8; any lower and you should jump-bid to show a weak, distributional hand). If you have a good hand, about 16 or more points (which isn’t game-forcing), you would double first, then bid your suit. With a game-forcing hand, you should double, then cuebid the opponent’s suit, then continue from there.

In response to an overcall, I prefer new suits to be non-forcing, but constructive (8-12 points). If you have support for partner’s overcalled suit with a weak range (0-9), then you can raise to the appropriate level following the (2-level with 3 of them, 3-level with 4, etc.) If you have a limit-raise or better with support, cuebid the opponent’s suit. Once partner has shown where he is (cheapest rebid of his suit is 8-11, NT is 12-15 balanced, 4M is 12-15 unbalanced).

13.2 Doubles

66 We’ve just touched on how doubles can help us describe our hands as overcallers. For the most part, a double is takeout for the unbid suits, unless the following situations occur (then a double is for penalty): •If the bidding is higher than 4♦ •When 3 suits have been shown •If our side has bid a NT to show a balanced hand •After two takeout doubles •If our side is under a game-force

Of course, you and your partner should agree on what special doubles you play, like negative doubles (I highly recommend those), support doubles, and responsive doubles.

As responder to a take-out double, you bid your longest suit at the cheapest level with 0-7 points, jump bid your longest suit or cheapest NT with 8-12 points (or pass the double if you think defending a doubled contract would be more lucrative), and cuebid the opponent’s suit with 13+ points. Remember, if your partner bids a new suit over your bid (not over a cuebid) he is showing 16+ points, so bid accordingly after that (support with 5-7, go to game with 8+, etc.).

13.3 Defense to 1NT

67 There are a lot of defenses to strong 1NT (15-17 or 16-18) out there, but a couple of defenses appeal to me. My regular partner and I play our own set of responses. Brozel could also work, but it has issues against a weaker NT opening as it does not have a way to punish the opponents when they are in over their heads. So, if you do play Brozel, you should also play a separate defense to a weak NT where double is to show that you would have opened a 1NT (15-18), 2♣ shows a 17+ HCP unbalanced hand, and other bids are natural (2NT shows the minors).

The system of responses my regular partner and I play allow for punishing weak NT bidders and employ natural major suit bids. Here’s how it goes: Dbl = penalty/values 2♣ = 2-suited hand, major & minor 2♦ = 2-suited hand, majors 2♥ = natural 2♠ = natural 2NT = 2-suited hand, minors

After 2♣, 2♦ shows support (or tolerance) for both majors and asks partner to bid his or her major, 2M shows support for that major only and no tolerance for the other major (partner would bid the minor in this case), and 2NT shows no tolerance for either major asking partner to bid his or her minor suit.

68 13.4 Against Weak Two Bids

Bids over a weak 2 bid are natural, with 2NT showing a balanced 15-18 HCP hand with stopper(s) and doubles as takeout. Responding to a , though, can be tricky. Because you are at such a high level to begin with, you must be able to differentiate between bad hands and decent hands in response to a takeout double. Hence, we have the Lebensohl 2NT response.

With 0-6 points (approximately), you bid 2NT to force partner to bid 3♣. After he does this, you can respond to partner’s takeout double, not worrying about getting too high (if you’re not already). That means that any direct response to a takeout double shows about 7-11 points. With more points than that, just bid game.

13.5 Against Preempts

Against 3-level and 4-level preempts, there isn’t much you can do (that’s why we play preempts!). There have been many conventions created to deal with preempts, but the simplest is best in my opinion. I like leaving the double as an Optional Double, showing a balanced hand with 3-card support in the other

69 suits and a good holding in the preempted suit. The cheapest unbid minor (usually 4♣) is for takeout, and other bids are natural.

70 14 – Defenses against Artificial Openings

14.1 Against Strong 1♣

After your opponents open a strong 1♣, game is rarely there for your side. So, overcalling in this situation should get in the way of their constructive auction or find a good fit for a . Here’s what I recommend: Dbl = 2-suited, clubs & hearts 1♦ = 2-suited, diamonds & hearts 1♥ = 2-suited, majors 1♠ = 2-suited, spades & a minor 1NT = 2-suited, minors (unusual) 2x = 1-suited, 5 or 6 cards 3x = Preemptive

You can play a similar system over 1♣ (P) 1♦ (?), except double here would show the majors, and 1♥ shows hearts and a minor.

14.2 Against Strong 2♣

It’s not often you want to compete over an opening 2♣ as they will more than likely A) give you an evil look, and B) double whatever you say. But, when you do have a hand worth competing with, I suggest bidding naturally, with double showing a

71 natural club suit, 2♦ showing the majors, and 2NT showing the minors. Unfortunately, you don’t really have a way to show a natural diamond suit except to bid it at the 3-level, but overcalling 2♦ doesn’t really interfere much with their auction, and thus isn’t worth having as a natural bid to me.

14.3 Against Multi 2♦

ACBL has provided two defenses to the Multi 2♦, and if you are playing in anything where only the GCC is applied, you shouldn’t even see this bid. If you want to have a defense at the ready however, here’s the simplest defense: Dbl = Takeout of spades 2♥ = Takeout of hearts 2♠/3♥ = Natural 2NT = 16-18, balanced 3m = Natural 4m = 5+/5+ in the suit bid and a major (3♦ over 3♣ asks, and 3♥ over 3♦ is a pass or correct situation)

14.4 Against Gambling 3NT

Again, you won’t see this very often because not many use this convention, and it just doesn’t happen very often. But if you have a good memory, try this defense: Dbl = business

72 4M = natural 4m = asks for partner’s better major (the minor suit bid is the better minor) 4NT = hearts and a minor

If you defend against a Gambling 3NT contract, it’s best to lay down your Ace(s) in hopes of finding partner with accompanying honors.

14.5 Against Unusual 2NT

This is also a bid you wouldn’t see opened in most places, but bidding systems like Precision and natural systems with Mexican 2♦ or Multi 2♦ may have freed up the opening 2NT bid to mean 5-5 or better in the minors. So, you probably don’t need to have natural minor suit bids. Here’s what I suggest: Dbl = shows a hand that would’ve opened 1NT (15-18). If partner bids a minor suit in response, he’s asking for a stopper, and if he bids a major suit, it’s natural and forcing. 3♣ = shows hearts & 3-4 card support for spades 3♦ = shows spades & 3-4 card support for hearts 3♥ = shows 6+ hearts with no support for spades

73 3♠ = shows 6+ spades with no support for hearts 3NT = To play

I haven’t had much experience playing this, so if you get to and find problems with it, let me know. J

74 15 – A Final Word

Meg and I have been playing this system in some form or fashion since 2006, and we have enjoyed great success from playing it in the small games here in Oxford, Mississippi to playing it in the larger games in Nashville, Tennessee to playing it in tournaments. It is legal under the General Convention Chart the ACBL uses in sanctioned events, and I don’t think you need much more to bid precisely and without giving too much away to your opponents about your hands.

Learn how to deal with interference over the 1♣ opening, as it is the easiest to bid over with little values, and the opponents, once they realize that all your big bids are wrapped up in that one bid, will try to make your bidding harder. Also, make sure you pre-alert your opponents that you play a big club system and a weak NT so that they can discuss their own defenses and whatnot.

Make sure to discuss carding with your partner before playing. Knowing whether or not your partner is telling you count or attitude or suit preference is vital to a good defense. I didn’t include that in this book, as everyone has their own ideas of defensive signals, and I don’t think any one set of signals is better than another.

75 I truly hope you enjoy playing this system as much as I do. May your missing honors be onside, and may your slams be laydown!

76