Simplified Precision

Rev. 12-01-00

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Contents

 

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1. Overview

1.1 When Opener Has 16 Or More HCP

1.2 When Opener Has Less Than 16 HCP

2. Summarized Bidding

2.1 Opener Bids 1C

2.1.1 Negative Responses

2.1.2 Opener Rebids After a Negative Response to 1C

2.1.3 Positive Responses

2.1.4 Opener Rebids After a "Regular Positive Suit" Response

2.1.5 Opener Rebids After a "Regular Positive NT" Response

2.1.6 Opener Rebids After an "Unusual Positive" Response

2.2 Opener Bids 1NT

2.3 Limited Suit Openings

2.3.1 Opener Bids 1D, 1H or 1S

2.3.2 Opener Bids 2C

2.3.3 Opener Bids 2D

2.4 Interference Over 1C Opening

2.5 Precision Asking Bids (Optional Convention)

2.5.1 The Trump Asking Bid

2.5.2 The Control Asking Bid

3. Mathe Defense Against a Strong 1C Opening

 

 

1. Overview

1.1 When Opener Has 16 Or More HCP

1C is Opened

Systemic Bidding Applied.

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Opener shows 16 or more HCP with no upper limit. Any other opening bid (except 2NT) shows less than 16 HCP.

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Any shape of hand or range of HCP qualifies (except a balanced hand with 22 or 23 HCP and no 5-card major).

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Responder cannot pass a 1C opening bid.
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With less than 8 HCP responder must always bid 1D.

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With 8 or more HCP responder makes systemic bids over 1C.

2NT is Opened

Normal Partnership Bidding Treatments Applied

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Opener shows a balanced hand with 22 or 23 HCP and no 5-card major. This is similar to Standard bidding of opening 2C then rebidding 2NT.

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1.2 When Opener Has Less Than 16 HCP

1NT is Opened (Intermediate NT Opener).

Normal Partnership Bidding Methods Applied.

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Opener shows a balanced hand with 13 to 15 HCP and no 5-card major.

1H or 1S is Opened (Limited Suit Opener).

Normal Partnership Bidding Methods Applied.

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Opener shows 11 to 15 HCP and 5 or more cards in the suit bid.

2C is Opened (Limited Suit Opener).

Precision Conventional Bids by Responder.

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Opener shows 11 to 15 HCP.

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6 or more clubs.

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OR 5 good clubs and a 4-card major.

2D is Opened (Limited Suit Opener).

Precision Conventional Bids by Responder.

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Opener shows 11 to 15 HCP.

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Special shape is 4/4/1/4 or 4/4/0/5 with diamonds always the short suit and no 5-card major.

1D is Opened (Limited Suit Opener when unable to open 1NT, 1H, 1S, 2C or 2D).

Normal Partnership Bidding Methods Applied.

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Opener shows 11 to 15 HCP

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Denies the shape and values for a 1NT bid.

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Denies holding a 5-card major.

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Denies holding a 6-card club suit.

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Denies holding a good 5-card club suit and a 4-card major.

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May have a bad 5-card club suit and a 4-card major.

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May have any number of diamonds from two on up.

When Opener Has Less Than 11 HCP

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All Partnership Preempts Are Applied.

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2. Summarized Bidding

2.1 Opener Bids 1C

Opener shows 16 or more HCP with any shape or strength.

Exception: With 22 to 23 HCP, a balanced hand, and no 5-card major, the opening bid will be 2NT.

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2.1.1 Negative Response

1C

Negative Response

With less than 8 HCP responder must bid 1D which is a NEGATIVE response.

1C

1D

NEGATIVE response shows 0 to 7 HCP, says nothing about suits or shape.

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2.1.2 Opener Rebids After a Negative 1D Response

1C

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

1D

Simple suit rebid shows a good 4-card or longer suit with 16 to 21 HCP

1C

2H, 2S, 3C or 3D

1D

Jump in a suit shows a good 5-card suit or longer with 22 or more HCP

1C

1NT, 2NT or 3NT

1D

Shows a balanced hand without a good 5-card major:

1NT = 16 to 18 HCP

2NT = 19 to 21 HCP

3NT = 24 to 26 HCP

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2.1.3 Positive Responses

1C

Positive Response

With 8 or more HCP responder must make one of the following three bids:

A REGULAR POSITIVE SUIT response of 1H, 1S 2C or 2D

A REGULAR POSITIVE NT response of 1NT, 2NT or 3NT

An UNUSUAL POSITIVE response of 2H, 2S, 3C or 3D

1C

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

REGULAR POSITIVE SUIT response shows 5 or more cards in the suit and 8 or more HCP.

1C

1NT, 2NT or 3NT

REGULAR POSITIVE NT response shows a balanced hand and no 5-card major:

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1NT = 8 to 10 HCP

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2NT = 11 to 13 HCP

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3NT = 14 to 15 HCP

1C

2H, 2S, 3C or 3D

UNUSUAL POSITIVE response shows 4-4-4-1 shape (not 5-4-4-0) and a singleton in the suit bid.

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2.1.4 Opener's Rebids After a "Regular Positive Suit" Response

1C

New Suit

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

Simple bid in a new suit shows 5-card or longer suit and 16 to 21 HCP

1C

Jump in a New Suit

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

Jump in a new suit shows a good 5-card or longer suit with 22 or more HCP

1C

Raise Responder

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

Raise of responder’s suit shows:

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3-card support with no upper limit

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4-card support with less than 19 support points

1C

Jump Raise Responder

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

Jump raise of responder’s suit shows:

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4-card support with 19 or more support points

1C

Simple NT Bid

1H, 1S, 2C or 2D

Used as a waiting bid. Cheapest NT bid denies a good 5-card or longer, unlimited as to strength and shape. FORCING

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2.1.5 Opener's Rebids After a "Regular Positive NT" Response

1C

Simple Bid in Clubs

1NT, 2NT or 3NT

Simple bid in clubs is Stayman

1C

Simple Suit Bid

1NT, 2NT or 3NT

Simple bid in a suit shows 5-card or longer suit

1C

Notrump Raises

1NT, 2NT or 3NT

Notrump raises are natural

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2.1.6 Opener's Rebid After an "Unusual Positive" Response

1C

Simple Suit Bid

2H, 2S, 3C or 3D

Name a good trump suit if possible

1C

Notrumps

2H, 2S, 3C or 3D

Rebid in NT shows no good trump suit is apparent and the singleton is well stopped

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2.2 Opener Bids 1NT

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Opener shows a balanced hand with 13 to 15 HCP without a good 5-card major.

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Use normal partnership bidding methods keeping in mind the lower HCP spread of opener’s hand. 4-Way Transfers, Stayman and Lebensohl over interference may be applied.

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2.3 Limited Suit Openings

2.3.1 Opener Bids 1D, 1H or 1S

Shows 11 to 15 HCP with 5 or more cards in the bid suit.

1D, 1H or 1S

Min Hand Rebids

Simple 1/1 Bid

With a MINIMUM OPENING BID (11 to 13 HCP):

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Make a single raise of responder’s suit .

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Bid a new 4-card suit without reversing.

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Bid NT as cheaply as possible.

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Rebid your major suit as cheaply as possible.

1D, 1H or 1S

Max Hand Rebids

Simple 1/1 Bid

With a MAXIMUM OPENING BID (14 to 15 HCP):

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Make a jump raise of responder’s suit.

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Bidding a new 4-card suit by reversing is OK.

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Jump in NT (balanced hand).

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Jump rebid your major suit if 6 or more cards.

1D, 1H or 1S

Normal Conventional Bids

Use normal partnership bidding methods. Can use 2/1 bidding here. Can use Bergen raises, splinters, etc.

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2.3.2 Opener Bids 2C

Shows 11 to 15 HCP with 6 or more clubs OR 5 good clubs and a 4-card major.

2C

Pass

With no game in sight and no long suit of your own, pass.

2C

2H or 2S

Long suit, opener is expected to pass. Signoff.

2C

2NT

Balanced hand with mediocre club support. Not forcing, invitational. If opener rebids clubs as cheaply as possible, pass.

2C

3C

Good club support. Not forcing, invitational

2C

3H or 3S

Long major suit. Not forcing, invitational. If opener rebids clubs as cheaply as possible, pass.

2C

3NT, 4H, 4S, 5C or 5D

If you know where game is, bid it directly. A signoff.

2C

Forcing Response Of 2D

2D is a FORCING RESPONSE used to inquire about opener’s hand.

2C

Min Hand Rebids

2D

With a MINIMUM OPENING BID (11 to 13 HCP):

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2H = 4-card heart suit.

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2S = 4-card spade suit.

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2NT = no 4-card major, relatively balanced.

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3C = no 4-card major, 6 or more clubs, unbalanced.

2C

Max Hand Rebids

2D

With a MAXIMUM OPENING BID (14 to 15 HCP):

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3H = 4-card heart suit.

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3S = 4-card spade suit.

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3NT = no 4-card major, relatively balanced.

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4C = no 4-card major, 6 or more clubs, unbalanced.

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2.3.3 Opener Bids 2D

Shows 11 to 15 HCP with 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5 shape and shortness in diamonds and no 5-card major.

2D

3C, 3H or 3S

Opener is to pass. Signoff.

2D

3D

Shows 6 or more diamonds, invitational to 3NT

2D

3NT

With a super-solid 6-card diamond suit with 6 sure NT tricks and 11 to 13 HCP bid a NT game. Signoff.

2D

4H, 4S, 5C or 5D

Signoff.

2D

Forcing Response Of 2NT

2NT is a FORCING RESPONSE used to inquire about opener’s hand.

2D

Rebids To Forcing Response

Forcing Response Of 2NT

The following are opener’s step responses to a 2NT FORCING RESPONSE:

  1. 3H = 4-4-1-4 shape and 11 to 13 HCP.

  2. 3S = 4-4-1-4 shape and 14 to 15 HCP.

  3. 3NT = 4-4-1-4 shape with the singleton Ace or King of diamonds.

  4. 4C = 4-4-0-5 shape and 11 to 13 HCP.

  5. 4D = 4-4-0-5 shape and 14 to 15 HCP.

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2.4 Interference Over 1C Opening

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Over a double all responses are on.

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Over an overcall the following responses indicate:
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Pass = negative response (same as the normal 1D bid) with no good 5-card suit and less than 8 HCP.

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New suit = “maximum negative” response with a good 5 or more good cards in the suit bid and 5 to 8- HCP.

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Cue-bid = positive response with 8 or more HCP.

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Notrump = positive response with the usual 1NT, 2NT or 3NT Precision meanings as if no overcall was made. Promises at least one stopper.

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Double = penalty (used only if the opponent’s bid is a real suit).

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2.5 Precision Asking Bids (Optional Convention)

2.5.1 The Trump Asking Bid

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Used only when 1C was opened and responder bid a REGULAR POSITIVE SUIT response.

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Used when inquiring about the value of responder’s trump suit.

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A simple raise of responder’s suit by opener is a Trump Asking bid

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Responder’s step responses indicate the following:

  1. One step = POOR trumps - Jack high or worse.

  2. Two steps = FAIR trumps - one of the three top honors.

  3. Three steps = GOOD trumps - two of the top three honors.

  4. Four steps = EXCELLENT trumps - all three top honors.

Example:

[ 1C  Pass  1S  Pass ] ; [ 2S  Pass  3D

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2S is the Trump Asking Bid for spades.

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Responder's 3D shows two of the top three honors.

To just raise responder and bypass Trump Asking, the opener rebids 1NT (forcing) then over whatever responder rebids, opener will then rebid responder’s first suit.

 

Example:

[ 1C  Pass  1S  Pass ] ; [1NT   Pass  2C   Pass ] : [ 2S

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1NT is forcing.

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2S shows a simple spade raise, thus bypassing the Trump Asking bid.

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2.5.2 The Control Asking Bid

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Used only when 1C was opened and responder bid a REGULAR P