[bearmum]

Rebound, on Nov 10 2004, 05:55 AM, said:

(quote edited)

My current system is rather old-fashioned but I think it still works very well. However, from what I have read on this board, most of my methods in precision are looked upon with disdain.

So, here's what we play, as briefly as possible while still giving a fairly thorough description.

1♣ 16+    (i'm thinking of going over to the balanced 11-12/16+ option.)
1♦ 11-15, length 2+
5cM, 11-15
1NT 13-15
2♣ 11-15 the usual, 5+ clubs, maybe 4cM
2♦ mini-roman
2M - weak, 2NT - minors 5-11.

Over 1♣ - 1NT 8-10 or 15+, 2nt 11-13, 3NT 14-(poor)15, 1♦ 0-8, 1♥/♠/2♣/♦ 9+HCP 5-card (or longer) suit. 2♥/2♠/3♣/3♦ 9+ 3-suiter short in bid suit. Over interferance, pass is 0-5, any bid shows 5-8 and double shows 9+.

In general, jump-shifts are mini-splinters (although I am interested in fit-showing jumps.)

We play doubles for penalties as often as possible (pretty much anything higher than the 1-level), Jordan over interferance. Here's one that will get some laughs, over opponents' pre-empts, dbl is penalty and NT is 3-suit takeout. 4C - always keycard ask except when it is a simple club rebid. Stayman always promises a 4cM, also play Smolen, lebeshol.

HI Rebound
Your "Precision" sounds a lot like the one I play (with some minor differences)
We play same 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ as you
1nt 13-15 (can't have TWO 4 card majors tho) 2♣ as you
2♦ =11-15 and 0 or 1 ♦ NO 4 card major (and 2NT resopnse asks for distribution AND range)

2♥ ♠ + 8-10 (2NT response asks for singleton)
2NT = 21-22

Over 1 and 2NT we play Jacoby transfers for majors 3♠ relays to 2NT -and 2NT relays to 3♣ and after that one can show 5/5 distributions at the 3 level

Play splinters STRONG JS RKCB and various asking bids after positive response to 1♣

We did try the 1NT denies ANY 4 card major but didn't like it as much as the one we play now ( which is I THINK the garozzo/belladonna system written about 1975)

It probably wouldn't go too well at "A" level but we have done reasonably well with it at regional comps and at NACB at "C" grade level when we played in the USA. More to the point we enjoy playing that system , and to be perfectly honest I am trying to make my card PLAY and counting of the cards better rather than endeavouring to learn a lot of new conventions

[whereagles]

Rebound, on Nov 9 2004, 06:25 PM, said:

Further, I'm interested to know which novelties and gadgets you are referring to against competition, and in what ways they may be preferred over our current treatments. If needed I can provide details. Not that I'm displeased with your assessment ;-)

Although there are many, many competitive gadgets available, the most important ones are by far those described in Robson & Segal's book "Partnership Bidding". There's a .pdf file of it somewhere on the net, which you can probably find easily via google.

Most of the book is written with unlimited 5-card majors openings in mind, but the ideas can be easily adapted to precision, and can even be used effecitively without any tweaking at all. The one thing you might frown upon is Robson/Segal recommend take-out doubles as often as possible

[GijsH]

I play Viking Precision according to Groetheim's book, and I can recommend it, provided:

- you have a regular partner playing it twice a week.
- you have the patience to learn the many relay sequences. This requires time and effort, but I found it is possible to learn them in about a week.

My view on systems is: it does not matter much what you play. But methods which help in accurate slam bidding give an edge in serious competition play. Viking is both aggresive as required in modern bridge and very elaborate in the slam zone. I also noticed it is the only relay system on Olympic / Bermuda Bowl level.

[helene_t]

This is a fine system. The only thing (but you have probably heard this before) is that I would advise you to get rid of the penalty doubles.

As for the 1♦ opening, I would get rid of the overlap with the 1NT opening. For example, you could play
1♦: 4+ diamonds unbalanced (maybe 3+ unballanced when vulnerable to avoid opening 2♣ on a bad suit too often).
1NT: 13-15, possibly 5422-shape especially with clubs

Or whatever notrump range you like, a lot can be said for one notrump range being better than others but I don't think it matters much in terms gross efficiancy. 13-15 does have the advantage that it is possible to keep the 1♦ clean. (This does not suggest that I would refuse to play a nebolous diamond. In fact, I like to play with anybody as long as they have good manners. )

I would stretch the range of the 1♦ opening to 17 HCPs since opening 1♣ and rebiding 2♦ consumes a lot of spades (and sometimes wrongsides diamond contracts).

[bhtf]

precision as liberty territory
not great contribution but mine as comfortable (only) use sys.

-- 1C (15+ hcp) responses :
1H, 1S, 1NT(6-7), 2C, 2D : naturals about 5-9hcp
2H, 2S : 444 short in major bid, 5-8.
3S : AKQxxx in H, nothing out.
3H : same with other longer. If relay : 3NT=C, 4C=D, other = S.
1D : relay 0-5 or 9+ hcp.

1C-1D-jumps : FG.
one key of the sys is 1C-1D-1NT 15-20hcp, easy to handle then.

-- others openings :
1D /2+ balanced 11-14, OR /4+ 10-15
1H 10-15, /5+ or tricolored with 44 majors (4441 or 4450)
1S 10-15, /5+.
1NT : as the users want ! ! ! ! ! [*]
2C : /6+ no major /4, 10-14.
2D MULTI : weaks majors twos OR balanced 23-24.
2M : M/4 and C/5+, 11-14 (inverteds roman twos)
2NT balanced 21-22

[*] all balanceds hands
11-14 : 1D
15-20 : 1C-1D-1NT
[the Quinze-Vingt hospital (by Saint Louis) is in Paris lol]
21-22 : 2NT
23-24 : MULTI 2D
25-27 or 31+ : 1C-1D-2NT
28-30 : 1C-1D-3NT

[***] 1NT is not a bid in the (basic) sys !!!! lol

thx for all and for all yours (very) interestings discussions