[hylins]

In the standard Precision system, 1♣ opener can start 6-step asking to explore partner's holding once partner shows positive response.
However, the original 6-step asking uses lots of bidding space. Moreover, the stronger 1♣ opener won't be the declarer when playing partner's suit as trump.

A new RELAY approach is that partner's positive response is required to bid one step below the suit he/she has such that the 1♣ opener can bid partner's suit step to do 6-step asking.
The new responses to 1♣ opening will be like

1♦ 0-7 HCPs, Any
1♥ 8+ HCPs, ♠x5+
1♠ 8+ HCPs, Balanced NT hand
1NT 8+ HCPs, ♣x5+
2♣ 8+ HCPs, ♦x5+
2♦ 8+ HCPs, ♥x5+

Using 6-step ♠ suit asking as an example, the original asking

1♣ 1♠
2♠

will be replaced by the new RELAY approach

1♣-1♥
1♠


To further improve this 6-step asking responses, a 1+6 step approach is introduced.

Continuing with the example of 1♣-1♥-1♠ above, when partner has 16+ HCPs, the immediate next step (1NT in this case) will be bidden to show slam going hand.
The 1♣ opener will bid the next step (2♣ in this case) to continue the 6-step asking and partner will bid the 6-step responses from 2♦ to 3♦.

1♣ 1♥
1♠ 1NT
2♣ (2♦-3♦)

If partner has 8-15 HCPs, responses from 2♣ to 3♣ will be the normal 6-step responses.

1♣ 1♥
1♠ (2♣-3♣)

This new 1+6 responses RELAY asking approach brings in 4 advantages. They are

1) Bidding space saving.
2) Strong hand be the declarer.
3) Knowing the strength of partner's hand for Game or Slam strength at lower bidding level.
4) Easily integrated into the Precision system

Additionally, this 1+6 step responses RELAY asking approach for Precision system
can also be used for responses to the strong 2C opening in SAYC or 2/1 sytem with proper HCP range adjustment.

[mike777]

Are the opponents allowed to bid? If so, what are your agreements?

One question I would always ask the opponents at the table, how high do I need to bid to break the relay? I am entitled to know that particular partnership agreement.

[PrecisionL]

Yes, Transfer Precision is an improvement!

Many of us Precision lovers use the acceptance of the transfer as Beta for Total Controls: 1-2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 to ascertain slam prospects.

Others of us use the acceptance as an ask for further distributional information.

A new suit by opener would be an SAB. Have fun with all these extras.

[steve2005]

I think using the standard responses in relay Precision makes more sense.
1♥=♠
1♠=♥
1N=♣
2♣=♦
In relay Precision you are potentially showing a 4-card major in order that you can eventually get exact shape below 3NT. But that is a lot of memory work to get exact shape, symmetric relay helps.
If you use this to show 5-card suits or better you are a little better off than the standard Precision.
For flat hands (balanced with no 5-card suit) you can use 2♦ for 8-11 or 15+ hcp and 2NT for 12-14
Then you are only left with 4-4-4-1 hands. You didn't mention what you do with those. You have 2 main options 2♠ for all 4441 hands or bid the singleton either 2♥, 2♠, 3♣ or 3♦

Over 1♣-1♠(hearts) use 1NT as the relay

In any event the main advantage from Precision occurs when you don't open 1♣ and have limited you hand to 15 hcp. and usually a 5 hcp range.
The 1♣ opening just doesn't come up enough to worry about tinkering with it.
Right now using Santa Fe Precision (Meck-lite) so using a set method and not tinkering.

[hylins]

mike777, on 2026-August-07, 07:55, said:

Are the opponents allowed to bid? If so, what are your agreements?

One question I would always ask the opponents at the table, how high do I need to bid to break the relay? I am entitled to know that particular partnership agreement.

Ideally, all systems are built on a uncontested condition.

In case the opponent does bid, all bids afterward will depend on when and how high opponents bid.

1) If LHO bids at at low level after Precision 1♣ opening
the responder can have standard Precision's: Pass for 0-4, X for 5-8, and bid with 9+ Hcps, ....

2) If RHO bids at low level after partner's response,
then the opener still can do 1+6 step asking on Partner's suit, or 1+N step asking on own suit (which is not covered in this article).

3) If LHO bids at low level after Precision 1♣ opener starts 1+6 asking bid,
then the responder can take advantages of the extra 2 steps (X and Pass) to reply.

4) If LHO X after Precision 1♣ opener's 1+6 asking bid,
then the responder can take advantages of the extra 2 steps (XX and Pass) to reply.

5) When Opp's bidding level is high, one will have no choice but using common sense bidding.

[strong 1c]

hylins, on 2026-August-07, 01:58, said:

In the standard Precision system, 1♣ opener can start 6-step asking to explore partner's holding once partner shows positive response.
However, the original 6-step asking uses lots of bidding space. Moreover, the stronger 1♣ opener won't be the declarer when playing partner's suit as trump.

A new RELAY approach is that partner's positive response is required to bid one step below the suit he/she has such that the 1♣ opener can bid partner's suit step to do 6-step asking.
The new responses to 1♣ opening will be like

1♦ 0-7 HCPs, Any
1♥ 8+ HCPs, ♠x5+
1♠ 8+ HCPs, Balanced NT hand
1NT 8+ HCPs, ♣x5+
2♣ 8+ HCPs, ♦x5+
2♦ 8+ HCPs, ♥x5+

Using 6-step ♠ suit asking as an example, the original asking

1♣ 1♠
2♠

will be replaced by the new RELAY approach

1♣-1♥
1♠


To further improve this 6-step asking responses, a 1+6 step approach is introduced.

Continuing with the example of 1♣-1♥-1♠ above, when partner has 16+ HCPs, the immediate next step (1NT in this case) will be bidden to show slam going hand.
The 1♣ opener will bid the next step (2♣ in this case) to continue the 6-step asking and partner will bid the 6-step responses from 2♦ to 3♦.

1♣ 1♥
1♠ 1NT
2♣ (2♦-3♦)

If partner has 8-15 HCPs, responses from 2♣ to 3♣ will be the normal 6-step responses.

1♣ 1♥
1♠ (2♣-3♣)

This new 1+6 responses RELAY asking approach brings in 4 advantages. They are

1) Bidding space saving.
2) Strong hand be the declarer.
3) Knowing the strength of partner's hand for Game or Slam strength at lower bidding level.
4) Easily integrated into the Precision system

Additionally, this 1+6 step responses RELAY asking approach for Precision system
can also be used for responses to the strong 2C opening in SAYC or 2/1 sytem with proper HCP range adjustment.

[strong 1c]

without interference, we currently respond to 1C as
1D shows 0-7 HCP, all other responses show 8+
1H shows 5+ Spades, 8-14 HCP
1S shows 12-14 balanced OR 15+ HCP ; opener must bid 1NT as a waiting bid to hear which one
1NT shows 5+ Hearts, 8-14 HCP
2C and 2D shows 5+ Clubs and Diamonds respectively 8-14 HCP (we don't think transfers here are that useful) and denies a 4 card Major
2H shows exactly 4 Hearts and a longer minor
2S shows 8-11 HCP balanced. Opener can bid a non-forcing 2NT to show 16 flat. May be passed
2NT shows exactly 4 Spades and a longer minor, 8-14 HCP
3C and 3D show 4441 hands with black and red shortness respectively 8+ HCP

after a positive response is given (except for 2S), Opener immediately begins asking bids, rarely showing anything about his hand
for example, 1C -1H -1S sets Spades as trump (as far as partner knows) and asks about length and honor holding in spades, after answer is given, a relay is control asking (Aces and Kings) and after a response is given, open can ask about partner's control of a side suit.

We strive to have the 1C bidder's hand hidden when we play a Majpr or NT, but it works out most of the time, but not always

[PrecisionL]

Interesting, and I really like 1NT showing 5+ ♥. Good design! Allows opener to show his good minor suit at the two level if he doesn't have heart support.

I would put 8-11 balanced into 2♦, Rodwell Design and 2♣ would then show one or both minors.

Now 2♠ could be 8-11 4441 hands and 2♥ and 2NT are available for special distributions.

What is your interference design over 1♣?

[strong 1c]

PrecisionL, on 2026-August-27, 06:30, said:

Interesting, and I really like 1NT showing 5+ ♥. Good design! Allows opener to show his good minor suit at the two level if he doesn't have heart support.

I would put 8-11 balanced into 2♦, Rodwell Design and 2♣ would then show one or both minors.

Now 2♠ could be 8-11 4441 hands and 2♥ and 2NT are available for special distributions.

What is your interference design over 1♣?

1C -(double)
Pass 0-4
1D = 5-7
Redouble shows 8+ HCP and interest in penalty - might use when they are red and have no slam interest
All other bids remain the same

1C -(1D)
Pass 0-4 or trap pass
Double 5-7
All other bids remain the same

1C- (1H or 1S) -transfers are off
Pass 0-4 or trap pass
Double 5-7 with no stop
1NT 5-7 with a stop 2c by opener will be a modified Stayman-like bid asking about the other minor
Non-jump bids are positive with 5+ and Opener can begin Gamma with a raise then Beta, Epsilon. Opener can relay instead for BETA even if relay is 1NT
cue bid shows balanced, positive response, no 5-card Major, no stop
2NT is same as cue bid but with a stop
3C or 3D retain the same meaning

1C - (1NT and higher bids) - very similar to 1C -(1H OR 1S) but not exactly.
If bidding has gone -1C -(P) -Positive Response - (interference) then Opener makes an alertable pass which is BETA. We always get a surprised look when we alert the pass. We have a variety of BETA responses depending on if Partner was a passed hand or had bid 1D or had bid 1S (big hand) over 1S

************************************
Most of the time, the 1C bidder doesn't disclose much about his hand if he can avoid it. A positive response immediately begins asking sequences

In your example, say bidding went 1C-1NT (showing hearts with 8-14)
1C -1NT (hearts)....then 2H begins Gamma , Beta, Epsilon (side suit asks)
or it could go 1C -1NT (hearts) -2C (Beta)- answer -then 2H or 3H will be Gamma, then Epsilon
or it could go 1C -1NT -2C (Beta) - answer - and now Opener would ask about support for his suit if he had no interest in Hearts

****************************************************************

In our system, after a positive response, if Opener ever bids 2NT, no matter how i gets there, that is showing a flat 16, turns captaincy over to Responder, who may pass but we have special bids for Responder if he wants to continue



*********************************

I'll look at your suggestions. I will tell you 1C-2S works out really well for us: 2S shows balanced 8-11, denies a 5-card Major, might have 5 card minor. It takes away bidding room from Opponents and Opener has pretty good idea of final contract at that point. With a flat 16 Opener can bid 2NT, turn captaincy over to Responder who can pass or keep going.

*********************************
Note our 1C-2C or 1C-2D bids are heavy in the minors. They deny 5332 shape, they deny 4 card Majors, they are limited to 8-14 HCP

[Zelandakh]

If you were to want to go all-in on this, the obvious solution would be for 1♠ to show a positive without a 4 card major and 1NT+ responses to be identical to 1♣ - 1♥; 1♠ - 1NT+ but with hearts as the base suit rather than spades. I would suggest there are already better approaches available these days (see Transfer Symmetric relay for one) but it's completely logical and ought to be relatively simple to play practically.

[strong 1c]

Zelandakh, on 2026-August-29, 11:46, said:

If you were to want to go all-in on this, the obvious solution would be for 1♠ to show a positive without a 4 card major and 1NT+ responses to be identical to 1♣ - 1♥; 1♠ - 1NT+ but with hearts as the base suit rather than spades. I would suggest there are already better approaches available these days (see Transfer Symmetric relay for one) but it's completely logical and ought to be relatively simple to play practically.

The System Peter and I play is homegrown. At its foundation I originally started with Oliver Clarke's OCP system: http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/index.php

His various methods (and now mine) of lebensohl are really at the next level and worth looking at imoh

[Zelandakh]

strong 1c, on 2026-August-29, 12:10, said:

His various methods (and now mine) of lebensohl are really at the next level and worth looking at imoh

Which Lebensohl? I personally prefer a version of Rubensohl for 2 of the 3 situations.

[strong 1c]

Zelandakh, on 2026-August-30, 03:43, said:

Which Lebensohl? I personally prefer a version of Rubensohl for 2 of the 3 situations.

http://ocp.pigpen.org.uk/Leb.php

Here's his link which has many uses of lebensohl in many different situations.

Here's some of the uses Peter and I do, primarily based upon Oliver's system but not exactly:

1) if Opponents make an immediate 2 -level bid, over partner, then transfer lebensohl is on..eg 1S -(2H) - transfer lebensohl is on.
a) can do fast and slow cue bids to show values to 3NT and is Stayman-like
b) fast and slow 3NT
2) over2 level preemptive bids, transfer lebensohl is on if either partner doubles
3 We also use what Oliver calls, 3 suited lebensohl (with no interference) as in 1H -1S -2C -? remain at 2 level is to play; 2NT is relay getting ready to invite and jumps to 3 of openers suits is a version of control asking, jumps to 3 of his own suit is strong and forcing
4) if bidding goes 1C (precision -1D and then opponents start bidding, see 1) above would be on

Maybe I am wrong, but I think most people think of lebensohl when opponents overcall 1NT and OCP takes it much further

[Zelandakh]

strong 1c, on 2026-August-30, 10:08, said:

Maybe I am wrong, but I think most people think of lebensohl when opponents overcall 1NT

The 3 standard situations for Lebensohl are after a 2 level overcall of 1NT; after a reverse; and after they open a Weak 2 and partner doubles. The other situations usually get a different name - Good/Bad 2NT - but some people call this Lebensohl as well.

[pescetom]

Zelandakh, on 2026-August-30, 12:06, said:

The 3 standard situations for Lebensohl are after a 2 level overcall of 1NT; after a reverse; and after they open a Weak 2 and partner doubles. The other situations usually get a different name - Good/Bad 2NT - but some people call this Lebensohl as well.

You could also call the 2NT "transfer" extension to XYZ Lebensohl, I guess.

[Zelandakh]

pescetom, on 2026-August-30, 15:13, said:

You could also call the 2NT "transfer" extension to XYZ Lebensohl, I guess.

You could....but before you go there, just switch to transfers and everything is just fine without it.