Precision Bidding System

This note is a summary of the Precision Bidding System that we use at ACBL Online (e-bridge). The 1 opening encompasses all 16+ HCP hands, except for the balanced 22-23 HCP hands, 4441 hands, and strong minors hands. The system includes weak 1NT opening (13-15 HCP), five-card majors, natural 2, and multi-2. All bids marked * are forcing.

Opening Bids

Here is a brief overview of the Precision System's opening bid structure:

1* - Artificial, 16+ HCP, any distribution except for 22-23 HCP balanced hands, 4441 (any singleton) hands, and strong minors (at least 5-5) hands.

1 - 11-15 HCP, 3+ diamonds, no 5-card majors.

1/1 - 11-15 HCP, 5+ card suit.

1NT - 13-15 HCP, no 5-card majors.

2- 11-15 HCP, either 6+ club suit or 5 club suit plus a 4-card major suit.

2* - multi-2: either weak-2 in a major suit, or 22-23 balanced, or maxi-Roman (4441 shape, any singleton, 16+HCP).

2 - 0-11 HCP, and another suit (any suit), at least 5-5.

2 - 0-11 HCP, and a minor suit, at least 5-5.

2NT – minors, at least 5-5, either weak (0-11 HCP) or strong (less than 5 losers).

3/3 - 8+ HCP, 7+ semi-solid suit.

3NT - Gambling, one 7+ solid minor suit.

Responses to 1

Strong 1 structure is the most important part of the system. The responses can be classified into three categories: (1) Negative, (2) Constructive, and (3) Positive.

(1) Negative: 1* - 0-7 HCP

After 1 - 1:

1NT - 16-18 balanced, may have 5-card minor

Pass - 0-4 HCP, balanced.

2 - 5-7 HCP, Stayman

2 - Jacoby transfer to hearts.

2 - Jacoby transfer to spades.

2NT - 7 HCP, inviting 3NT.

4 - Gerber.

4/4 - Texas transfer to 4/4.

2NT - 19-21 balanced, may have 5-card minor.

Pass - 0-3 HCP

3 - 4-7 HCP, Stayman

3 - transfer to 3

3 - transfer to minors

3NT - 4-5 HCP, balanced, sign-off.

4 - Gerber.

4/4 - Texas transfer to 4/4.

3NT - 24-26 balanced, may have 5-card minor

Pass - 0-4 HCP

4 - 5-7 HCP, Baron, slam try.

4 - transfer to hearts.

4 - transfer to spades.

4 - transfer to minors.

4NT - Quantitative.

1/1 - maybe 4 card suit.

Pass - 0-3 HCP.

Raise to 2/2 - 2-4 HCP, min 3-card support

Raise to 3/3 - 5-7 HCP, 4+ card support.

Raise to 4/4 - 8+ HCP, good hand, 4+ card support.

1 - 4-7 HCP, 4+-card suit, does not deny 3-card support.

1NT - 5-7 HCP, no 5-card suit (after 1 denies 4-card spades), doesn’t deny 3-card support.

2/2 - 5-7 HCP, five card suit, non-forcing.

2/2 - 5+ card suit, may have a 4-card major.

Pass - 0-3 HCP.

2/2 - 5+ card suit.

2NT - 5-7 HCP, scattered values, balanced.

2/3 - 5-7 HCP, 6+ card suit.

Single raise, non-forcing.

Jump to 2/2/3/3 - 22+ HCP. 5+-card suit.

Minimum NT - 0-3 HCP, minimum and no support.

Minimum raise - 0-3 HCP, minimum and 3-card support.

Jump raise – maximum, minimum 3-card support, no specific values in other suits

New suit* - 4-7 HCP, values in the suit, does not deny support in partner’s suit

Jump NT – maximum, denies 3-card support, spread values

(2) Constructive: 2/2 - 4-7 HCP, 6-card suit; little strength outside.

Pass - Game unlikely.

Raise to game (including 3NT).

New suit* - forcing one round. Rebids:

Raise - 3+ support (or Qx).

Rebid / - minimum, no support.

Cue-bid under 3NT - singleton or void.

2NT* - support in suit, forcing

Rebid / - minimum

New suit - singleton or void in suit bid

3NT - suit with AQ or KQ

4NT - Blackwood.

(3) Positive: 1/1/2/2* - 8+ HCP, 5+ card suit, forcing to game unless both hands are minimum and no fit is found.

New suit* - 5+ card suit, forcing one round. Responder rebids:

New suit - 4-card suit.

Rebid original suit - 6+ card suit, semi-solid for minors.

Raise - 3+ card support.

Minimum no-trump - 5332 distribution, values in unbid suits.

Trump asking* - 2/2/3/3* see below for details.

1NT - 8-13 HCP, balanced, no 5-card major suit.

2* - relay for further description

2 - 8-10 HCP, 4 hearts, may have 4 spades.

2 - relay asking for further description (Responds: bid other 4-card suit, otherwise NT)

2 - 8-10 HCP, 4 spades, denies 4 hearts.

2 - relay asking for further description (Responds: bid the 4-card minor suit, otherwise NT)

2 - 8-10 HCP, denies 4-card major suit.

2NT – relay, ask for further description

3 - 3334 with 4 clubs

3 - 3343 with 4 diamonds

3 - 4-4 in minors with 3 hearts

3 - 4-4 minors with 3 spades

3NT – 5-card minor suit (4 by opener is relay to find out the minor suit)

2NT – 11-13 HCP, 4333-shape

3 - relay (Responds: bid the suit, or 3NT for club suit)

3 - 11-13 HCP, 4432-shape with 4 clubs

3 - relay (Responds: bid the suit, or 3NT for diamond suit)

3 - 11-13 HCP, 4432-shape with 4-4 in diamonds and hearts

3 - 11-13 HCP, 4432-shape with 4-4 in hearts and spades

3 - 11-13 HCP, 4432-shape with 4-4 in spades and diamonds

3NT – 11-13 HCP, 5-card minor suit (4 by opener is relay to find out the minor suit)

2/2/2/3 - shows a good suit and asks for strength and fit. Responds:

1 step – no fit, 8-10 HCP

2 steps – 3+-card fit, 8-10 HCP

3 steps – no fit, 11-13 HCP

4 steps – 3+-card fit, 11-13 HCP

Trump asking* - any new suit bid by the 1-opener that is not a relay and is under the game level is a trump honor (A, K, or Q) asking. Responds:

1 step – none

2 steps – one honor

3 steps – 2 honors

4 steps – AKQ

2NT – 14+ HCP, balanced

3 - Baron: modified Stayman asking responder to start bidding his 4-card suit starting from lowest

3/3 - Jacoby transfer

3 - minor-suit Stayman

3 - 8-10 HCP, 4441-shape with a black singleton

3 - relay (Responds: 3/3 with club and spade singleton, respectively. Control asking if the singleton suit is bid, 0-2,3,4,…)

3 - 8-10 HCP, 4441-shape with a red singleton

3 - relay (Responds: 3/3NT with diamond and heart singleton, respectively. Control asking if the singleton suit is bid, 0-2,3,4,…)

3/3/4/4 - 11+ HCP, singletonabove the suit bid.

Control asking – bid the singleton suit, 0-3,4,5,…

After interventions

Double -

Pass - 0-4 HCP

1 - 5-7 HCP

Redouble - 8+ HCP, 4-4 on majors.

At 1 level -

Pass - 0-4 HCP

Suit - 5-8 HCP, 5+ card suit

Jump in a suit, 8-10 HCP, 6+-card suit

1NT - 9-11 HCP, with a stopper

2NT - 12-14 HCP, with one or two stoppers

Double - 5-8 HCP or 9+ HCP, no 5-card suit, takeout, with 9+ followed with a cue-bid

Cuebid* - 9+ HCP, game-forcing

1NT -

Pass - 0-4 HCP

Suit - 5-8 HCP, 5+ card suit

Double – 5+ HCP

At 2 level -

Pass - 0-4 HCP or 9+ HCP with strength in opponents suit

Suit - 5-8 HCP, 5+ card suit

Double – 5-8 HCP, or 9+ HCP.

At 3 level -

Double – 5+ HCP, takeout

At 4 level –

Double – weak hand

Pass* - forcing pass, ask opener to take actions

After intervention to asking bids (P0D1):

Double - 1 step

Pass - 2 steps

Trump suit asking bids

After a 1 opening and positive response in a suit, opener's direct single raise of partner's suit requests responder to define his trump holding. Responder rebids conventionally by steps:

1 step - No top honor

2 steps - 5 card suit, 1 top honor

3 steps - 5 card suit, 2 top honors

4 steps - 6 card suit, 1 top honor

5 steps - 6 card suit, 2 top honors

6 steps - 5+ card suit, 3 top honors

Asking for total controls (A=2 controls, K=1 control)

1 step - 0-2 controls

2 steps - 3 controls

3 steps - 4 controls

...

Control asking bids

After trump-asking bids, any new suit bid by opener is asking for holding in that suit.

1st step - 3 or more low cards (No control)

2nd step - Doubleton or Qxx (3rd round control)

3rd step - Singleton or Kx (2nd round control)

4th step - void or Ace (1st round control)

5th step - AK or AQ (Two top controls)

Any subsequent new-suit bid is also control-asking, the responses are now:

1 step - no control

2 steps - Singleton or Kx (2nd round control)

3 steps - void or Ace (1st round control)

4 steps - AK or AQ (Two top controls)

Responses to 1

Open 1 with 11-15 HCP, 3+ card diamond suit.

Pass - 0-7 HCP.

1/1* - 8-15 HCP, 4+ card suit, forcing one round. 1 denies 4-card suit.

11-14 HCP

1 over 1, 4-card suit, denies 4-card suit.

1NT - sign-off

2* - fourth-suit forcing, “do something clever!”.

1NT - Balanced, denies 4-card support.

2* - new-minor forcing, check-back.

2 - 6+ card or good 5-card suit, no 4-card major.

2 - unbalanced, 5-4 in minors, no 4-card major.

15+ HCP

Double raise - 4-card support.

3 - 6+ card suit, no 4-card major.

3 - unbalanced, at least 5-5 in minors, no 4-card major.

1NT - 8-10 HCP, balanced, no major.

2/2* - Inverted minors, 11-15 HCP, 4+ card suit, forcing, responder denies a 4-card major. Opener rebids:

11-14 HCP

2 - stopper in , no stopper in .

2NT - stopper in both majors.

2/3 - no stopper in majors

15+ HCP, forcing to game

3 - stopper in , no stopper in .

3NT, stopper in both majors.

3 - no stopper in majors

2/2 - weak jump shifts. 5+ suit, non-forcing

2NT - 11-12 HCP, no 4-card major

3 - both minors, asking the responder to decide 3/3/3NT.

3 - longer diamonds, asking the responder to decide 3/3NT.

3 - up to 10 HCP, preemptive; 5+-card support for diamonds

3NT - 14-15 HCP, balanced.

After intervention

Double (Meka):

Pass – 0-4 HCP or 9-10 HCP

New suit – 5-8 HCP

1NT – 6-8 HCP, balanced.

2-3 - less than 8 HCP, preempt, 4+-card support

Redouble - 11+ HCP

Suite call up to 2 level:

Double - 8-10 HCP, other 4-card major, negative

Suite call - 5-card suit for major

2 - 6-9 HCP, support in

3 - 10-11 HCP.

1NT - 8-10 HCP, balanced, stopper in opponent's suit

2NT - 11-13 HCP, balanced, stopper in opponent's suit

Responses to 1/1

Open 1/1 with 11-15 HCP, 5+ card suit. Open 1 denies 5 card -suit. Responses include Bergen raises, splinter, weak-jump shifts, new-minor forcing, 4^th suit forcing.

Pass - 0-7 HCP, poor support.

2/2 - constructive, 7-10 HCP, 3-card support.

3/3 - 0-6 HCP, 4+-card support, preemptive

3 - Bergen raise (constructive), 6-8 HCP, 4-card support.

3 - Bergen raise (limit), 9-11 HCP, 4-card support.

4/4 - 0-7 HCP, 5+card support.

1* (over 1)- 8-15 HCP, 4+ card suit

1NT - 11-13 HCP, minimum

2 - 11-13 HCP, 6-card suit, non-forcing

2/2 - 11-15 HCP, non-forcing

2 - 11-13 HCP, 4-card support

2NT - 14-15 HCP, balanced, stoppers in remaining two suits

New suit at 3 level - 14-15 HCP, semi-forcing

3 - good 6-card suit, at least AQJxxx

2/2/2* - 11-15 HCP, maybe 4 card minor suit while 2 is a 5+ card suit

Rebid 2/2 - not necessarily a 6-card suit

Reverse in 2 - 14-15 HCP, forcing

New suit at 2 level - may not be suit, 1 round force

2NT - 11-13 HCP, stoppers in remaining two suits

3/3/3 - 11-13 HCP, good support, non-forcing

Jump in a new suit - 14-15 HCP, good support, control in suit

Jump in original suit - 14-15 HCP, very good 6 card suit

3NT - 15 HCP, stoppers in remaining suits

1NT* - 8-15 HCP, balanced hand with mild support for opener's suit or unbalanced hand with insufficient HCP to justify a 2-over-1 response:

11-13 HCP:

2/2/2 - lower ranking 4-card suit, or better 3-card minor.

Rebids 2/2 - 6 card suit

14-15 HCP:

Jump-rebids 3/3 - 6 card solid suit (at least AKQxxx)

Reverses in a higher ranking suit

Jumps in second 5-card suit

2NT - 5-3-3-2 distribution.

Should responder then rebid a new suit, opener should pass but may raise with maximum and good 3-card support. If responder has high limit (12-15 HCP), he should bid the final contract directly.

2NT* - Jacoby 2NT, game-forcing 13+ HCP

New suit – singleton or void

Original suit – minimum, no singleton/void

Double Jump Shift* - Splinter, game forcing, singleton or void in suit to be bid, 4+ card support for opener, slam invitation.

4/4 - to play

New Suit - Cue-bid Ace, slam try.

3NT - 14-15 HCP, usually 4-card support for opener's major, responder lacks a void or singleton in side suit. controls, no singleton or void minimum 4 controls, no singleton or void

After intervention

Double (Meka) –

Pass – 0-4 HCP or 9-10 HCP

Raise – less than 8 HCP, preemptive, 3+-card support, following the Law of Total Tricks

New suit – 5-8 HCP 5+-card suit

1NT – 6-8 HCP balanced

2NT – Jacoby 2NT

Redouble* - 12+ HCP, support in opener’s suit

Suit Overcall -

Pass - 0-7 HCP or 8+ HCP and waiting for penalty if opener reopens with a double

Double - 7-9 HCP, 4-card suit in other major

1NT - 8-10 HCP, stopper in opponent’s overcall suit

2NT - 11-12 HCP, stopper in opponent’s overcall suit

Cue-bid - 15+ HCP, singleton or void in opponent’s suit, forcing.

Responses to 1NT Opening

Open 1NT with 13-15 HCP, balanced hands. Only clubs can be 5 cards long.

2 - 8-11 HCP, Stayman.

2 - denies majors

2 - garbage Stayman, 4-4 in majors

2 - Jacoby transfer to hearts

2 - Jacoby transfer to spades

2 - Minor suit Stayman

New suit after transfer* - game forcing

2NT/Raise - invitational

3/3/3/3* - game forcing with good suits

4 - Gerber. “Aces?”

4/ - Texas transfer to 4/.

4NT - 17-18 HCP, balanced, quantitative.

6NT - 19-21 HCP, balanced.

5NT - 22-23 HCP, balanced, “Grand Slam Force”.

After intervention

Double

Pass - weak, nowhere to escape; or 6-11 HCP balanced

Redouble – 5 –cards one suit, requesting partner to bid 2 (then pass or rectify the suit)

2 - 4-card suit (at least three good clubs)

2 - short in clubs

2 - tolerate for majors (at least 4-3)

2 - forcing, 12+ HCP.

3/3/3/3 - 6+-card suit, invitational

Suit overcall

Double - Penalty

2NT - Lebensohl; forcing partner to bid 3

Suit call at 2 level - 0-6 HCP, sign-off

Suit call at 3 level above the overcalled suit* – game-forcing

3NT - Lebensohl, denies a stopper in opponent's suit; while using Lebensohl 2NT then bid 3NT promises a stopper: “the more you bid no-trump, the more stoppers you have”.

Responses to 2

2 opener holds 11-15 HCPs and either 5+ clubs with a 4-card major or 6+ clubs.

2* - 11+ HCP, conventional and forcing (with fit, may be made with only 8 HCP). Opener rebids:

2 - 11-13 HCP, 4-card suit

2NT - 11-13 HCP, 6322 balanced hand, 6-card suit, stoppers in two other suits.

3* - to request opener to clarify stoppers. Opener's rebids show:

3* - and suit

3NT* - and suit

3 - 11-13 HCP, 6-card -suit, one other suit stopped.

3* - to request opener to clarify stoppers. Opener's rebids show:

3* - suit

3NT* - suit

3* - 5-card suit (6, 5), not qualify for 2NT opening hands.

3NT - 14-15 HCP, 6322 balanced hand, 6-card good suit.

3 - 14-15 HCP, 4-card suit

3/3/3 - Jump shift, 16+ HCP, good 5-card suit. Opener rebids:

3NT - less than 2-card support

Simple raise - minimum, 3-card support

New suit - maximum, 3+ card support, cue-bid Ace, slam try.

2/2 - 8-10 HCP, non-forcing, invitational. Opener may pass with minimum and mild support.

2NT - 10-11 HCP, invitation to 3NT.

3 - 8-10 HCP, 3+ card support, non-forcing, denies 5-card majors. Opener may pass with minimum, try 3NT with maximum.

After intervention

Negative doubles through 3

Redouble - 10+ HCP

Cuebid - 12+ HCP

Multi 2

Open 2 with the following three types of hands

(1) weak-2 in a major suit

(2) 22-23 balanced

(3) max-Roman: 4441-shape (any singleton)

Responses are:

2 - weak relay, asking for further description

Pass – weak-2 in hearts

2 - weak-2 in spades

2NT – 22-23 balanced

3* - Stayman

3 - Jacoby transfer to hearts.

3 - Jacoby transfer to spades.

3 - Minor suit sign-off or slam try. Opener rebids:

3NT - -preference or, at least, no distinct -preference

4 - -preference

Responder can cuebid a major to try for slam.

4 - Gerber. “Aces?”

4NT - Quantitative.

3-3 - 4441 hand with the suit above the bid suit a singleton (bid 3 for club singleton)

Bid the known singleton suit* - game-forcing, with slam ambitions

Other suit – non-forcing

2 - inviting hands with hearts

Pass – weak-2 in spades

Raise hearts – weak-2 in hearts

Strong hands – the same as above

2NT – strong relay

3 - weak with hearts, good suit and hand

3 - weak with spades, good suit and hand

3 - weak with hearts, poor suit and hand

3 - weak with spades, poor suit and hand

3NT – 22-23 balanced

4-4 - 4441 hand with the suit above the bid suit a singleton (bid 4 for club singleton)

Bid the known singleton suit* - control asking (A=2, K=1)

3/3 - 13+ HCP, 6+-card suit

3 - inviting hand for spades and hearts

Responses to 2/2/2NT Opening

(1) Responses to 2:

2/3/3 - 4+-card suit, interception bid

2NT – asking for other suit

Raises in hearts – preemptive

(2) Responses to 2:

2NT – strong relay, asking for minor suit

3 - weak relay, pass with clubs, bid 3 otherwise

Raises in spades - preemptive

(3) Responses to 2NT:

3/3 - interception bid

3/3* - strong hands (less than 5 losers) for the opener

Gambling 3NT

Opener begins with 3NT with a solid 7+ card minor suit. Opener promises one outside stopper only if vulnerable. In first or second seat 3NT opener denies a void but may well have a singleton.

4NT - Quantitative. “8th card in the long minor?”

4 - “Pass or bid your suit (if not clubs).”

4 - “Short suit?”

If Responder, after asking for a short suit, bids 5NT - a “Grand Slam Force” of sorts - he is, in fact, asking for a 8th card in the long suit. 3NT Opener rebids 6-of-his-suit with 7-card length, 6 or higher with 8-card length.

Preemptive Opening Bids

3/3/3/3 - 7-11 HCP, 7 card semi-solid suit, Rule of 2 and 3

New Suit - forcing 1 round

Others - Natural

Raises - Pre-emptive

Competitive Bidding

Overcall

1 over 1 - 7+ HCP; 2 over 1 - 9+ HCP - very good suit, watch out the vulnerability!

Raise - 7+ HCP, preemptive

Double Raise - Pre-emptive

Cue-bid - 9+ HCP with support; 11+ HCP if raised next round

Jump in a suit - weak, 6+ card suit

Raise - 7-8 HCP with fit (xxx or doubleton honor)

Cue-bid - 9-11 HCP with support

Michael's Cue-bids

14+ HCP, at least 5-5 in two higher unbid suits

Unusual 2NT

2NT - 11+ HCP, with 5-5 in 2 lowest unbid suits, "LOTUS" (lower of two usually stronger).

Defending 1NT

Double - 16+ HCP for weak 1NT (10-12 HCP, 12-14 HCP, or 13-15 HCP), penalty oriented; 13+ HCP for strong 1NT (15-18 HCP), an unnamed good suit, ask partner to bid 2

2 - 11+ HCP, 5-card suit plus a 4+ card major suit

2 - 11+ HCP, majors (at least 9 cards, usually 5-5)

2/2 - 9+ HCP, natural, 6+ card suit or good 5 card suit.

2NT - unusual 2NT (5-5 in both minors), LOTUS is off

Weak 2 of a suit:

Double - 13+ HCP, shortness in opener's suit, 16+ HCP if taken a second bid. Lebensohl is on in the response

2NT - Lebensohl

3 - Double was takeout

Suit lower in rank than the preempt suit - 0-6 HCP, signoff

Suit higher in rank than the preempt suit - 7-10 HCP, inviting

3NT - Slow Lebensohl, promise a stopper in opponent’s suit, “the more you bid no-trump the more stoppers you have”.

Reject the relay, new suit - Double was power double (16+ HCP), 5+ card suit

3NT - to play

3NT - denies a stopper in opponent’s suit, “the more you bid no-trump, the more stoppers you have”.

Suit - 13+ HCP, good suit

Weak 3 of a suit

3/3

Double - 16+ HCP, support for both majors

3/3 - 16+ HCP, maybe 4 card suit with a longer minor

Cue-bid - 10+ HCP, asking for better suit if any

Double - 8+ HCP, moderate support

3/3

Double - 16+, with second major

Weak 4 of a suit

4/4 -

Double - 16+ HCP, for penalty with quick tricks

4 -

Double - 16+ HCP, tolerance for

Balancing

Over a suit bid at one level -

Minimum suit bid - 8-13 HCP, usually a 5+-card suit (but may be a good 4-card suit at the one-level). The better the suit, the fewer points one need for the bid.

1NT - 11-15 HCP (vulnerable 13-16 HCP), with stoppers (or moderate length) in the opponents’ suit.

A jump in a new suit - 13-16 HCP, a strong 6+-card suit.

Double - takeout, 10-14 HCP or 15+ HCP, with shortness in the opponent's suit (with 15+ HCP bid again)

Cuebid - Michael's cuebid, 14+ HCP

2NT - Unusual, showing length in the two lower unbid suits.

Over an opening 1NT - see defending 1NT (the same)

Opponents stop in 1NT - some extra strength to balance over these auctions

Opponents stop in a part score -

Double - takeout

Suit bid - A one-suited hand that doesn't have the right pattern for a takeout double.

2NT - Unusual, showing length in the two lowest unbid suits (usually the minors).

Doubles

Direct double over opponent's opening - either 13-15 HCP (takeout), or power double (16+ HCP).

Takeout - over minor the takeout double usually promises 4 card suit in both majors, over opponent’s major opening promises 4+ card in the other major.

Response is requested even with 0 HCP. Pass indicates a long and solid suit the opponent bid.

Freebid after opponents bid

1 level - 5-8 HCP

2 level - 7-11 HCP

3 -level - 9-13 HCP

1NT - 8-10 HCP, a stopper in opponent's suit

Jump - 9+ HCP

Power double - Rebids or raises after the double, 16+ HCP.

Negative double - through 3

Double opponent's intervention - 8-15 HCP at 1 level; 11-15 HCP at 2 level. Over opponent’s overcall in major promises a 4-card other major (direct suit bid indicates 5+ card suit).

Responsive Double - Double in competitive auctions indicates a 3 card support of partner's suit.

Lightner Double - Requests an unusual opening lead against opponent’s slam contract.

Takeout or Penalty? - Double is for penalty if

- Our side has agreed a suit

- Our side has pre-empted

- Our side has bid natural no-trump

- When one partner has defined his shape (e.g., rebid a suit)

- Our side has redoubled