🚀 go-pugleaf

  Here is a very brief introduction to the Precision bidding system. If you
are seriously interested in learning Precision, I suggest you get a copy
of Goren's "The Precision System of Contract Bridge Bidding", which is the
Bible on the subject. There *are* other variations, but this one is the basis
for all of them. Trying to play Precision without this book is like trying
to program in C without a copy of K&R.

  The Precision system is based on an artificial forcing 1C opening bid for
*all* strong hands (except balanced hands with 22-23 points, which is a very
rare case, is treated separately, and is opened with a normal 2NT bid).
What this means is that *all* other bids show a maximum of 15 HCP's, and
with a poor hand, responder *may* pass. What I like about it is that when my
partner opens the bidding (or even when he passes) I can tell almost
immediately whether we have fewer points than our opponents, we have a probable
game, or a possible slam, just from the first bid. Precision also requires
5-card major suit openings, so fits are found rather rapidly.
  Because of the top-end limit on opening bids, you can get away with opening
weaker hands. Often, we get top boards at a duplicate club because the 
opponents do not bother to read our convention card and see that we open 
11-point hands, and thus miss an easy game of their own. Because I know my
partner has a maximum of 15 points if he opens anything other than 1C, I
can pass with a very poor hand, or bid knowing that he won't get too excited
(most of our responses are non-forcing, except a jump shift or a 1NT response 
to a major suit opening, and no matter what, a 1C opener must bid again 
even if the response is negative, assuming the opponents are silent).
  The main problem with using Precision is that it really requires that you 
have a particular partner that you play with a lot, because there are quite a 
few conventional responses that are quickly forgotten if you go a few weeks
without playing. Another problem is that all the standard bidding puzzles
and solitaire bridge games are useless because they all assume the Random
American bidding system. As you can guess, I'm a fan of Precision. When used
*correctly*, it is a powerful system that usually leads to the best possible
contract. It is designed for duplicate play, and may lose in a Swiss teams
or rubber match.

 Well, that's a start.

--Greg
-- 
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