The Precision Club Piggery        Guest User

In response to an Opening Bid of 1♥ (or 1♠), 1NT is an artificial 1-round force following which both partners in turn clarify their hand-types. The kinds of hand that generally use a Forcing No Trump are as follows:

• Balanced hands in the 8-11 point range not containing primary trump support for Hearts
• Balanced hands in the 12-15 point range with no good trump support for Hearts
• Balanced supporting hands in the 8-12 point range with a ruffing value.
• Good Supporting hands in the 10-13 point range with a side-suit singleton or void
• 16+ balanced hands with or without primary trump support
• 16+ unbalanced hands with trump support
• If Asking Bids are not being used, then you can also use the Forcing No Trump with weak hands that have no support for Hearts and a long (6+-card) suit of their own

Opener's Rebid

Over the Forcing No Trump Opener clarifies his holding along the following lines (in order of preference):-

1. Rebids a second 4-card or longer suit, if held. A reverse into spades shows a maximum. If Opener hasn't the strength to reverse, then he is forced to conceal the Spades and rebid the Hearts. A jump rebid in a Minor promises 5-5 at least and a maximum.
2. Rebids a 6-card or a very strong 5-card Heart suit (or where 4-5 in the Majors with insufficient strength to reverse). A jump rebid shows a maximum with at least a 6-card Heart suit.
3. With any 5332 shape, Opener rebids his cheapest 3-card Minor suit.
4. Opener rebids 2NT with a setup 6-card suit (Missing only 1 of the top 4 honours) in an otherwise balanced hand that is maximum.

Responder's Rebid

• With the first three hand-types shown above, responder either passes, gives preference or bids No Trumps or Hearts at an appropriate level (ie: a limit bid) taking into account the hand-type that Opener has shown with their rebid. The difference between these limit bids in Hearts and the direct-suit raises are that these are generally more "solid" in point-count terms and generally more balanced than the direct-suit raises.
  
• With the fourth hand-type shown above (the good supporting hand in the 10-13 point range with a side-suit singleton or void), Responder will normally simply convert to game in Hearts. If, however, Opener has shown a maximum hand that is also distributional and the fit appears to be good, Responder can jump-shift in the suit below their shortage to show this hand-type. Continuations thereafter are natural but Opener can bid the short suit as Beta (0-2) or Blackwood depending on your methods.
  
• If Asking Bids are not being used and you have decided to use the long weak suit variety of hand-type, then over Opener's rebid, responder simply bids their suit at the cheapest level to show this hand-type and Opener almost always passes. Obviously, if Opener has bid Responder's suit as a second suit, then Responder simply passes.
  

Responder's Rebid with 16+ Hands

With the 16+ hands, Responder can either bid naturally or, if Asking Bids are in use, has the option to embark on an Asking Bid sequence. Over Opener's rebid...

• A bid of the cheapest new suit over Opener's Rebid is Gamma in Hearts. A relay over the Gamma response is Beta (0-2).
  
  (An alternative but more complex method is for the second relay to be asking for the location of any singleton held [Opener bids the suit below the shortage] and now Responder bids Beta in the short suit). Thereafter Epsilons are available.
  
• If Opener has shown a second suit, then a relay in the second-cheapest new suit is Gamma in Opener's second suit (but see the section on Gamma for times when Opener might be 5332 shape). Again a relay over the response is Beta or you can use the alternative described above.
  

In both of the above situations repeat Gammas are potentially available so the second relay generally ignores the Heart suit if a repeat Gamma is an option. Similarly if Opener has shown no top honours in the suit, then if the second relay would be in No Trumps, this is handing over the Captaincy rather than the relay, and a bid in Clubs will be the second relay.

Trial Bids - General

Major Suit Trial Bids are an invitation to game when a Major has been agreed at the 2-level by any natural means. 2/1, SA & ACOL all use Long-suit (help-suit) Trial bids by default. Standard Precision uses short-suit trial bids by default, but this can cause problems as short-suit trial bids tend to be more revealing to the defence than long-suit trial bids (which can be anything from a 3-card fragment up to a 5-card second suit. In Precision, the Major can have been agreed at the 2-level in any kind of natural sequence, including:

• 1♥-2♥
• 1♥-1♠-2♣-2♥
• 1♦-1♥-2♥
• 1♣-1♦-1♥-2♥

Romex Trial Bids

Romex Trial Bids combines these methods and gives the partnership the best of both worlds by allowing them to make bothlong and short-suit trial bids. Long-suit trial bids are mostly unaffected and with one exception are exactly the same as they would be in other systems.

The trick Romex has up its sleeve is that the short-suit trial bid is only made when it will really make a difference. There are 3 basic scenarios:

1. Partner not interested in game at any price (ie: is Minimum for their 2-level raise).
2. Partner wants to be in game if their partner has any kind of invitational hand (ie: is Maximum for the 2-level raise).
3. Partner wants to be in game only if the hand is fitting right (ie: is mid-range for their 2-level raise)

Using Romex, the short-suit trial bid is only actually made in the third of the above situations. Short-suit trial bids are achieved by a Lebensohl-style relay when one of the partnership wants to ask permission to make a short-suit trial bid. As stated above, the Romex bid is a relay in the next denomination up from the 2-level Major suit bid. This asks for permission to make a short-suit trial bid. Partner can refuse permission by returning to the Major at the 3-level (ie: not interested in game, Scenario 1) or 4-level (ie: wants to be be game, Scenario 2), or gives permission for the short-suit trial bid by relaying in the next bid up (undecided, Scenario 3).

The full scheme of bids is as follows:-
1♥...2♥-2♠	This is the Romex Relay, Asking to make a short-suit trial bid. Partner returns to Hearts at the 3 or 4 level if they refuse permission, or relays with 2NT if they give permission, after which...
1♥...2♥-2♠-2NT	3♣	shows a Diamond shortage (suit below, don't forget)
	3♦	shows a Spade shortage
	3♥	shows a Club shortage
1♥...2♥-2NT	This is a long-suit trial bid in Spades, the one aspect of long-suit trial bids that is different using Romex.
1♥...2♥-3♣	This is a long-suit trial bid in Clubs
1♥...2♥-3♦	This is a long-suit trial bid in Diamonds
1♥...2♥-3♥	This is largely pre-emptive rather than an invitation to game

As you can see from the above, Romex only gives the information away about the shortage when it really makes a difference, a significant advantage. Often you will find that your hand is suitable for either a long-suit or a short-suit trial bid. Here you have to consider which is the most appropriate. If undecided you should probably make the long-suit trial bid in preference to asking to make a short-suit trial bid

A 2♠ response to an Opening of 1♥ is a Mini-Splinter aimed at reaching thin games based solely on fit rather that a solid point-count. It shows about an 8-9 count, good 4-card or longer trump support and a side-suit singleton or void in an as yet unspecified suit. Opener can refuse the invitation by returning to Hearts at the 3-level, accept it by bidding game or can ask the location of the shortage by bidding 2NT if the location of the shortage makes a difference (which it usually will). Now Responder bids 3♣ with a Diamond shortage, 3♦ with a Spade shortage, and 3♥ with a Club shortage. Opener passes or returns to Hearts at the appropriate level, but generally should only bid game when it appears there are no wasted values and the fit with partner's hand if very good.

Jump-shifts in this system are not strong and game-forcing, but showing a decent fit for Opener's Hearts and a 5-card or longer side-suit in a hand weaker than opening strength, typically about 7-9 points. Like the mini-splinters outlined above, these bids are aimed at reaching thin games on the strength of a really good fit, but Responder will normally havea reasonable trump fit and a source of additional tricks in the side-suit rather than an excellent trump fit and a shortage. Opener should only bid to game if they have a good fit with Responder's suit and controls elsewhere. Over 1♥, 2NT is the fit-showing jump-shift in Spades because 1♥-2♠ is reserved for the undefined mini-splinter.

The below applies in any 3-suited sequence, with or without a reverse, where the 3rd suit is bid at the 2-level. Where the Opening Bid is 1♥ this effectively means the following sequences:-

• 1♥-1♠-2♣
• 1♥-1♠-2♦
• 1♥-2♣-2♦
• 1♥-2♣-2♠
• 1♥-2♦-2♠

In any of these circumstances 2NT is not a natural bid but Lebensohl, forcing 3♣ and so creating 'slow' and 'fast' sequences just as in standard Lebensohl. Given this, the following general considerations apply:

• A simple preference to Opener's first suit at the 2-level is non-forcing (For possible continuations, see Romex Trial Bids above)
• A fast 3-level raise/preference in either of Opener's suits is forcing.
  
  Optionally you can play this fast 3-level raise as a Range Beta if Opener has not reversed, or Beta (0-2) if they have reversed. If you are not using Asking Bids, then the fast 3-level raise is generally an invitation to cue-bid.
• A slow (ie: via 2NT-3♣) raise or preference in one of Opener's suits is strictly preference and "to play" if the suit could not have been bid at the 2-level, but invitational if it could have been bid at the 2-level as a simple preference (ie: in Hearts where Opener has not reversed).
  
• In general, fast bids at the 3-level are strong and forcing, whereas slow bids tends to be less strong and "to play".
• Fast 4th-suit-forces are more interested in clarification of partner's exact distribution, whereas slow 4th-suit-forces are more interested in opener's holding in the 4th suit with a view to playing in No Trumps if they have a stop.
  
  A fast jump in the 4th suit (eg: 1♥-1♠-2♣-3♦ shows about 14-15 points, 3 or 4-card support for Opener's Hearts, a singleton in Opener's second suit (ie: Clubs) and a decent Spade side suit. This is a good alternative route to a delayed game raise, which normally denies having a side-suit shortage

Examples

• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -2♥ is simple preference, non-forcing
• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -3♥ is forcing, inviting cue-bids
• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -2NT-3♣-3♥ is invitational (because preference could have been given with 2♥)
• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -2♦ is a fast 4th-suit-force, interested in clarification of Opener's exact distribution.
• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -2NT-♣-3♦ is a slow 4th-suit-force, interested in Opener's Diamond holding
• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -3♣ is strong, forcing and forward-going with good Clubs.
• 1♥-1♠-2♣ -2NT-♣-3♠ is invitational with good Spades (because responder could have repeated the Spades at the 2-level). etc etc

Overcalls

Over simple of jump overcalls to to the level of 3♥ doubles are negative and strong hands will normally proceed via a negative double or a cue-bid of the opponents' suit. Lebensohl 2NT (with all the normal nuances) is always available if space permits:

• In general, fast new suits show that suit and a fit for Opener's Hearts, whereas slow new suits will tend to deny a fit for Hearts.
• Fast raises in Hearts imply an ability or willingness to compete further, whereas slow raises are weaker and show less suitable hands at their limit.
• Bids of 3NT (slow and fast) are exactly as with normal Lebensohl, the slow variety showing a decent holding in opponents' suit (probably a double stop).
• A fast cue-bid of opponents' suit is Gamma in Hearts, a relay over the response being Beta. Asking Bids are now fully established.
• A slow cue-bid of opponents' suit is a Directional Asking Bid (DAB), showing a strong hand but denying primary trump support. It also promises some kind of holding (at least a half stop such as Qx or Jxx but normally a single stop) and looking towards 3NT if partner has some additional help in their suit.

Doubles (MOTOR)

This style is characterised by the use of Rubensohl over the Double, with transfer responses from 1NT up to and including the suit below Opener's Major only (ie: 1NT, 2♣ and 2♦ are all transfers). This makes it easy for Responder to show invitational and game-forcing 2-suiters and weak or invitational single-suited hands.

Sequences that show Heart support at some stage are somewhat different. In general, if responder transfers into Hearts first and then bids a new suit then this is Game-forcing, like a delayed game raise. If, however, Responder bids 1NT or transfers into a new suit first and then shows Heart support at any level, then this is showing a decent limit bid in Hearts with 1st or 2nd round control in the suit but this control can be either a suit, fragment or shortage and is essentially lead-directing if we end up defending the hand. The complete scheme of responses is as follows:-

• Redouble: As in most systems a redouble shows a good hand interested in a penalty, but it also promises a partial fit for partner's Hearts such as Qx, Kx or Ax. It normally shows a 12+ balanced(ish) hand.
• Direct suit raises in Hearts ( at any level) are 100% pre-emptive and based solely on a good trump fit and shape rather than a solid point count
• 1♠ is a natural 1-round force, showing a 4-card or longer suit. Opener rebids naturally (often as if Responder had bid a Forcing No Trump). Continuations are entirely natural
• 1NT and 2♣ are both transfers to Clubs and Diamonds respectively. Opener is not allowed to break this transfer. Once Opener completes the transfer,
  • Pass: Shows a weak hand, no tolerance for Hearts, and a 6-card or longer holding in the transfer suit.
  • 2♥: A good 2-level raise in Hearts with 1st or 2nd round control of the the transfer suit (ie: Ace, King or a shortage), suggesting that suit as a suitable opening lead if we end up defending
  • 3♥: A solid invitational raise in Hearts with 1st or 2nd round control of the transfer suit (ie: Ace, King or a shortage), suggesting that suit as a suitable opening lead if we end up defending
  • 4♥: A solid raise to game in Hearts with 1st or 2nd round control of the transfer suit (ie: Ace, King or a shortage), suggesting that suit as a suitable opening lead if Opps sacrifice and we end up defending
  • Simple new suit: shows an invitational-strength (about 10-12) 2-suiter with at most a 2-card tolerance for Hearts. The 2-suiter will usually be at least 5-5 but exceptionally might be 6-4 or perhaps even 5-4 on rare occasions. Responder will show the longer suit first or the higher-ranking if even-suited. Continuations are natural with Lebensohl available if the second suit is shown at the 2-level.
  • 2NT: shows an invitational single-suited hand with a Heart shortage, but stops in the unbid suits. This sequence may also conceal a second 4-card suit.
  • Raise of the Transfer Suit: shows an invitational single-suited hand with no good support for Hearts. The suit will almost more always be of at least 6-card length.
  • Jump Shift to a New Suit: Game-forcing 2-suited hand that must always be at least 5-5. As with the invitational 2-suiters, the suits will be bid in their natural order.
  • Jump Raise of the Transfer Suit: shows a game-forcing single-suited hand with no good support for Hearts, but with a marked more shortage or weakness in one of the unbid suits. The suit will always be of at least 6-card length and this will show a hand unsuitable for 3NT. This sequence may conceal a second 4-card suit.
  • 3NT: shows a game-forcing single-suited hand with a Heart shortage, but stops in the unbid suits. This sequence may also conceal a second 4-card suit.
• 2♦ is a transfer to Hearts and will always show at least decent 3-card support for Hearts and at least an upper-range 2-level limit raise in Hearts. Opener can treat this bid like a 2-level agreement of Hearts and may break this transfer to make an immediate trial bid (exactly as in the Romex scheme outlined above). If Opener completes the transfer to Hearts, then
  • Pass: shows the 2-level limit raise.
  • 3♥: A solid invitational raise in Hearts which will always be balanced and possibly short on controls (otherwise responder would normally transfer to a feature suit before supporting Hearts)
  • New Suit: Game forcing in Hearts with a decent side-suit (eg: like a delayed game raise). This is a mild slam try and Opener should cue-bid immediately with a suitable fit and a maximum hand
  • 4♥: This is also a mild Slam Try, but a "power" raise lacking a long side-suit or a shortage.
  • Jump-Shift: Strongly slam-invitational in Hearts with a good side suit and good controls. Opener should always cue-bid unless they are minimum with an unsuitable hand.
• 2♠ shows an undefined mini-splinter exactly as if the Double had not been bid. (Given the takeout double, the mini-splinters are more pre-emptive and obstructive (ie: better trumps and more shape) than transferring to a "feature" suit and then supporting Hearts, which would tend to be used on slightly stronger hands)
• Jumps in a new suit are fit-showing as normal (the only exception being the mini-splinter in 2♠). 2NT is the fit-showing jump in Spades. (Given the takeout double, the fit-showing jump-shifts are more pre-emptive and obstructive (ie: better trumps, longer suit and more shape) than transferring to a "feature" suit and then supporting Hearts, which would tend to be used on slightly stronger hands)
• Full Splinters (ie: double jump-shifts in the suit below a shortage) are strongly slam-invitational, as normal.