It would be great if we could always bid our hand without the opponents saying a word, but all too often
our nice sequence is thrown into confusion because they intervene. One of the test of any bidding system is
its ability to cope with interference. Because Precision is a more structured system with more artificial sequences
than a largely natural system like Standard American or 2-Over-1, it is more vulnerable to intervention if a
partnership have not prepared the ground properly to assist them in coping with the opponents' bidding (Indeed,
our philosophy when playing against pairs who play Precision is to obstruct their bidding as much as possible).
Lebensohl: The page on Lebensohl gives full details on how Lebensohl can
be used to assist us in any natural competitive sequence (by which I mean any
sequence when both pairs are bidding, and the bidding has reached the 2-level). Lebensohl is referred to below,
but not in as much depth as on the Lebensohl page.
Defences: There are some specific defences provided for in this system.
These are not all strictly to do with coping with interference (indeed, it is often a matter of us interfering with
their bidding), but see the section on INTRO on the 1NT Openings page,
for example.
There are numerous other situations where specific measures are defined for coping with action by the
opponents during our bidding sequences, particularly during artificial sequences (For example if Opps
bid or double over the 2♦ Forcing Enquiry over a
2♣ Opening).
If the situation does not fall into one of the above categories, this system does not provide specific "rules",
but more general guidance. This should assist you and your partner to make the right decisions on when to bid,
when not to bid, and how to proceed:
Bidding in front of partner.
This covers situations where your right-hand opponent (RHO) has bid, doubled or redoubled. If you bid in the
situation then you are said to be "bidding in front of partner" unless partner has just demanded some kind
of response from you. Since your partner is themselves in a position to bid you should remember that a pass
from you can potentially be just as instructive as a bid.
For example, suppose you open, partner responds in a suit
and your RHO overcalls (eg: 1♠-2♣-(2♦): If you have a
lower-range hand or any range of hand with a shortage in Clubs, you should Pass here. This sends
a clear message to partner that you are either minimum or dislike Clubs (or both). The Pass is still giving information
and the fact that the 2♣ bid is forcing to 2NT is unaffected, because Partner still has an opportunity to re-open.
Similarly a Double from your here is unequivocably Negative, promising 4-card Hearts. If you Pass
and partner wants to carry on with the bidding, their initial action should normally be a re-opening Double, in case
you have a penalty double of their overcall.
If you bid in front of partner in these situations then, depending on what you bid, you are sending specific messages
to partner about :
The length/strength of your own suit,
Your ability to support partner's suit
You ability to control the opponents' suit, and/or
Your strength within the range you have already shown
By bidding in front of partner you are usually showing extra values, and even if you are not specifically supporting
partner's suit you are implying at least a decent tolerance for their suit. If partner has another bid whether you bid
or not, you should always consider whether you need to bid at this stage and whether you have some specific information
that you need to pass to partner.
In Forcing Sequences
If you are in a forcing sequence (not Asking Bids as such) it is normally for one of three reasons:
[1] One of you has made a bid of some kind that is forcing to a particular level (eg: 2/1 bid forcing to 2NT, Forcing No Trump) or
one that is game-forcing (A reverse or a cue-bid of their suit by responder, or some other strong bid), or
[2] Partner has asked you for some specific information (eg: Stayman, 2♣-2♦
Enquiry), or
[3] Partner has specifically asked you to bid something (eg: 2NT Lebensohl, Transfers).
Forcing Sequences:
If you are in the protective position (this is only in case [1]) then you must bid and simply have to make
the most sensible bid you can. If you are not in the protective position (ie: partner or your RHO has bid), then consider
whether a bid from you really adds something (See Bidding in Front of Partner, above).
Forcing No Trump:
In the case of intervention immediately over the Forcing No Trump, Opener passes with any 5332 hand,
otherwise they make their normal bid if they can do so at the normal level.
If the interference has
prevented this then they normally pass, but the other option is a takeout double if short in opp's suit. If Opener passes
over the intervention or makes any bid except the takeout double, then Responder's rebids are exactly as over the
normal scheme for the Forcing No Trump. If Opener makes the takeout double, then the Gamma bids in new suits are
not used and bids in new suits are natural and "to play".
Stayman:
If partner has asked you for some specific information and RHO intervenes, there are many occasions when
a pass from you conveys the information just as well as a bid. For example if you open 1NT, partner bids
2♣ Stayman and RHO overcalls then a pass from you clearly denies a 4-card holding in any unbid Major that you could
still bid at the 2-level.
If the bidding goes 1NT-2♣-(2♠)-??, then Double to show 4-card Hearts. The situation
when opps overcall at the 3-level is slightly more complex: Best to pass with any minimum holding, whether or not you have
a 4-card Major, but with a maximum show a 4-card Major if you have one.
2♣-2♦ Enquiry
If Opener has a 4-card Major then over the intervention they bid it if possible at the 2-level, or make a negative double to
show the presence of a 4-card major if they can't bit it at the 2-level. If Opener has 6-card Clubs, then if the opp's overcall is
at the 2-level, Lebensohl is available to show/deny a stop in their suit. If, however, the overcall is at the 3-level, then they
Pass or bid 3NT depending on their holding in the Opponents' suit.
Lebensohl
In the case of intervention immediately over the Lebensohl 2NT bid, responder always passes because
the 2NT bid simply instructs partner to relay with 3♣. With interference, partner simply passes so as not to consume
any further bidding space and thus restrict the options open to the 2NT bidder.
Transfers
With Transfers, the situation is slightly different in that partner might have wanted to break the transfer to show
good support and a maximum hand. In these circumstances partner may bid to show that hand, but otherwise should pass
in case the transfer bidder is really weak and has no wish to compete further.
Romex
Lastly, with Romex Trial Bids the only real concern is intervention immediately over the 2NT Romex bid. Here
responder should pass with no game interest and a hand not even wanting to compete further, Double with a hand where
they want to hear the location of Opener's shortage, bid 3 of the agreed Major with a hand willing to compete further but
no serious game interest, and bid game directly if they're willing to accept any invitation.
One of this systems main weapons in the case of interference is Lebensohl. This is explained in full on the Lebensohl page, but the main features are reproduced here for convenience. What follows
applies in any competitive sequence where the bidding has reached the 2-level:
"Fast" raises of partner's suit are largely pre-emptive.
"Slow" raises of partner's suit (via 2NT-3♣) are genuinely
invitational
New suits at the 2-level are competitive and non-forcing.
"Fast" new suits at the 3-level are forcing and imply at least tolerance if not support for partner's suit
"Slow" new suits at the 3-level are invitational if they could have been bid at the 2-level
"Slow" new suits at the 3-level are competitive if they could not have been bid at the 2-level
and tend to imply a lack of support for partner's suit.
"Slow" & "Fast" 3NT bids have much the same meaning as in normal Lebensohl
"Slow" & "Fast" cue-bids of their suit are always strong and always show support for partner's suit and
any forcing raise of partner's suit goes via one of these routes. If Partner
has bid a Minor suit, then "Slow" shows a stop in their suit and "Fast" denies a stop for the purposes of playing in 3NT.
If Partner has bid a Major suit, then the "Slow" cue bids shows 1st or 2nd-round control of their suit
and "Fast" cue bids deny having 1st or 2nd-round control of their suit.
For instances where the bidding is still at the 1-level, then the general measures outlined above apply (there
is an option to use Lebensohl at the 1-level, but this requires considerable adjustments to other responses in this
scheme, including 1NT bids, and is not being taught as part of this system).
Pre-emptive interference
If the interference is of a pre-emptive nature then the action to be taken depends on whether or not we have
established through the bidding that we hold the balance of the points, or not. If responder has not yet
bid (eg: 1♥-(4♠)-???) or has made a bid that is, or may be, a weak
rescue type of bid (eg: 2♣-2♠-(4♥)-???) then all bidding is
natural and non-forcing.
If we have established that this is definitely "our" hand and it is clear that opps are sacrificing or attempting to do so,
then the options are as follows for the individual bidding immediately over the pre-emptive interference:
[1] Any immediate bid is strong and implies 1st or 2nd round control of opps suit.
[2] A Double specifically denies 1st or 2nd Round Control of their suit but is a "strong" bid in the sense that
it shows a willingness to go further if partner does have 1st or 2nd Round Control of their suit.
[3] A Pass is Lebensohl-style, forcing a Double from partner which will either be passed for penalties or following which
a non-constructive sign-off bid will be made.
