Defending against Precision

In most versions of precision today, the opening bids that are different from Standard American or 2/1 are

The one club opener which is strong (16+), artificial (can show virtually any shape) and forcing (for one round)

The one diamond opener which can show any of a number of hands. Typically, this is the opener for all hands that cannot be described any other way. For pairs that play two diamonds as other than standard precision, two clubs as guaranteeing six, and five card majors, this could guarantee as few as zero diamonds

The two club opener is usually about 11 to 15 points with at least 6 clubs, or 5 clubs with a side 4-card major

The two diamond opener is typically 3-suited, limited and short in diamonds

Some Probabilities

What are the typical hand types for a precision 1 opener? Better than 85% of the hands opened 1 (discounting freak distributional hands with fewer than 16 HCP) have from 16-19 HCP. And, 47.6% of the hands with 16 or more HCP will be balanced (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2). So, when your opponents open 1, better than 40% of the time, they will have a 16-19 no trump, and, when they do not they will be balanced or semi-balanced (adding in the 5-4-2-2, and 6-3-2-2 hands) about 65% of the time.

Philosophy of Defending Against 1 Openers

So, when your opponents open 1, more often than not, they will not have shortness, and, most of the time, they will have between 16 and 19 HCP. This tells us that it is highly likely that your side does not have a game, and you should devise your defense to a 1 opener based on that. Most pairs playing against strong no trumps are not looking to find the best GAME when their opponents open 1NT, so neither should you when your opponents open a strong 1.

So, it is probably best to use your defense to do things: interfere with a constructive auction, and compete for part scores based on fit.

Truscott vs 1

Bids at the 1-level show a 2-suiter (recommended by A.T. as at least 5-5) as follows:

• Dbl = clubs and hearts
• 1 = reds
• 1 = majors
• 1 = blacks
• 1NT = diamonds and spades

Crash vs 1

There are many different versions of CRASH depending on which suits you want to be able to show naturally. I present one of them below. Since neither the opponents nor your partner will usually know what you have, the idea is to compete aggressively for part scores especially at favorable vulnerability.

• Dbl = reds or blacks (4-4 or better) .... color
• 1 = majors or minors (4-4 or better) ..... rank
• 1 = hearts
• 1 = spades
• 1NT = pointed suits or rounded suits (4-4 or better) .... shape
• Pass = relatively square hand or values (but no major)
• 2 bids natural

An example hand: white vs red, Qxxx xx xx Kxxxx

1

1*

Dbl**

?

*Partner shows majors or minors (4-4 or better)

** opponent shows 5-7 almost any shape

I recommend 2. Either your partner has spades or clubs, and if you believe in the Law of Total Tricks, you are certainly willing to compete to the 2-level in spades or the 3-level in clubs, so get it off your chest, and bid your hand.

A further modification of Crash is that some people play 2 to show 3-suiters, so, advancer, then bids to the level he is willing to play if partner has the wrong singleton.

TWERB vs 1

• DBL = hearts and values to overcall
• 1 = spades and values to overcall
• 1 = reds or blacks (4-4 or better)
• 1 = majors or minors
• 1NT = rounded or pointed
• 2 = diamonds or majors (5-5 or better)
• 2 = hearts or blacks (5-5 or better)
• 2 = spades or minors (5-5 or better)
• 2 = clubs or reds (5-5 or better)
• 2NT = rounded or pointed (5-5 or better)

Over the 2-level bids, advancer puppets to the presumed single suit. Over other bids, proceed as in Crash.

Note: Many partnerships play similar systems over 1 - Pass - 1 (weak)

Defending against the 1 opener

Category 1:

1 shows at least 2 cards. In this situation, diamonds are usually natural or the no trump range not covered by the 1NT opener. Here, my preference is to defend against 1 as natural ... it usually is.

Category 2:

1 can show as few as 0 diamonds. Here, I want to be able to show all suits naturally and still show a major 2-suite, so I recommend the following structure:

• 1 is natural, but may be weaker than usual
• 2 = diamonds
• 2 = Michaels, however you normally play Michaels
• 2NT = minors or hearts and clubs (your preference)

Defending Against the 2 opener

The 2 opener is problematic for both sides. While it does have some preemptive value, it also preempts the opener’s side. I recommend:

• DBL = cards, takeout
• 2// natural, about a king better than a 1-level overcall of a Standard American 1 opener
• 2NT = 14-18 balanced, clubs well stopped
• 3 = Michaels

Defending Against the 2 Opener

The 2 opener is much like a 'mini-roman', but both sides know what the short suit is. Overcalls in direct seat should be sound. The reason is that doubles by responder are negative, and can cause you to go for a number. So, 2 - 2 - DBL (negative) - all pass can be very dangerous. 2NT should show a strong NT, double should be either 12 to a bad 15 or 18 plus (if doubler has the big hand, they must bid again (either raise or new suit).

Some Random Examples

You are playing TWERB, all white, and the auction proceeds 1 (Precision) - 2 (spades or minors) - DBL (5-7) and your hand is x Kxxx Qxxx J10xx ... what do you do? Well, the double has gotten you off the hook. Partner can now bid the expected 2, or surprise you with 3 showing the minors. If partner surprises you, you have very little defense, and surely the opponents have a spade game, so bid either 4NT or 5 at your next opportunity.

You are white against red, and the auction has proceeded 2 (Precision) - P - 2 (invitational or better and asking 4-card major), and you hold K10xx A9xx xx AKx. What do you do? You have a good hand.

Pass, in tempo. You will get another opportunity. You are not strong enough for 2NT (your partner rates to be broke) and you do not have a suit.

Finally, all white, RHO opens 1 (Precision) and you hold

AKx AQx Kxx Qxxx .... what do you do? PASS. You have a good hand, but there is no reason to disclose that now. By waiting for LHO to bid, you can learn a lot, AND, you are going to get another chance ..... so the auction proceeds

1 - Pass - 1 (5+ hearts, 8 + pts, GF) - Pass - 2 (4 or more hearts agrees suit) back to you.

What have you learned? First, there are too many points in the deck, so LHO has probably upgraded a hand with a bunch of hearts. Your partner has a shapely Yarborough (he is short in hearts) .... just sit back and relax, listen to the auction and get ready to defeat their contract, since they do not know how your points are divided.

The Multi 2

This is a fairly standard convention for the 2 opener in most of the world, except, of course, the ACBL. It shows either a weak 2 in an unspecified major, or one of several strong hands (most pairs use only 1 or 2 of these strong definitions, some use none at all) ... a big 4,4,4,1 20-22 balanced, a 1940s Goren 2 or 2 opener.

So, we are going to look at a few defenses.

Nilsland vs Multi

DBL = weak NT or 17+

• DBL by advancer is responsive
• suit by advancer is constructive
• jump by advancer is forcing
• suit rebid by doubler = 17+
• 2NT = 20-21 balanced

direct overcall = 11-16

2NT = balanced 15-18,

advantages: defenders can bid a part-score or a game when both hold decent hands disadvantages: difficult to show 2-suiters or to exact penalties

Forrester vs Multi

• DBL = takeout of spades, or power double
• 2 = takeout of hearts, advancer can pass with good hearts and bad hand
• 2 = natural
• 2NT = 15+ to 18 balanced
• 3/3 = natural
• 3/3 = natural and strong
• 4 = decent unspecified 5-5
• 4 = good unspecified 5-5

If intervener comes in as a passed hand, it shows similar hands, but weaker

Granovetter over Multi

• DBL = at least a 5-card major and a minimum overcall, or balanced 23+
• 2 = 5+ clubs and 14+ points
• 2 = 5+ diamonds and 14+ points
• 2NT = balanced 16-19
• 3 = 8-13 points and a decent 6-card or longer or suit
• 3 = 8-13 points and a decent 6-card or longer or suit
• 3/3 = invitational, at least a 7-bagger
• 3NT = balanced 20-22

delayed double, i.e., 2 - Pass - 2 - Pass - Pass (hearts) - DBL = light takeout of hearts doubles by advancer are responsive

Kleinman over Multi

• DBL = takeout of 2 opener
• 2NT = takeout of 2 opener
• 2 = hearts and a minor
• 2 = spades and a minor
• 3 bids = natural
• 4 minor = suit plus hearts, strong

Pass, then:

• DBL = 16+ balanced
• 3 minor = 5 minor, 4 of a major
• 4 minor = suit plus spades, strong

in 4th seat, bids are natural, and the double in 2 - Pass - 2 - DBL = takeout of hearts

Multi over Multi

Direct DBL = 1 major, 13+

2 major = no support in bid major, invitational or better in other

2NT asks

• 3 = good with hearts
• 3 = good with spades
• 3 = hearts
• 3 = spades

2 - DBL - 2M - DBL (takeout), all others are Lebensohl style:

• 2 or 2 overcall = 8-12 HCP natural
• 3 or 3 = natural and good
• 3 or 3 = strong jump overcall like over a weak 2