[Bermy]

I am happy to continue these feeds, as long as enough of you are interested.
Please feel free to ask any question or questions about CP (stick to the subject please), however I won’t take criticism, you are welcome to play bridge any way you like. I do not need to argue with any other suggestions, as it is a waste of productive time. If you find variations to the Wei original, as I have said, yes they do exist, if you prefer to play the Wei or any other way. Please highlight any misprints, Ok
I will start new feeds whenever they get too long, and will return to old feeds to answer any of your questions, best to read sequentially.
Nice comments are welcome, and don’t necessarily need to be answered or commented on. The more nice comments I get the more you will motivate me.

Lets get on with the 1 diamond opening.

[Bermy]

The Max Min, 1♦ Opening

Usually a weak hand

The 1♦ opening is our catchall opening bid for all those hands that do not qualify for any of our other opening bids.
You will find yourself opening 1♦ more often than any other, so learn and understand it well, you will be bidding competitively with the opps.
Because it contains our weak opening hands, this type of bid will occur most often. It is not difficult and many of the sequences may become quite familiar to you 2/1 and Sayc bidders who open 1 of a minor for weak opening hands.
Since the opening 1NT takes cares for most of your 13-15 Hcp hands, 1♦ is usually weak, and is mainly there to enter the bidding early. A common mistake is to open 1♦ with a hand that qualifies for a 1 No Trump opening. This practise is not recommended in Control Precision, as you will have no practical rebid. If your hand holds 4 or 5x ♦ but qualifies for 1NT don’t be tempted to open 1♦.
Let us try to work out what hands gets caught in this “catchall” net. We first eliminate all hands that qualify for 1NT and 1 of major openings, as well as all hands that may qualify for a 2♣ opening, and this is what we are left with.


Weak (11-12 hcp)

1 or 2x 4 card majors
No Trump distribution (No single, void etc)
5 or more ♦ and or 5x♦4x♣
5x♦and 4x♦

Strong (13-15)

5x ♦and a 4card suite, with 2 doubletons
6 or more ♦
4441 hands any singleton
5440 hands void in major.
5D431 hands with singleton

Reader should take note that opener only has to rebid and inform as to whether he is in the weak, or strong and the approximate distribution will become clear to the Control bidder. When weak, you are very weak, and when strong the Control bidder should remain alert to this short suite information. We do reserve however our 2NT and 3D responses for strong hands that do not have such a short suite feature. They will always be 5422 with 5x minor.



Control Bids for 1♦

1♥
6 -15 hcp with 4x H bid H when holding 4xS too.

1♠ 6 –15 hcp with 4x♠ (denies 4x♥ unless 5x♠).
1NT
7-10 hcp no 4 card major

2♣
Strong with ♣ (forcing)* Safe to Bid

2♦
Strong with ♦ (forcing)* Very safe to Bid

2♥
Weak with long ♥ to play. Unsafe to Bid

2♠
Weak with long ♠ to play. Unsafe to Bid
2NT
11-12 no major instruction to bid on with 13-15 or pass without.

3♣
Weak with ♣ , to play.

3♦
Weak with♦ , to play

3NT
To play. 13+ hcp, no interest in slam.

* One should remember, that while these bids are forcing for the blind bidder, the Control bidder might pass at any time he feels he has enough information and does not wish to continue.



We open 1♦ whenever we are weak, 11-12 hcp and have either a 4 card major or a long diamond suite and even sometimes when we have 5x♣ with a NT distribution. The control bidder will almost always bid his best suite, or a 4-card major as a relay bid. Although this suite bid is honest, it merely serves as a relay controlling bid, asking for more information. He has his weak, intermediate and strong controlling bids. The most common of these is the 1 of a major relay bid. This is the bid that begins a search for a quick major suite fit, in order to play at the next level. The relay bid may be quite weak, and as little as 6Hcp. As the control bidder always has the option of passing, any response is now forcing for at least 1 round and may not be passed unless the opponents intervene. Strong controlling bids like 2♦ are forcing all the way to game by the blind bidder.
Needless to say, the only dangerous bid is pass, and one should be reminded that 1♦ opening in our system can be as little as a singleton ♦. For this reason, we allow the control bidder to relay with any 4 card major and a very low point count. Control bidder may be weak with a long suite of his own, He may use a weak jump shift, and to indicate that he wishes to play in the suite of his own and that the blind bidder should pass.

1♦ – 1♥ (4x♥ any 6-15 hcp hand)

Opener now rebids

1♠… 11-12 hcp and 4x♠.
1NT …11-12 hcp no 4-4 fit.
2♣ … 11-12 hcp 5x♦ and 4x♣.
2♦ … 11-12 hcp 5 or more ♦
2♥… 11-12 4x support
2 ♠ …13-15 no support 4xS and a short suite
2NT …13-15 no major fit and no singleton or void
3 ♣… 13-15 with single/void
3♦… strong hand with long ♦
3♥ …strong hand with outside single or void.

1♦ -1♠ (4 or more ♠ but denies 4x♥ unless 5♠ -4♥)

Opener now rebids
1NT 11-12 hcp no 4-4 fit.
2♣ 11-12 hcp 5x♦ and 4x♣.
2♦ 11-12 hcp 5 or more ♦
2♥ 11-12 hcp 4x♥
2♠ 11-12 support 4x♠
2NT 13-15 no major fit and no singleton or void
3♣ 13-15 with single/void
3♦ 13-15 strong hand with long ♦
3♥ 13-15 hands with outside single or void.
3♠ 13-15 support and outside single or void.


Now you may have 2 types of hand, either a weak 11-12 point hand, or maybe something stronger, that did not qualify for a 1NT opening. When you are weak, you want to get out of the bidding as soon as possible, so you either support the major, or bid spades (when holding 4) or 1NT. Repeating 2♦ would deny a major and show a long ♦ suite. 2 ♣ would be the same with a 5-4.

The problem the control bidder faces, is to get as much information from the blind bidder as quickly as possible. He must assume that the opener is weak, and place the contract as soon as possible. His strongest Control bid is 2♦ and asks to continue bidding until 3NT is reached, the Control bidder himself may choose to pass earlier, if he is dissatisfied with the response. A jump shift rebid would alert the Control bidder of the existence of a short suite and 13-15 Hcp. and would be a splinter in that short suite.

Otherwise, the control bidding is very straightforward. Bid 4 card suites upward, until a 2 level fit is found or play in 1NT. 1NT response denies a 4 card major and is around 10 hcp.

Now I wish to show you what happens when the opener is stronger and is in the 13-15hcp ranges. This is where our entire system gets interesting. I wish to introduce the “Principal of jump rebids after 1♦ openings” When we open 1♦ we only jump rebid when holding a singleton or void short suite and 13-15 high card points. Otherwise rebid 3♦ showing 13-15 with 5 or more♦ .

Control bidder will now spot the existence of this short suite because a jump or jump shift bid has occurred, and will be aware that his partner’s hand has extra features. Now he will be better armed for that critical contract placement. As I have explained earlier all balanced 13-15 hands have been taken out of the equation. So now the jump shows the presence of a singleton (or void). This is why we can open 1♦ for all 4441 hands any singleton 13-15 Hcp.

This principal of short suite jumps, allows us to open 1♦ with a singleton ♦, and eliminates CC Wei’s problem with 4441 hands. We no longer have a need to place these hands into the 2♦ opening, thus freeing up that bid for the versatile multi 2♦, which I will deal with in the next chapter.

We can jump or shift bid or even cue bid, and the Controller will be able to identify the singleton very accurately, depending on the situation at the table. We can even introduce a convention to identify the exact location of the singleton on strong slam going sequences. If it’s a void, then the blind bidder overbids again, to show the void. This is what I call the Blind Mad Bid, its because when the blind bidder goes mad, its usually because he has seen something. However if a blind bidder has seen something, it must be nothing, a void.

However, the reader should be aware of the consequences of bidding with these short suite revelations. Like all good bridge conventions, when we have something good, we have a problem elsewhere. We have to compromise those hands that hold 1x four card major and 5x♦ with 2 doubletons. These bids have been compromised, and the NT and 3♦ remain open to help. This makes bidding 4 card fits quite difficult, when you may have 13-15 hcp. So after opening 1 ♦ and partner bids say 1♥, one may be tempted to raise the bidding to 3♥ with 13-15 as Mr. Wei recommended. I suggest that you make a single suite raise when 13 or 14 or bid 3♦ when very strong 15 hcp. 2NT is also available to you when it is clear that you have a major suite misfit.

This contradiction of ideas is not a mystery really. In bidding the Control Bidder has to figure this out, using deduction, and perhaps a little guess (not uncommon in bridge) to deduce maybe "Why the hounds are not barking?"

One can even introduce a convention for bidding the 1♦ -2♣ /♦ sequences. This would mean that any normal raise would show the normal weak hand while any jump in a major would show a splinter singleton in the suite bid with 13-15 hcp. This convention would work like this.

1♦ – 2♦ (no 4-card major strong and forcing)

Opener now bids

2♥… with 4x ♥ and 11-12hcp
2♠ …. with 4x♠ and 11-12 hcp
2NT.. balanced with 11-12 both majors stopped.
3♣ … 5x♦ and 4x ♣ 11-12hcp.
3♦ .. 5x ♦ 11-12hcp.
3♥ singleton or void splinter in H 13-15 hcp
3♠ singleton or void splinter in ♠ 13-15 hcp.
3NT 13-15 with no singleton or void.
4♣ singleton or void in ♣ (be wary of robbing control bidder of his 3NT option)
4♦ singleton or void in♦ (be wary of robbing control bidder of his 3NT option)

Once again I have demonstrated exactly how the control bidder can exactly identify what type of hand the opener has, and place the contract correctly. This control bidding does not only work in competitive bidding, but helps your lead and defence as well. What is the value of knowing about your partner’s singleton, before you lead?

Bidding 1♦ with intervention.

We live in a real world, and our opponents don’t usually just pass and let us bid alone, so we have to keep our control over the table despite their intervention. Intervention, like in all our system, changes everything. Now pass, double, redouble and cue bids come into play, and so everything else changes accordingly. When LHO overcalls our 1♦ opening, double and redoubles and cue bids become our strong controlling bids. Now any other bid, including 2 and 3 level bids are weak, usually to play, and are not forcing on the opener.
Even if the overcall is a strong pre-empt, this principal remains the same. We double or cue bid to show the blind bidder that our team holds the stronger balance of points, and that blind bidder can safely bid on. Blind bidder, who knows how to play bridge, may only leave the double in, when very strong in opponent’s suite and wishes to penalise the overcall. This is a blind decision so trumps must be good, and must be made with the current state of Vulnerability in mind, and the nature and scoring of the tournament.

edit

[The_Badger]

Yes Bermy, it all looks ok to me. Nothing too complicated to learn, basically straightforward common sense relay Precision bidding brought up to date. I think with all systems it is important to keep them accessible to many. Whilst I found learning Sontag Precision not too difficult in my 20s, I think I would have some difficulty now: as for Asymmetric Relay Precision systems, except if you are in an established partnership playing regularly it's brain overload in my view.

The beauty of Wei Precision is that it is easy to learn. And it proved popular in the 1970/1980s. I firmly believe why Precision went off the radar after this period is that it became too complicated for non-regular partnerships. Yes, you can stick a V8 in your old jalopy, re-spray it, add a sunroof and the latest sound system, new gleaming bumpers, etc. but it's still your old jalopy underneath, and if your old jalopy got you from A to B fine, then what's the point of tinkering with it too much

[Bermy]

The_Badger, on 2017-September-09, 12:34, said:

Yes Bermy, it all looks ok to me. Nothing too complicated to learn, basically straightforward common sense relay Precision bidding brought up to date. I think with all systems it is important to keep them accessible to many. Whilst I found learning Sontag Precision not too difficult in my 20s, I think I would have some difficulty now: as for Asymmetric Relay Precision systems, except if you are in an established partnership playing regularly it's brain overload in my view.

The beauty of Wei Precision is that it is easy to learn. And it proved popular in the 1970/1980s. I firmly believe why Precision went off the radar after this period is that it became too complicated for non-regular partnerships. Yes, you can stick a V8 in your old jalopy, re-spray it, add a sunroof and the latest sound system, new gleaming bumpers, etc. but it's still your old jalopy underneath, and if your old jalopy got you from A to B fine, then what's the point of tinkering with it too much

opinion noted,I keep repeating CP works with basic Wei (I do support the universal language), and I have read your comments on Precision, that you like Wei you may have no further interest in what I have to say ,then you have no business in this feed, others are calling on me for more information. I lie between keeping it simple for those who believe Precision is too complicated, and those who wish to tear me up because it is too simple. I therefore plan to feed my ideas slowly and build up to Control Precision Plus, releasing new ideas and discussing old points and weaknesses as we go.

[The_Badger]

Bermy, on 2017-September-09, 12:42, said:

opinion noted,I keep repeating CP works with basic Wei (I do support the universal language), and I have read your comments on Precision, that you like Wei you may have no further interest in what I have to say ,then you have no business in this feed, others are calling on me for more information.

Bermy, don't get me wrong: I like what you are doing. Good luck! I respect that you do not wish me to comment further on your version of Precision, and that's ok with me, too. What I was trying to emphasise with the 'jalopy' scenario is that Precision - perhaps because it is called precisely that: Precision - is perhaps the most 'tinkered with' bridge system ever invented. Many Precision bidders wants to make it more precise. And I have been guilty of that, too.

There's absolutely nothing wrong in bidding theory and making things better, but there's a point I believe where the audience gets smaller and smaller, and that's directly proportional to the complication of a system, I feel, any system, not just Precision. And there's the added difficulty of finding a compatible partner who wishes to play a complex system with you too. And remembering it.

Most partnerships such as Welland-Auken, Brink-Drijver, Meckstroth-Rodwell, Fantoni-Nunes, etc. have evolved their complex bidding systems as established bridge partnerships. I am glad that other players have showed interest in your Control Precision system, but there's a gulf between showing interest and playing a system in a regular partnership.

If I said to my regular bridge partner that I want to use Fantunes from now on, I think she'd be horrified. We're about the same age, mid-fifties, and whilst I'd like us to do things better generally, changing things wholesale would not be way to do it.

However, there is probably a specialised niche of younger players, maybe perhaps in the country that first used Precision, China, that'll welcome a new version of Precision.

[Nirmalya]

[quote name='Bermy' timestamp='1504969843' post='932749']
The Weak 1Diamond Opening


1D – 1H (4xH any 6-15 hcp hand)
Opener now rebids
1S 11-12 hcp and 4xS.
1NT 11-12 hcp no 4-4 fit.
2C 11-12 hcp 5xD and 4xC.
2D 11-12 hcp 5 or more D
2H 11-12 4x support
2S 13-15 no support 4xS and a short suite
2NT 13-15 no major fit and no singleton or void
3C 13-15 with single/void
3D strong hand with long D
3H strong hand with outside single or void.


What does the opener rebid with 5♣ and 4♦?

[Bermy]

Good Question (more like this please)



When you have 5x♣ and 4x ♦ Open 1 ♦ then return to ♣

Weak hands must not overbid.

Strong hands should not overbid without an outside singleton or solidly strong.

By overbid, I am referring to Control bidder's controlling bid, may need further information or not. If did not indicate you should bid, any repeat bid could be an overbid.

I have seen 1NT openned with 2245 bit risky though.

[Bermy]

Take a little note of CP logic here.

Control bidder hears 1♦ opening , hears a little overbid after and is now aware of over 13 hcp and a singleton somewhere. OK stay in control, how useful could that knowledge be for our defense?

That polite lady must have thought we were cheating when I pulled out my Ace to partners single on lead

[Bermy]

The Blind Bidder is the Partner that opens the bidding first, unless the opening bid is 1♣.
When 1♣ is the opening bid then Opener becomes the Control Bidder and partner is blind. Therefore the partner becomes the Blind Bidder.
When the Opener opens 1♣, then rebids No Trumps at any level, Control is passed to the responder.
The Blind Bidder always describes the shape of cards and High Card Point count as accurately as possible to the Control Bidder. The Blind Bidder should avoid making any final decisions for the partnership. Its Blind Bidder’s role to show Control Bidder the cards in order to make the right controlled decisions.
Rules for Blind Partner.
Choose your opening bid well, most hands cannot be bid with the wrong opening.
Bids accurately, do not fool Control Partner. Important decisions will be made on the accuracy of your bid.
Avoid overbidding, let Control Partner decide.
Try keep pushing the bidding at the two level.
Do not pull the bidding from the 3 level.
Usually your hand has 2 bids, do not bid 3 times, unless partner has given Safe to Bid, or you have extra values, usually a void.
No asking bids are available, ONLY answers. This means that 4NT does not ask for aces, but rather alerts Control Partner to bid on, asking with Beta Bids.
Penalty Double shows strengths in opponents’ suit, but is optional for Control Partner to pass, or pull it out.
Avoid pulling out Control Partner’s penalty doubles.
Do not overrule partner’s decisions.

[Nirmalya]

Bermy, on 2017-September-11, 22:03, said:

When you have 5x♣ and 4x ♦ Open 1 ♦ then return to ♣

Weak hands must not overbid.

Strong hands should not overbid without an outside singleton or solidly strong.

By overbid, I am referring to Control bidder's controlling bid, may need further information or not. If did not indicate you should bid, any repeat bid could be an overbid.

I have seen 1NT openned with 2245 bit risky though.

According to your post 1♦-1♥-2♣ is 5-4 in diamonds and clubs. It can not be 4-5 in diamonds and clubs at the same time

[Bermy]

Nirmalya, on 2017-September-12, 10:44, said:

According to your post 1♦-1♥-2♣ is 5-4 in diamonds and clubs. It can not be 4-5 in diamonds and clubs at the same time

Yes, it can be both, don't worry (where are the majors?) Just leave bidding to Control Partner, you are sure to be in a competitive situation, and even if not, partner will be aware. You will not find yourself in bad minor fits.

At the risk of not getting too over complicated, I will show you some problems that do occur. Remember, like any system or language, the devil is in the detail

It is those 3-5 major fits that can be so difficult, we need more discussion on this opening bid, therefore I need more questions. Remember 1♦ is our most common opening bid, way more common than 1♣ or any other. Get this one right before entering into the complicated avenues of asking bids.

[Bermy]

Lets me try to put it another way, to simplify your problem.

When Control Partner hears your 1♦ opening,then your ♣ rebid he will perhaps not quite know if the minors are 5-4 or 4-5 however while the detail information may be important to you, the real information is 9 cards in the minors and little support for majors(4). Let us bear in mind that 2 club openings are available for most long club hands, only 5♣ and 4♦ do not apply.

[Bermy]

The Control Bidder.

Only by opening 1♣ is opener the Control Bidder, for all other openings the opener is Blind Bidder. When the opener opens 1♣, and rebids any No Trump bid Control is transferred to responder.
Once understanding this basic rule, it becomes easier to understand how to Control Bid.
The Control Bidder regulates all the final bids in the partnership. It is Control Bidder’s responsibility to decide on the final contract, or whether to let the opposition play doubled or undoubled.
Rules for the Control Bidder
Avoid underbidding, aggression is your responsibility.
Know the state of Vulnerability and game scores and make decisions accordingly.
Know how Match Point scoring and Imps differ.
Guide partner properly, letting Blind Partner know if it is Safe to Bid or Unsafe to Bid.
Take note of what Blind Partner is telling you with both bids. Listen to the second bid carefully.
Use deductive logic, 4x13 cards 40 HCP and know what hand blind partner is not bidding
If no reason or need to part with any unnecessary information to Blind Partner,don't.
Slam is always your responsibility.
Ask the right questions in the right order.
Make all the final decisions and take control.

[Bermy]

Bidding a Long Diamond Suit.

This will show Control Bidder that you have a long ♦ suit without necessarily having an outside singleton.
This prevents a jump bid in diamonds when no outside singleton is held.
When there is a short suit, a jump to 3♦ is acceptable as it will have a singleton.
11-12 Hcp Min Open 1♦ then rebid 2♦ or pass in competition
13-15 Hcp Max With no singleton or void Open 1♦ then rebid 2No Trumps 6x or solid recommended
13-15 Hcp Max With singleton or void Open 1♦ then jump to 3♦

Most 13-15 5 card ♦ hands without a singleton will qualify for a 1NT opening. If you open 1♦ with 13-15 balanced and a 5 card diamond suit, you will not enjoy the consequences, or benefits of this.

[Bermy]

Control bidder "What do I do if the singleton is in my suit?"

Pass or Bid NT I guess Nobody said this was all going to be easy

Misfits are always nearly impossible to bid (what system is different?), the key is to get out early

[Bermy]

Now if you revisit 1♦max you will notice that it really does have shape, one you can begin to recognize.

Blind bidder opens 1 ♦ then shows a max 13-15

One Diamond max will always have a singleton, with the exception of a Balanced 6 card Diamond Suite (6223). This justifies the jump bid. Any hand that does not qualify, must be opened One No Trump. Blind Bidder must prefer the other bids available. Do not open 1♦ and jump or reverse without this singleton. Control bidder can now proceed with the knowledge of Max Hcp. and the short suite. This bid will not always show the perfect fit, and the singleton may well be in the Control Bidder’s best suite.

Fitting 4-4 majors is straightforward and really needs very little instruction. Control Partner only has to search for the singleton if blind partner shows a max, and can decide to bid on to game or not (or slam) When looking for a 4-4 with majors, one should not discount the possibility of the singleton being in ♦; after all we did alert that 1♦ could have a singleton diamond, didn't we?

And dont forget this singleton if you find yourself defending

[Bermy]

So for 4441 hands any singleton 13-15, simply open 1♦ and jump support for partners major or reverse bid or even cue bid or double to show max.

Your singleton may be in his suit, but do not worry, he is the control partner and will find a solution, as he sees all his 13 cards.

Minimum hands should not be overbid by blind bidder, as they are what they are, merely a cheap 11-12 hcp hand in order to get us into the bidding early. To have any hope of any game contract Control Partner has to have a bigger hand than you.

When playing CP it is the 1♦ opening you will be confronted with more than ANY other opening bid, so know it well.

Bidding with 1♦ openings is not hard really, it is just a question of "Where is that singleton?"

Like it?