Defense to Strong 1C

So, you're playing at a local club where all the good folks there play SAYC or even the occasional 2/1 the big shots play. All of a sudden, this couple from out-of-town comes to play. They look like early twentysomethings, eager with something fierce behind their eyes. You can bet your last dollar that those two crazy kids are playing some new-fangled system, probably Precision. That means they'll have a weak 1NT opening, a natural 2C opening, and a strong 1C opening that doesn't promise anything in clubs. Sheesh! Crazy kids and their bidding...

Ok, you need some kind of defense for these bids. All the overcalls and takeout doubles as you know them are used against Standard bidders, but they don't take into account these new bids. Here are some suggestions:

Weak 1NT - This one isn't too bad. You probably have a defense for a 15-17 1NT opening, so use that. I suggest Cappelletti if you don't already play it. In this system, double is for business (you're balanced with more than 14 HCP), 2NT is for the minors (like Unusual NT), and 2C is bid to show any 1-suited hand worth an overcall at the 2-level (you're partner will bid 2D automatically, then you can bid your suit naturally as long as those precision folk don't bid). The other 2-level bids (2D/2H/2S) are used to show 2-suited hands (typically 5-5).
2D = MAJORS (H + S)
2H = HEARTS & a minor suit
2S = SPADES & a minor suit

Natural 2C - Here you want to bid like they opened 1C in Standard bidding, but you should have about 2 HCP more than you normally would. So, double is for take-out, suit bids are natural, and 2NT shows a 15-17 NT (to show a bigger balanced hand, double first, then bid NT).

Strong Artificial 1C - This bid is low for a reason: to have the maximum amount of space in which to explore each other's hands. So, it's imperative you interfere when you can. A simple defense would be to bid naturally directly after 1C (or after 1C - 1D which is also artificial) with less than opening values and a decent suit, and PASS with an opening hand or better. This may be counter-intuitive, but if you have an opening hand, you will get to overcall on the second time around (responder to 1C opening MUST bid something other than pass).
Here's a different option:
With 1-suited hands, bid them at the 2-level (even clubs). This way you take up more space and makes things hard for these young'uns. That leaves double and the 1-level bids for 2-suited hands (5-5 or even 5-4 in this situation). Here's what I mean:
Dbl = C+H
1D = D+H
1H = majors
1S = S+minor
1NT = minors
You can play a similar system over 1C - 1D, but you change double to mean the majors, and 1H to show hearts and a minor (like 1S).

So, the next time those Precision players come in looking to bid all over you, just wink at your partner and throw a wrench in the works (they should know better).

MG Precision Handbook

It is finished!

I have self-published "MG Precision Handbook" a system played by Meg and myself through lulu.com. The cover might need work, but no one will buy it except maybe me, Meg, and a few friends who like to support accomplishments. Not worried, though. It's like the guy at Master Point Press told me, "It's a system book, which doesn't sell anyway, and you're not Eddie Kantar, so it definitely won't sell." Very true. So, if you would like to read my book, I have the pdf available here. Enjoy!

MG Precision

So, I've decided to write a book (more like a booklet) on the system Meaghin and I play which I've called MG Precision. It has gone through various changes, but when we first started to learn something other than SAYC, I convinced Meaghin that Precision would be fun to try. She told me, "Just get me complete notes on any system you want, and I'll try to learn it." The first one I gave her was Key Lime Precision.

When I first read systems, a lot of them assumed you knew what certain things were like "natural continuations" or "good suit." So, I turned my attention to a more complete description of a precision system called The K-Club written by Ken Allan from Kingston, Ontario. Meg and I played that system to the letter for a long time, and it has helped our game immensely (I think). Over time, I've tweaked and experimented (always bugging Meg about it before changing things) changing the responses to 1C a little, adding almost all of the Italian Asking Bids (giving them their American names rather than the names Alpha, Beta, etc.), changing the responses to 2C a little, etc. So, the base system is K-Club, with elements of Meckwell Precision (the Precision system played by Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell), Viking Precision, and Marshall Miles's system, the Unbalanced Diamond (responses to 1M mostly).

I find that it is very difficult to invent a system that A) is original, B) works well, and C) is allowed in ACBL GCC (for some reason they are trying to look out for the folks who can't spend all their time reading different systems and coming up with defenses to them). So, most systems nowadays are amalgams of various systems that they've experienced or read about, and this system is no different.

A little about it. I have on this blog the openings for this system (fairly normal Precision openings except for the NT ranges). The features of MG Precision are the Micro NT (10-12 HCP 1NT in 1st and 2nd seat, regardless of vulnerability), Transfer Major Positives after 1C opening, Positive Canape responses to 1C opening, 20-21 HCP 2NT (like Standard, less to learn), Italian Asking Bids, and a non-forcing 1NT response to 1M opening. I think the most fun I have with this system is the Micro NT. We have a great runout scheme for the times opponents like to double such bravado, so it hasn't really bitten us on the butt just yet.

So, I've got about 2 more chapters to write (all defensive bidding chapters), and then I'll look to publish. I'll have to ask my trademark attorney wife/regular partner if I'll be able to, though. I'll keep you updated.