Precision – Yes Or No?
By Elena Maitova ( Russia)
Every bridge player who has at least once played the Precision system knowa how uncomfortable and unsuitable can be the 2♣ opening bid. Eating the whole level, it informs us that the 2♣ opener has five plus clubs, maybe a four-card major, and a lot of points, 11-15. So, those of us who cannot manage without such an opening have to create conventions to describe the complicated hands.
Sometimes, however, it works well, as in this example from the Round 5 match between Russia and England!
| Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul. |
| |
♠ 8 6 4
♥ A K J 10
♦ 10
♣ A Q J 9 4 |
♠ Q 9 2
♥ 8 7 2
♦ A K 8 3
♣ 8 5 2 |
 |
♠ K J 7 5
♥ 3
♦ Q 7 5 2
♣ 10 7 6 3 |
| |
♠ A 10 3
♥ Q 9 6 5 4
♦ J 9 6 4
♣ K |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Mochalova |
|
Kychanova |
| |
|
|
Pass |
| Pass |
2♣(i) |
Pass |
2♥(ii) |
| Pass |
4♦(iii) |
Pass |
4♠(iv) |
| Pass |
4NT(v) |
Pass |
5♦(vi) |
| Pass |
6♣ |
All Pass |
|
(ii) Natural, non-forcing but invitational
(iii) Splinter, four-card support and maximum
(iv) Cuebid
(v) RKCB
(vi) 1 or 4 key cards
The key was Julia Mochalova’s splinter bid of 4♦ on the way to the heart game. Now Elena Kychanova could visualise 3-4-1-5 or better distribution in her partner’s hand and could start to count the tricks for slam. With no wastage in diamonds and all her other high cards working so well, she decided to show the spade control and now Julia could check on key cards and bid the cold slam. Did you bid it?
|
