LD Precision Club – Lesson 1 Talking Points
Contract bridge created by Harold Vanderbilt, 1921
1st Strong Club system, Harold Vanderbilt, 1925
Charles Goren, 1940s and 1950s, Goren Bidding System, forerunner to American Standard
Schenken Club, Italian Club, Blue Club, Roman Club
Wei Precision Club, 1963, C.C. Wei, Taiwanese businessman (Alan Truscott)
Why Precision Club? More precise, better information transfer, more relaxed.
You are the dealer. Bidding goes: P-(P)-1C-(P)-? What do you know at this point?
You respond: 1H What does partner know at this point?
Example: Std Am: P P 1C P ? 11-19 HCP, club length 3-7. Prec Club: P P 2C P ? 11-15 HCP, 6+C or 5C4M
3 ranges :
Std Am: Strong(22+ HCP), Intermediate (11-21 HCP), Weak (<12 HCP) LD Precision Club: Strong (16+ HCP), Intermediate (11-15 HCP), Weak (<11 HCP)
LD Precision Club:
Strong bids: 2NT (22-24 HCP), 1C (16+ HCP) Intermediate bids (all 11-15 HCP): 1D, 1H, 1S, 1N, 2C, 2D Weak bids (all <11 HCP): 2H, 2S, 3C, 3D, 3H, 3S
Bids significantly different from Std Am: 1C, 2C, 2D
Hand Evaluation
Both partners MUST use the same method for evaluating hands and must be precise.
First: Distribution is not applied until a trump suit fit (8+ cards) has been established. By definition, opening bidder DOES NOT COUNT anything for distribution. By definition, responder DOES NOT COUNT anything for distribution unless opener has opened a suit for which responder has the required support.
If that was not clear, let me repeat: Distribution is not applied until a trump suit fit (8+ cards) has been established.
Second: Distribution points only count for the supporting hand. The hand with the longer length in the trump suit does not apply distribution points.
We use the standard Work Point Count method to calculate our High Card Points (HCP): A-4, K-3, Q-2, J-1
Again, distribution is not applied when calculating HCP. A singleton K is worth 3 HCP. You do not know the actual worth of a singleton K until you can see partner’s hand, so we make no assumptions.
Spend some time on example hands
Supporting hand evaluation – Distribution Points 8+ card fit. 3 card support. Doubleton=1 DP (Distribution Point), singleton=2 DP, void=3 DP
8+ card fit, 4+ card support. Doubleton=1 DP, singleton=3 DP, void=5 DP
Points = HCP + DP
Spend some time on example hands
Evaluation can change as bidding progresses.
How many tricks can a partnership expect to take?
Where do tricks come from? HCP, suit length, ruffing.
NT contracts: 1 + combined HCP/3 70%-80% accurate Runnable suits: add points
Suit contracts: (Points – 2)/3 + (Trump count -6) where Trump count is max 10 (95% accurate +- 1)
For suit contracts, if formula says 10 tricks, then 75% of the time you will take 10+ tricks. 25% of the time you will take <10 tricks.
Reducing point count by 1 point reduces probability of success by 17%
Examples:
4H contract with 8 card fit requires 26 points 4H contract with 9 card fit requires 23 points 4H contract with 10 card fit requires 20 points
3NT contract requires 24 HCP
5D contract with 8 card fit requires 29 points 5D contract with 9 card fit requires 26 points 5D contract with 10 card fit requires 23 points
6H contract with 8 card fit requires 32 points and missing no more than 1 A or 2 K 6H contract with 9 card fit requires 29 points and missing no more than 1 A or 2 K 6H contract with 10 card fit requires 26 points and missing no more than 1A or 2 K
These are aggressive. They require your best declarer play. You will have to work.
If you have trouble making these contracts, add 3 points to the requirements in each category.
If you are interested in the background for the suit contract method, I have a paper that goes into depth. Just request it at bridge@ansantek.com.
