[Free]

I recently started playing some sort of precision with one of my f2f partners and we started pretty basic. Imo the obvious place to start looking for a good structure is Meckwell.

They play 1NT 14-16 and 2NT 19-20, leaving 1♣-1♦-1NT as 17-18. In some seats and some vulnerabilities they play 1NT 15-17 and 2NT 20-21, again having a 2-point range 18-19 in 1♣-1♦-1NT.

Normally one would expect a 3-point range in auctions like 1♣-1♦-1NT, but apparently they do something different. Does anyone know the logic behind this? Has it something to do with invitational sequences?

[glen]

It's my understanding that it leaves them well placed if there is competition

[MickyB]

Yup, they don't want to have to find a way to show extras in competition with a balanced 19-count.

[dake50]

You seem to be asking your question
as if they didn't up-/down-grade.
Which makes the narrow ranges pedantic -- to assuage the hcp-religion.
Their judgment is the 3rd point in each 2-point range.

[helene_t]

 dake50, on 2010-November-16, 07:45, said:

You seem to be asking your question
as if they didn't up-/down-grade.
Which makes the narrow ranges pedantic -- to assuage the hcp-religion.
Their judgment is the 3rd point in each 2-point range.

Nah, if they upgrade some hands out of the notrump range I suppose they also upgrade some hands into the notrump range. Same for downgrades. Whether one uses literal HCPs or something more sophisticated should not affect the notrump range.

Some players are more keen on up/downgrading into the notrump range than out of the notrump range because they like to open 1NT, that would then make the notrump range wider than announced. But that is a tactical issue and/or poor disclosure, it's not about hand evaluation.

[straube]

 glen, on 2010-November-16, 07:22, said:

It's my understanding that it leaves them well placed if there is competition

I heard that, too. We play a relay system and open all 17+ balanced with 1C. I wonder if the advantages afforded by relays are more than the problems posed by interference. Hoping they do.

[wclass___]

IMO it is because they want to open all balanced 11-counts, while it might not be theoretically sound, it does put pressure on opponents, so it might play role in long KO team matches. Rest is logical.

[helene_t]

 wclass___, on 2010-November-16, 10:48, said:

IMO it is because they want to open all balanced 11-counts

But they could still make the 2NT opener 20-21 and the 1♣ opener include 17-19. That must be better for uncontested auctions. It sounds plausible that they chose 17-18 and 19-20 to gain accuracy in contested auctions.

[straube]

I thought 1st and 2nd that their 1N was a good 13 to a bad 16 and their 2N was a good 19 to 21.
that leaves 1C as a good 16 to bad 19 (so still a 3-pt range).

[Free]

 straube, on 2010-November-16, 14:01, said:

I thought 1st and 2nd that their 1N was a good 13 to a bad 16 and their 2N was a good 19 to 21.
that leaves 1C as a good 16 to bad 19 (so still a 3-pt range).

They used to play something like that, but it's not what their latest CC tells us

[MARNICk]

Most comments have been right + 17-18 plays much better in comp than 17-19 . 1nt is obv either dangerous spot like 3rd hand 14-16 vul vs nv or just for game control on 4th seat ,when opps already have shown some passivness blocking feature is not that important + P is limited to weak 10/10bal