[Shugart23]

It has been too many years since I have played Precision, and now I am teaching my son, so could use some commentary/ advice.

Question 1. For those that play 2D shows any 4441 or 5440 shape, what do you bid with a 5440 shape with a 5 card Major? If it depends, what does it depend on?
Question2 . With 5440 shapes where the 5-card suit is Clubs with 15 HCP, are you opening 2C or 2D ? (With minimum HCP, I would open 2C)

Is there any consensus? Thank you

[PrecisionL]

My personal preferences:

1. 2♦ = any 4441 hand 10-15 hcp

2a. 5440 with 5M open 1M
2b. 5440 with 5♣: Open 1♦(if 4♦) or 2♦ if 4=4=0=5

Happy bidding.

[Shugart23]

PrecisionL, on 2024-February-15, 15:59, said:

My personal preferences:

1. 2♦ = any 4441 hand 10-15 hcp

2a. 5440 with 5M open 1M
2b. 5440 with 5♣: Open 1♦(if 4♦) or 2♦ if 4=4=0=5

Happy bidding.

thanks..I do like the 5440 hands in the 2D 'bucket' for its pre-emptive value. I appreciate your response I think you meant 2C , not 2D in bullet 2b?

[DavidKok]

For what it's worth, I would consider moving to a more modern version of Precision from the get-go. Either a 2+ nebulous 1♦ paired with 2♦ (or 2♥) 11-15 '4=4=1=5 minus a card', or one of several other sets of opening schemes to deal with the limited range no-5cM no-6c♣ hands. I've written about a particular approach in this thread, though plenty of alternatives exist.

I think the standard Precision core of:

• 1♣ 16+ unbal or 17+ bal
  
• 1M 11-15 5(+)M
  
• 1NT 14-16
  
• 2♣ 11-15 6(+)♣

is really solid, though it necessitates a nebulous 1♦ bid. I know of classical ways to avoid this (e.g. 1NT 13-15, passing the 12-counts. Or 1♦ 4+♦, passing some hands without a diamond suit. Or 2♣ 11-15 5(+)♣) but with a few notable exceptions these create more problems than they solve, in my opinion. I'm not sure how well this aligns with the Precision you are familiar with, and as mentioned in the other thread I prefer that particular structure, but if you are interested it might be worth giving this some thought.

[mw64ahw]

I've been looking at this myself so sort of of came to a conclusion:

• 1M 5(440)
• 2♣ 4405 or 1♦
• 1♦ (444x), 6+♦, xx(54), 13-15 no 5cM

now after 1♦

• 1♥ denies ♥
• 1♠ shows ♥
• 1N 44xx

This is in the context of:

• 1♣ 15+/16+ BD
• 1N 10-12 may have 5cM
• 1♥-1♠ (0-4)-1N 13-15 or ♦
• 1♠-1N-2♣ 6+♠ or 15 BD

[PrecisionL]

Shugart23, on 2024-February-15, 16:11, said:

thanks..I do like the 5440 hands in the 2D 'bucket' for its pre-emptive value. I appreciate your response I think you meant 2C , not 2D in bullet 2b?

Most Precisioners prefer 2♣ opening to be 6+♣ (me included). Posted as intended, no error.