From: k36793l@saha.hut.fi (Pekka Viitasalo)
Subject: Re: Precision, anyone?
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 10:07:30 GMT

In article <17j68iINNmdq@overload.lbl.gov> asya@ux5.lbl.gov (Asya Kamsky) writes:
>In article <1992Aug26.163952.9341@ariel.ec.usf.edu> pollock@eggo.tmc.edu (Wayne Pollock) writes:
>>of competitive bids are decreased.  For example, would you rather be playing
>>SA, 2/1, or Precision and hear the auction preceed 1-diamond, 2-spades, ???
>>The major weakness in Precision is the 1-club opening bid; now that opponents
[text deleted]
>If 1 club is the *weakness* of a strong club system, then it would be
>pretty idiotic to play it, since the whole system is built around the
>concept of precise bidding over a strong artificial opening bid which
>preserves the most amount of room.
>-- 
IMO there is a twofold logic behind a strong club system viz limiting
the 'natural' openings and building an accurate bidding structure for
strong(ish) hands.  The problems come because the strong opening steals
a very useful bid and the now unbiddable hands must be parked somewhere.
The 'what to do with the minors' problem has been solved in many different
ways, some of them keep the diamond-opening 'clean', at the other end is
the 'nebulous' 1D which is used as a parking lot for very many hand types.

It's quite clear that the 'clean' limited openings are least vulnerable
for preempting and the nebulous (in range or distribution) openings are 
most vulnerable.  If we compare SA 1D-opening and 11-15 nebulous 1D when
2nd hand preempts responder is faced with completely different problems 
the least of them being whether to raise or not.  I would guess that
SA players solve these problems with a little bit better accuracy.

I have listed below the constructive openings of one strong club
system and compared them with standard system.  The 'Total' score
below each opening is my estimate how the opening works with the
average of 5 for a natural system.  The opinions are very subjective
and are based on a quite long experience of toying with artificial
systems. 

1C = 16+, excluding 22-23 bal (multi) & 16 with good clubs (3C)
+: Big winner in uncontested auctions, wins slightly against
mild competition.
-: Can lose against fierce competition inflicted by the opening.
Total: 7

1D = 11-15, nebulous (can be D-void), generally 11-12 balanced
+: Partscores and partscore/game decisions
-: In competition if responder is shut out when we have a minor
suit fit.
Total: 5

1H/S = 11-15, 5+ cards
-: never (has all the benefits of a natural opening)
+: often (the opening is limited)
Total: 8

1NT = 13-15 (no 5 card major)
no opinion (don't want to start another weak/strong NT jihad)

2C = 11-14, goodish 5+ cards with 4 card major or 6+ cards
This is what I consider the worst opening in a strong club system.
It's space robbing and unaccurate, thank God it's not very common.
-: between sometimes and often
+: very seldom (preemption, competitive actions)
Total: 3

3C = 12-16, Blue Club (solid/semisolid clubs, at least one side stopper)
+: reaches easily NT-games
-: difficult to find 5-3 major suit fits
Total: 6

Pekka Viitasalo
piv@cctap.carel.fi