Berkowitz & Manley’s Precision Today System

This is a summary of the bidding system described in Precision Today, by

David Berkowitz and Brent Manley. This is only a summary of key features with much missing detail … buy the book!

It’s available from Amazon, Baron Barclay (‘shop bridge’ link on ACBL), and no doubt elsewhere.

Opening Bids:

1:   artficial and strong (16+ HCP) Alert.

1:   11-15 HCP, could be short as 2 diamonds. Announce.

1:   11-15 HCP, 5+ hearts

1:   11-15 HCP, 5+ spades

1 NT:   typically 14-16 or 13-15 HCP, balanced with no 5-card major.

           Another popular option: Ultraweak  10-12 HCP, balanced, hand that you wouldn’t be enthusiastic about opening otherwise. Announce range for either.

2: 11-15 HCP, 6+ clubs. May have 4 or 5-card major. Alert.

2: 11-15 HCP, singleton or void in diamonds, no 5-card major or 6-card club suite (4414, 4315, 4405 dist.)  Alert.

2: 5-10 HCP, 6+ card suit

2: 5-10 HCP, 6+ card suit

2 NT: 22-23 HCP, balanced.

Responses to 1:

1: artificial negative, 0-7 HCP. Alert.

1: Natural, 5+, 8+ HCP

1: Natural, 5+, 8+ HCP

1 NT: balanced, 8-13 HCP. Denies 5-card major but may have poor 5-card or longer minor

2: Natural, 5+, 8+ HCP

2: Natural, 5+ card suit, 8+ HCP

2 or 2: 6+ card suit, 4-6 points with points concentrated in the suit, like KQJxxx

2 NT: balanced, 14+ HCP. Denies 5-card major; may have poor 5-card or longer minor

3: 1444 or 4441 distribution (singleton spade or club), 8-13 HCP. Alert.

3: ‘Which singleton?’

3: Singleton

3: Singleton

3: 4144 or 4414 distribution (singleton heart or diamond), 8-13 HCP. Alert

3: ‘Which singleton?’

3: Singleton

3 NT: Singleton

3: 1444 (singleton spade) with 14+ HCP

3 7-card suit headed by at least AKQ (inviting 3 or more NT by strong hand)

3 NT: 4441 (singleton club), 14+ HCP

4: 4414 (singleton diamond), 14+ HCP

4: 4144 (singleton heart), 14+ HCP

Opener’s rebids after 1 - 1

1: 5-card minimum suit, non-forcing

1: 5-card minimum suit, non-forcing

1 NT: 16-19 HCP, balanced.

2: 5-card minimum suit, non-forcing

2: 5-card minimum suit, non-forcing

2: 22+ HCP, good suit. Standard American bidder’s 2 equivalent

2: 22+ HCP, good suit. Standard American bidder’s 2 equivalent

2 NT: 20-21 HCP, balanced.

3: very strong hand (at least 22+) with long suit:.

3: very strong hand (at least 22+) with long suit.

3: extremely powerful hand with 9+ quick tricks. Sets trumps even vs. void

response: cuebid ace or void

3 extremely powerful hand with 9+ quick tricks. Sets trumps even vs. void

response: cuebid ace or void

3 NT: Balanced, 24-26 HCP