MECKWELL LITE PRECISION SYSTEM

V1.12.0, 2023–09-12, www.zaremba.ch  

## Notes

! = alert; F=forcing; #=number of cards;
X=double;  Y, Z=wildcard;
M=major; m=minor; NV = not vulnerable;
rebid = rebid own suit; raise = raise partner suit
shift = change suit; j. = jump; 2j. = double jump

All 11s get opened.

With limited openings, jump shifts promise max values, and raw playing strength or an implied fit.

After setting the suit, bid splinter or stopper cue-bids to GF

Discard: Roman

Blackwood: RKC (1430)

2NT from responder usually is forcing, from opener shows max

## Openings

The order presents the bid preference.

1♣  !F 17+ bal or 16+ unbal, any distribution

Upgrade 15-point and good 6+# into 1♣.

1NT  13-16 bal

May have 5M if points are evenly distributed and (5332). It will preempt opponent major if 5m. Also is easier to find better match if partner has 5M without good support for our 5M. Example: ♠QT765 ♥KQ3 ♦J2 ♣AKJ.

1♥/♠  11-15, 5+#

2♣  ! 11-15, 6+♣ or 5♣ & 4M

1♦  11-15, 4+♦ or 12+, 2+♦ & other strong 4#.
 Not suitable for other opening (eg 2♣,1NT)

2♦  ! 11-15, 1-♦, no 5M

2♥/♠  8-10, good 6+# (or 5-8 7+#)

2NT  ! 6-10, 55 minors

3Y  preemptive, good 7#, 7+ tricks (6+ when NV)

3NT  gambling (can have outside stopper)

### NT opening schema (for balanced hands)

0-10  pass

11-13  1♦, 1NT

13-16  1NT

17-19  1♣, 1NT

20-22  1♣, 2NT (2NT style)

23-25  1♣, 3NT (2NT style)

26+  improvise :)

## 1NT

2♣  F good 8+, stayman – asks for 4#M, inv

2♦/2♥/!2NT/3♣  F any! 5+#, Jacoby transfer to ♥/♠/♣/♦

 → accept (2♥/2♠/3♣/3♦)

 → pass  8-

 → 2NT/raise  inv

 → 3Y(shift)  inv, show shortage

 → 3NT  ask for pref of game in 3NT or 4♥

 → j.accept:  15+HCP, 4+# support

2♠  !GF minor suit stayman, 54m

 → 3♣/♦  4+#

 → 2NT  otherwise (also when 4m is not solid)

3♦/♥/♠  !GF splinter, 13+, no 5M  

3NT  sign off

4♣  gerber

4♦/♥  texas transfer to ♥/♠, 6+#

## NT: 2NT style

3♣/../3♠  alike 2♣/../2♠ after 1NT

3NT/../4♥  as after 1NT

## 1♣ not in competition

1♦  !F 0-7, any distribution

 → 1NT  17-19 (treat as strong NT style)

 → 2NT  20-22 (or 27+, treat as 2NT)

 → 1♥/1♠/2♣/2♦  non-forcing 5+#

 → 2♥/2♠/3♣/3♦  !F1, strong, as std 2♣ opener
 (raise is the only nonGF)

 → 3♥/3♠/4♣/4♦  !GF, sets trump, demands A or K
 cuebid.

1♥  !GF 8-11, any distribution ≠ 4441-

1♠/2♣/2♦/2♥  !F 12+, 5+#

1NT  !F 12+, bal (treat as strong NT)

2♠  !GF 8-11, any 4441-

 → 2NT  ! ask for shortness

2NT  !GF 12+, any 4441-

 →  3♣  ! ask for shortness

3♣/♦/♥/♠  ! 3-7, 6+#

4♥/♠  0-4, 8+#

## 1♣ in competition

Kantar Cue Bid (KCB):  after opponent overcall, raise their suit shows 444+1-, shortage in the enemy suit and GF.
A jump cuebid of their suit is GF KCB showing 5 in the other M.
opp  |  responder

 X  pass  less than GF

 XX  GF

 1NT  5-7, reasonable stopper position

 shift  non GF 5+#

 j.shift  GF 5+#

 2j.shift  inv 6+# (if below game)

1Y  X  GF, denies shortness

 1NT, shift, j.shift, 2j.shift  – as above

2Y  X, shift, j.shift  – as above

 2NT  nat, inv

3Y  X, 3Z  GF

 3NT  nat

1NT  X  GF, invites doubling

 2NT, shift, j.shift, 2j.shift  – as above

2NT  X, 3Y  nat, GF

## 1♦ opening

1♥/♠  !F 8+, 4+#

 → 2♦ (rebid)  13- 6+# (or good 5#)

 → 3♦ (j.rebid)  14+ 6+# (or good 5#)

 → reverse(1♠)  11+ 4+#

 → reverse(2♥)  14+ 4+#

 → raise  4# support

 → 2♣  4+#, at least 5-4 in minor.

 → 2NT  14+

 → 1NT  13-

2♣  F 11+ 4+# (inv. with long ♣ possible)

2♦  !F 11+ 4(5)+# (forcing to 3♦)

 → 3♦  sign off

 → 2♥/♠  13+, 4#, hand desc.

 → 3♥/♠/4♣  splinter

 → 2/3NT  nat, no 4M (13-/14+)

1NT  8-11,  no 4M

2NT  12-13, no 4M, inv

3NT  14+,  no 4M, GF

2♥/2♠/3♣  ! 0-9, 6+# - week jump shift

3♦  ! 0-9, 5+♦

3♥/3♠/4♣  !F 13+ 5+♦, splinter

## 1♥/♠ opening

------- for 1♥ only

1♠  !F 8+ 4+♠

 → raise  4+♥ or 14+ 3♥

 → 1NT  13-

 → other responses as for 1NT

2♠  ! 0-9 6+♠, sign-off

-------

1NT  !F 8-12 HCP, no support

 → pass  no other 4#

 → reverse(2♠)  14+ 4+#

 → rebid  13- 6+#

 → j.rebid  14+ 6+#

 → shift  13- 4+#

 → j.shift  14+ good 5+#

 → 2NT  14+, strong, bal (5332), inv

 → 3NT  11+ no singleton, signoff

 → raise  14+, max hand, no singleton-

 → j.raise  min hand, signoff

 → shift  splinter

 → j.shift  12+, 5+# (good)

2♣/2♦/(2♥) 2-over-1 shift. 13+ 4+# GF unless rebid

 → raise  4+# or 14+ 3#

 → j.shift  14+ 4+#, splinter

 → shift 2Y  4+# if Y is Major, else: good 3+#

 → shift 3Y  14+ 4+# or 12+ 5+#

 → 2NT  14+ 5322, stoppers in both unbid suits

 → 3NT  14+ no fast arrival.

 → j.rebid  14+ 6+# with excellent quality.

 → rebid  5+#

2j.shift:  13+, splinter

raise:  8-10 3#, Kokish two-way game tries:

 → pass: 14- HCP, nothing special.

 → next (2♠/2NT): relay for stopper cue-bid. !F.

Opener asks responder to bid stopper (1♥-2♥-2♠-2NT = ♠).

 → shift < raise: short-suit game try. Shows short. !F

1♥-2♥-2NT shows short in ♠ (since 2♠ would be a relay).

 → raise:  6#, no short, inv.

 → j.raise (4♥/♠): good 6#, sign off.

bergen raises:

 2NT  !GF J2NT, 13+ 4+#, no short (otherwise splinter).

 → rebid: no short, max  → j.rebid: no short, min

 → 3NT: 14+ bal, good hand  → 3Y: short in Y

 3♣  !F  8-10 4+# constructive

 3♦  !F 10-12 4+# inv

 j.raise 3♥/♠  !F 6- preemptive

## 2♣ opening

2♦  !F 11+, relay asks for 4#M

 → 2♥/♠  4+#

 → 2NT  6+♣, no 4M, no shortness, min

 → 3♣  6+♣, no 4M

 → 3♦  relay for shortness

 → 3♥/♠/NT

2♥/♠  7-11 5+#

3♦/♥/♠  !GF 14+ 6+#

3♣  !GF strong club raise, slam try

4♣  preemptive

2NT  10-11, no 4M, inv to 3NT

3NT  sign off

## 2♦ opening

2♥/2♠/3♣  sign off, weak, may have only 3# support

3♥/3♠/4♣  !GF slam try 5+#

2NT  !F 8+, ask, inv+

 → 3♣  ! any min

 → 3♦  !F relay

 bid a suit with advantage:

 → 3♥  ! min, short ♠ (3415)

 → 3♠  ! min, short ♥ (4315)

 → 3NT  ! min, short ♣ (4414)

 → 4♣  ! min, short ♦ (4405)

 → 3♥/3♠/4♣  inv 5(4)+#

 → 3♦/♥/♠/3NT  ! max, short ♣/♠/♥/♦ (as above)

## 2♥/♠ opening (weak twos)

2NT  !F, 13+, 2+# support, inv

 → shift  !F 9+, stopper cuebid

 → j.shift ! 9+ 5+#

 → 3NT  9+, super opening (AKQXXX)

 → rebid  no feature in side suit

raise  preemptive

shift  !F 13+ 5+#, no support, ask for length

 → shift  9+, no support, stopper cuebid

 → raise  3+# or strong 2#

 → NT  9+, good open suit

 → rebid  no better option

## 2NT opening

3♣/♦  sign off

3♥/♠  GF 6+# (or strong 5+#)

4♣/♦  GF slam try ♣/♦

3NT/4♥/4♠/5♣/5♦  sign off

## 3NT opening

4♣  8-. → pass with long ♣ otherwise bid 4♦

3♦  Ask for singleton

 → 4♥/4♠: show 1-#  → 4NT: hand 7-2-2-2

 → 5♣: 7+♣ & 1-♦  → 5♦: 7+♦ & 1-♣

5♣  8+, same as 3NT-4♣

## Other conventions

Stayman (1NT-2♣):

2♦: no 4# major

2♥: 4♥ and maybe 4♠.
2♠: 4# ♠

pass:  sign off.
2♥(2♠): 10+ 5♥&4♠, inv
3♥/3♠:  10+ HCP 6+#, inv
3♣/3♦:  10+ HCP 5+#, inv
2NT:  8+ HCP, nat

pass: sign off.
2♠ (shift): 8-11 5+# inv
3♠ (j shift): 10+ 6# inv
2NT: 10+ 4# in other M
raise: 10+ 4# (or 8+ 5#) inv

Takeout double

After non-interrupted opp. bid ≤ 3♠. Promises strong one suited hand (16+ 6# or 19+ 5#) or balanced too strong (19+) to overcall 1NT or 12+ HCP, short in opp suit, nothing good to open.

Negative double (ND)

After partner opening and opp. overcall ≤ 3♠. Shows 6+ HCP 4+# (in unbid suit) at level 1, and 8+ HCP 5+# at level 2. ND, after 1♥/1♠ opening, usually invites for 3NT. Examples:

→ 1?-(1?)-X: no points to overcall, promises descend rebid and
 something else (eg 5#)

→ 1♣-(1♦)-X: 4-4 in majors

→ 1♣/1♦-(1♥)-X: 4+♠

→ 1♥-(1♠)-X: 1 minor and descend rebid

Lebensohl

After 1NT  interruption (Y or X). Example for: 1NT-(2♥) → X=neg double;  2♠=nat, noF;  2NT=weak with 5#m or F with 4#♠;  3♣♦= nat F;  3♥= 3-#♠ ask for ♥stopper;  3♠= nat F.
→  After 2NT opener must bid 3♣, then:  pas/3♦=week + 5♣/♦;  3♥=GF 4+#♠ no ♥stop;  3♠= inv 5#♠;  3NT=nat + ♥♠stoppers.

Stopper cue bidding

After setting the suit S we can start bidding lowest control: A or K or singleton or void, to invite for the game. Partner must cue bid his lowest control (even when weak) or bid S. If one player has by passed a suit showing no control and his partner still cue bids a new suit, he promises control in the by passed suit.

Blackwood RKC (102 = 1430, variant of: 0314)

After 4NT we count the # of Aces + trump K. The responses are: 5♣=1|4, 5♦=0|3, 5♥=2|5 (no trump Q), 5♠=2|5 (with trump Q).
→ After 5♣/5♦ the next step (skipping trump suit) ask for trump Queen. If you don't have the queen - sign off (bid our suit). Otherwise bid your cheapest king (skipping trump one) or 5NT
→ The next step (or next+1 after 5♣/5♦) asks for kings when  wanting Grand Slam. Response: bid the cheapest king you have.

Reverse Drury

2♣ artificial response by a passed hand after partner opens 1♥ or 1♠ in 3rd or 4th seat. Shows a limit raise with 10-12 points 3+#. Opener: rebid = no game interest (10-12) and responder is expected to pass. Any other: confirms a full opening hand and game interest. With a good hand, say 15+, opener may jump to game (4M). Other bids tend to be natural and descriptive.

Lavinthal

Discard a suit you don't want. A high card signals your interest in the higher ranking of the remaining suits. A low card for the lower ranking suit, without revolving.

Defense against suit opening

Overcall simple suit bid:
→ new suit: 8+ HCP, very good 4+# (or good 5+#). 2over1
 5+#. Then: cue-bid (10+) asks overcaller about quality
 (raise: minimum, shift 11+).
→ jump: 8+ HCP, 6+#
→ cuebid = Michaels, 2NT = unusual 2NT
Overcall weak 2:
→ double: 14+, short in opener's suit.
→ suit: 14+, good 5+#

Michaels Cue Bid

Bid opp. suit just after his opening. Promises 8+ HCP and 5-5 in two higher suits (over opp. minor opening) or 5 in other major and 5 in some minor (over opp. major opening)

Unusuall NT

Similar to Michaels cue bid - immediate overcall of 2NT shows at least 5-5 in two smaller suits (not counting opp. suit).

Meckwell defense against 1NT opening  (instead of cappelletti)

double :  single minor (5+#) or both majors (45#); advancer bids 2♣, after which the intervener corrects to his actual suit if a minor, or ♥ if holding both majors

2♣/♦  the bid suit and a major(45)

2♥/♠  the bid suit (5+#)

2NT  both minors

### Approximate CP for game contracts

3NT 25+ when points are evenly distributed. 3Y: 27; 4Y: 29

### Card distribution

7

6

5

4

3

2

4-3 62%

3-3 36%

3-2 68%

2-2 40%

2-1 78%

1-1 52%

5-2 30%

4-2 48%

4-1 28%

3-1 50%

3-0 22%

2-0 48%

6-1 7%

5-1 15%

5-0 4%

4-0 10%

7-0 0.5%

6-0 1%

## IMP

The table shows the expected score (divided by 10) based on HCP. Substract it from your score to get the diff and find IMP value.

HCP

V/NV

HCP

V/NV

HCP

V/NV

HCP

V/NV

21

5/5

25

30/40

29

49/69

33

99/144

22

9/9

26

40/60

30

52/72

34

125/180

23

13/13

27

43/63

31

70/100

35

140/210

24

22/26

28

46/66

32

90/135

36+

150/220

Diff 1...36 = ceil(diff/4),  eg: 3→1, 4→1, 5→2, 8→2, 9→3, 36→8

DIFF

IMP

DIFF

IMP

DIFF

IMP

DIFF

IMP

≤ 42

9

≤ 89

13

≤ 174

17

≤ 299

21

≤ 49

10

≤ 109

14

≤ 199

18

≤ 349

22

≤ 59

11

≤ 129

15

≤ 224

19

≤ 399

23

≤ 74

12

≤ 149

16

≤ 249

20

≥ 400

24

## Opening Leads

https://www.kwbridge.com/leads.htm

### Which suit?

If partner has bid, lead their suit unless you have a good reason not to

Can you lead the top of a sequence ♠QJT52, lead ♠Q

Lead low from an honour in your longest suit ♥QT8, lead ♥8

Lead trumps if the bidding suggests declarer will cross ruff. You’re forcing declarer to play two trumps at once instead of one

Lead your long suit if you hold four or more trumps. It will often force declarer, and you might take control

With three small trumps, consider leading a short suit: a singleton or a doubleton, hoping for a ruff

Lead suits that have not been bid by the declaring side

### Which card?

If it’s your own suit, lead the

From AK combinations, lead the King.

Top card of a sequence or a near sequence of three or more cards. From ♠KQJ52 or ♠KQT54 lead ♠K in both no trumps and suits. However, with ♠KQ432 lead ♠K if defending a suit contract, or lead ♠4 if defending no trumps. Phew!

Top card of interior sequence, with ♠KJT85 lead ♠J

Fourth best if no sequence, with ♠K8753 lead ♠5. Use the Rule of 11: if the lead is fourth highest, for example if the ♠5 is led, subtract 5 from 11 = 6, to tell you there are 6 cards higher than the ♠5 in the other hands. This can guide the defence to knowing whether to continue or switch, and helps the defender in third seat know how high to play to the first trick.

Low from three cards to an honour, with ♠Q72 lead the ♠2

Top card of a doubleton, with ♠T6 lead the ♠T

Don’t lead away from an Ace when defending a suit contract ♠A864. It’s better to lead another suit. In NT, lead 4th highest, with ♠A864 lead ♠4

With three small cards such as ♠973 lead low unless you have raised partner’s suit in the bidding, when the 9 would be more helpful.