The Best System (Part 2 - More Systems)

Continuing with the next installation of the Best System. It's a bit harder to clearly state/show pros and cons of most systems than I thought, but will try my best.

4. Precision

Advantages:

• Strong Hands are shown immediately, and bidding starts at a lower level
• Limited openings, which allows for much better competitive decisions for responder, and for Opener to be able to show intermediate 2-suiters accurately
• Can be used along with 2/1
• Allows a lot of room for system changes/additions
• Can use a weak (or very weak) NT, and not damage the rest of the system
• Allows for light openings, and pre-emption (Therefore sometimes tough to defend against)
• As long as you know the system well, you can benefit from it, however it may take practice to reach this point
• (for Relay Precision) Allows extremely well-defined auctions, where opener/responder can show full shape, strength, controls, honour location etc.

Disadvantages:

• Very vulnerable to pre-emption by the opponents (Takes some time to get comfortable dealing with interference)
• Not a universally-known system (Perhaps a advantage as well)
• Depending on the level of complexity, it can be a very memory intensive system

5. Polish Club

Advantages:

• Strong Hands are shown immediately, and bidding starts at a lower level
• Limited openings, which allows for much better competitive decisions for responder, and for Opener to be able to show intermediate 2-suiters accurately
• Can be used along with 2/1
• If used properly, can be very pre-emptive, but yet very constructive
• Can handle interference fairly well (since responder assumes a Weak NT hand-type), while allowing strong hands to be opened 1C.
• Multi 2D and Polish 2 Bids allow for a much greater spectrum of hands you are able to pre-empt on.

Disadvantages:

• Strong hands sometimes are forced to overbid after opening 1C, to show their values.
• Some aspects (if playing Multi etc) are Midchart.
• Not well known in the US
• Memory intensive, and not much room for changes

6. Forcing Pass

Advantages:

• Tough to defend against, especially since most people have very little experience playing against it.
• Allows for light and (extremely) pre-emptive openings
• Strong Hands are shown immediately, albeit in a bit of an odd way.

Disadvantages:

• Extremely vulnerable to pre-emption and psyching.
• Not allowed in almost all events (Certainly no ACBL ones...)
• Memory Intensive
• Very little pre-emptive value to "Pass", and opponents can bid early/often

Will follow with the conclusions in a little while.