Preliminaries

The system uses a strong club with symmetric relays and a MAFIA approach (MAjors FIrst Always) including two transfer-style one-level openings. These transfer openings may be balanced or include a longer side suit. Any hand that is too weak for 1C and too strong for a weak action that has four or more cards in both majors must open 1S. Any hand of similar strength that has at four cards in one major and fewer than four cards in the other major must open either 1D or 1H to show hearts and spades resepctively. Hands with at least six clubs, fewer than four cards in each major and fewer then five cards in diamonds open 2C. Hands with at least six diamonds, fewer than four cards in each major and fewer then five cards in clubs open 2D. Hands with at least five cards in both minors open 2NT. The remaning hands are balanced without a four-card major and hands with a five-card minor and a four-card minor, which all open 1NT. The two-level openings may be adjusted to taste.

The unrelenting opening style means that a hand that passed in first or second position is significantly weaker than a hand that passes in these positions using standard methods, and so our requirements for the strong club opening in third and fourth seat are stronger than for first and second seat. The ranges of the other openings in third and fourth positions are also wider, but more judgement may be utilised by the opener in these positions.

All openings at or below 2NT have at least one response that is unlimited and which expresses some degree of game interest. This response begins a relay sequence that, if completed, establishes opener's shape and strength. The relay is the strongest action available that does not promise fit, and is typically the only non-fit action that is forcing. Other actions are typically natural, limited, and non-forcing, however some range probes, transfer sequences, mini-splinters and fit-showing jumps are used.

The hand valuation method used is that of Opening Points. Opening Points are the sum of the High Card Points and the lengths of the two longest suits. Thus a range in Opening Points is typically some 8-9 higher than the equivalent range in HCP. Opening Points is abbreviated "OP". This expands upon the traditional Precision approach of making a positive response on 8+HCP for unbalanced hands but requiring 9+HCP for balanced hands. In order to bring consistency to balanced hand valuation, eight length points are counted for hands with 4333 patterns, as is the case for the other balanced hand shapes.

In first and second position:

In third position:

In fourth position, the two-level and higher openings take precedence where they are suitable: