Precision - asking bids

There are many types of asking bids used in Precision.

The asking bids are named by the Greek letters - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, etc.
Alpha : Trump support and number of controls
Beta : Number of controls
Gamma : Trump asking bid (TAB); asks the number and high honours in trumps
Delta: Number of Controls and setting the Trump suit
Epsilon : Control asking bid (CAB); asks about controls in a specific suit
Zeta: After a 1D response, opener jumps to zeta ask; responder bids the quality of support
Eta: After an unusual positive response, opener bids one of the 4 card suits to ask about quality
Theta: Trump support after a Beta asking bid

An Ace is treated as 2 controls and a King as 1 control.
The Asking bids are usually used in order Alpha, then Beta, then Gamma, etc.
You can start anywhere, but must only go forward. For example, if you start with a Gamma bid, you cannot bid Beta after that.
After using a Gamma bid (Trump asking), you may use the Epsilon bid many times for all suits you want information on.
An important point to note is that once asking bids are used you cannot go back to normal bidding.

Alpha asking bid

Alpha asking bids are used to ask about the holding in a suit and the number of controls.
An example:

Open	Resp	Rebid	Description

1C	1H	1S	Alpha asking bid in spades. Responses are: 1N: less than Qxx in spades, 0-3 controls 2C: less than Qxx in spades, 4 or more controls 2D: better than Qxx in spades, 0-3 controls 2H: better than Qxx in spades, 4 or more controls 2S: four or more spades, 4 or more controls

Beta asking bid

Beta asking bids are used to ask about the number of controls.
Two examples:

Open	Resp	Rebid	Description

1C	1H	1N	Beta asking bid. Responses are: 2C: 0-2 controls 2D: 3 controls 2H: 4 controls 2S: 5 controls, etc.

1C	1S		transfer to clubs
		2C	three or more clubs; Beta asking. The responses are: 2D: 0-2 controls 2H: 3 controls 2S: 4 controls 2N: 5 controls, etc.

Gamma asking bid

Gamma asking bids are used to ask about the trump suit.
An example:

Open	Resp	Rebid	Description

1C	1H	2H	Gamma asking bid (Trump asking bid). Responses are: 2S: No top honor, 5 or more cards 2N: One top honour, 5 card trumps 3C: Two top honors, 5 card trumps 3D: One top honour, six card trumps 3H: Two top honors, six card trumps 3S: Three top honors, 5 or more trumps The key to remember is 012123

The Gamma bid can be repeated to elicit further information about the Trump suit.

If the first response to Gamma showed no top honor, the response to the repeat Gamma is:
1^st Step: 5 card suit
2^nd Step: 6 card suit
3^rd Step: 7 card suit
If the first response to Gamma showed one top honor, the response to the repeat Gamma is:
1^st Step: Queen
2^nd Step: King
3^rd Step: Ace
If the first response to Gamma showed two top honors, the response to the repeat Gamma is:
1^st Step: King and Queen
2^nd Step: Ace and Queen
3^rd Step: Ace and King
If the first response to Gamma showed three top honors, the response to the repeat Gamma is:
1^st Step: 5 card suit
2^nd Step: 6 card suit
3^rd Step: 7 card suit

When responding to a Gamma inquiry, if the responder is known to have a 4 card suit, the responses are modified.
An example:

Open	Resp	Rebid	Description

1C	1N
2C	2H
3H			Gamma asking bid (Trump asking bid). Responses are: 3S: No top honor 3N: One top honour, no Jack 4C: Two top honors, no Jack 4D: One top honour, with Jack 4H: Two top honors, with Jack 4S: Three top honors, 5 or more trumps The key to remember is 012123

Epsilon asking bid

Epsilon asking bids also known as Control Asking Bids (CAB)are used to ask about controls in a particular suit.
It is used after a Gamma Trump asking bid.

The response is as follows:
1^st Step: no control, Jxx or worse
2^nd Step: 3^rd round control - Queen or doubleton
3^rd Step: 2^nd round control - King or singleton
4^th Step: 1^st round control - Ace or void
5^th Step: AK or AQ

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