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Beta

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Beta

Beta is the most commonly used Asking Bid of them all. It is potentially available in any hand whether or not Asking Bids have been established and whether or not a trump suit has been agreed. Beta is Precision's equivalent to Ace-Asking conventions in other systems, but it asks about Controls instead. In this respect it is often much more efficient than, for example, Blackwood, since it asks about Aces and Kings all in one go, and Opener can often tell immediately exactly what combination of Aces and Kings Responder has and often the exact cards. Sometimes, however, the first response to Beta shows a range of Controls rather than a precise number, and in those situations a second Beta Ask if sometimes required if space permits.


An Ace is equal to 2 Controls and a King equal to 1 Control.

Queens and Jacks are worthless where Beta is concerned. Similarly, for the purposes of Beta singletons and voids are not considered, but see the Epsilon Ask where they are counted as a degree of control (as are Queens and doubletons).

When is a Bid Beta?

The number of different places where a bid is Beta is almost limitless because besides the general situations specified below, a large number of Openings and subsequent sequences make specific provision for Beta Asks that do not fit neatly into any of these categories. For details of these special provisions for Beta see the individual Openings or pages. A bid is always Beta, however, in the following situations:
  • After a 1♣ Opening and a positive response of 1♥ or 1♠, a bid of 1NT is Beta.
  • After a 1♣ Opening and a positive response of 1NT, 2♣ or 2♦, a Relay in the next bid up is Beta.
  • In any sequence where a suit other than Clubs has been agreed as trumps, a bid of 4♣ is Beta.
  • In any sequence where Clubs have not been mentioned as possible trumps or when they have but another suit has since been agreed as trumps and Responder's exact number of controls is not yet known, a bid of 4♣ is Beta.
  • In any sequence where Clubs have been mentioned as possible trumps and another suit has not yet been agreed as trumps and Responder's exact number of controls is not yet known, a bid of 4♦ is Beta.
  • 4♦ can also be Beta if 4♣ would have been Beta, but Opener is prevented from using 4♣ because 4&clubs was the response to the previous Asking Bid.
  • In any situation where a singleton or void has been explicitly shown (eg: by bidding the suit below as in a Splinter or when describing a 4441-shape hand) or has been implied by showing a fragment elsewhere (eg: in response to a fast 4th-suit-Force), then a bid in the suit of the shortage is Beta.
  • When a transfer has been broken by means of showing a "worthless doubleton" in the suit above (See 1NT Openings), then a bid of the doubleton suit is Beta.
  • After a positive response to ANY Trump Asking Bid (ie: Alpha, Gamma, Delta, Iota, Theta), if partner's exact number of controls is not yet known, then a Relay in the next side-suit (ie: ignoring the trump suit and NT's) is Beta.
  • Note: A bid can never be Beta if Responder's exact number of Controls is already known (eg: A Response to a previous Beta, Alpha or Zeta Ask).

Scales for Beta

Altogether there are five different scales for Beta. As with Asking Bids, there is never any doubt as to which scale is in force:

Normal Scale

The normal scale for Beta is used in the following situations:
  • When Responder's strength is unknown, or
  • When Responder is known to be Intermediate (ie: has made an 11-15 Precision Opening).
The stepped responses for the normal scale are:
  1. : 0-2 Controls
  2. : 3 Controls
  3. : 4 Controls
  4. : 5 Controls
  5. ...etc etc (open ended)

Weak Scale

The weak scale for Beta is used in the following situations:
  • When Responder is a passed hand, or
  • When Responder is known to have less than 11 points (ie: has made a Weak-2 Opening), or
  • When Responder has made a negative response to a 1♣ Opening, or
  • When Responder is known to have less than 4 Controls (ie: 1 or 3-step response to Alpha, or a 1-step response to a previous Beta or Zeta Ask, showing 0-2 Controls.
The stepped responses for the weak scale are:
  1. : No Controls
  2. : 1 Control
  3. : 2 Controls
  4. : 3 Controls
  5. : 4 Controls

Strong Scale

The strong scale for Beta is used in the following situations:
  • When Responder is known to have 16+ Points (1♣, 2♦ or 2NT Opener), or has shown a 16+ hand otherwise (eg: 2NT Response to an Opening 1♦, or has initiated an Asking Bid sequence over partner's Intermediate Opening but subsequently handed over the Captaincy)
  • When Responder is known to have 4 or more Controls (2 or 4-step response to Alpha)
The stepped responses for the strong scale are:
  1. : 0-4 Controls
  2. : 5 Control
  3. : 6 Controls
  4. : 7 Controls
  5. ...etc (open ended)

Super Scale

The super scale for Beta is used in the following situations:
  • When Responder is known to have 24+ Points (Delta used) but has ended up as Responder having handed over the Captaincy. This is extremely rare, but theoretically possible.
  • Where Responder has shown 7+ Controls by making an 8-step response to an earlier Alpha. This situation is also very rare.
The stepped responses for the strong scale are:
  1. : 0-6 Controls
  2. : 7 Controls
  3. : 8 Controls
  4. : 9 Controls
  5. ...etc (open ended)

Range Beta

The Range Beta is used in the following situations:
  • When Responder is known to be intermediate (11-15) and in certain specific sequences where range is as important as controls. This includes
    • A fast raise to the 3-level in a 3-suited sequence where Lebensohl is in effect (eg: in a sequence such as 1♠-2♣-2♥-3♠ the 3♠ bid can be treated as a Range Beta)
    • If the standard Precision 2♦ is being used rather than what is suggested in this system, then an initial Beta in the singleton suit below game level is best used as a Range Beta Ask.
The stepped responses for the Range Beta are:
  1. : Minimum
  2. : Max and 0-2 Controls
  3. : Max and 3 Controls
  4. : Max and 4 Controls
  5. ...etc (open ended)

Notes

  • Precedence: It must be stressed that trump agreement(ie: Trump Asking Bids) takes precedence over General Controls (ie: Beta), and General Controls takes precedence over Specific Controls (ie: Epsilon). Hence 4♣ Theta/Iota takes precedence over 4♣ Beta, just as 4♣ Beta takes precedence over 4♣ Epsilon.
  • Repeat Betas: If the first response to Beta showed a range of Controls, then if the opportunity permits a second Beta is always permitted to clarify Responder's exact number of controls.
  • For practical purposes, where Beta is used twice the second ask is always using the weak scale
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