Wednesday, October 06, 2004 5:36 AM

D.S.I.P. Forcing Pass Theory II

PITBULLS:

When your partnership obviously owns the hand and the opponents are making a nuisance of themselves or sacrificing forcing pass theory applies. Either partner can pass and that has a meaning that we prefer to bid. Either partner can double and that means we just want our plus. Either partner can bid or pass and pull and they all have meanings.

There is also a different type of forcing pass theory where passes are forcing from one side only . This is where one partner has indicated a huge hand by opening 2♣ or make a takeout double and bidding game vul . A takeout double or even an overcall with a Q bid can turn on “one way” forcing passes. The big hands pass is forcing on the little hand but not vice versa. The pass by the hand who never “attended the party “ is not forcing on the big hand. The pass has the old fashioned meaning that “I am broke”. The double by the little hand means I am not entirely broke.

Tom Gandolfo showed this type of forcing pass understanding tonight. These type of forcing pass scenarios are just penalty doubles at there most simple level. A double means I have something and a pass says you are on your own. The little hand owes it to your partner to double to show that you are not completely broke . This assists partner in his decision when the bidding gets around to him. In two way forcing pass theory both partners are known to have cards as they own the auction. The double takes on a different meaning of a warning that we may not make the contract at this level. No such understanding in these one way auctions.

The auction went 1♦-X-1♥-P 2♥-4♠-5♥-? I doubled & jumped to game vulnerable against not vul and they bid 5♥. Tom had xx xxx xxxx A9xx and doubled to tell me that he can contribute something to this auction. The double helped me and took the vul push and got doubled and made an overtrick. What if Tom held xx xxx xxxx xxxx ? He would pass 5♥ and I would act accordingly that he is probably broke over there.

What if our auction went a little differently ?. Same auction but instead of LHO bidding 5♥ , RHO bids 5♥ . Now the huge hand makes a forcing pass to partner . The little hand must do something. With Toms first hand xx xxx xxxx A9xx , the Ace would tip the scale in favour of a 5♠ bid . With the 2^nd hand xx xxx xxxx xxxx he must double ! Partner doubled & contracted for 10 tricks vul and passed a 5 level decision around to you. You can not shirk your responsibility.

Same idea after 2♣ openers. Most established partnerships play a conventional double at the two or 3 level saying I have no controls. The game level is back to the “one way “ forcing passes. 2♣-4♥-X-P ? The double just means a penalty double it its most simplistic sense . I have some values and opposite your 2♣ opener I prefer to defend. A pass can mean I am completely broke or as a waiting bid to see what type of hand partner has for the 2♣ bid. Say the 2♣ opener now bids 4♠ and his RHO decides to bid 5♥ . The 2♣ opener passes around to the little hand and of course his pass is forcing. Simple rule in these auctions : “either we play the hand or they play it doubled” .

D.S.I.P. theory has no such structure as we do not “own the auction’” . If one side feels like bidding again in a competitive auction he doubles. If he does not want to bid he passes . If he has loads of distribution and no defense and he wants to bid to be a nuisance or as a sacrifice he just bids. Recognizing two way forcing passes ( we own the auction and both partners bidding ) , one way forcing passes ( huge hand by one of the partners ) and D.S.I.P. competitive bidding takes Bridge judgment and skill. A mark of an established partnership.