Thursday, June 10, 2004 3:49 AM

Hand Evaluation - Dual Mode

PITBULLS:

In all auctions , there are only two possibilities or “modes” of operation. Either you own the hand so forcing pass theory applies or you do not & D.S.I.P. theory applies. When you do not own the hand , it further breaks down to nobody owning the hand ( competing) or they own the hand. There is no other alternatives possible. When competitive auctions die or you have reached the 5 level of course , trump stack penalty doubles can kick in.

Tom & I had an auction tonight that shows this duality concept nicely.

1♥-p-1NT-2♥

3♥-4♠-5♥-p

p-? . Ok. My bid is Michaels so we avoid making that bid on intermediate hands. Does my pass of 5♥ have any meaning in the forcing pass sense ? No , because Toms 4♠ bid could mean anything so forcing passes are not turned on. We are at the 5 level so its just old fashioned penalty doubles.

O.K. we normally think D.S.I.P. theory when forcing pass theory does not apply under the 5 level. Now what does my pass mean even at the 5 level ? All it means is that I prefer to defend probably without any outstanding distribution as I did not double to discourage bidding at the 5 level . O.K. on this particular hand , Tom did make a tactical bid of 4♠ as he held ♠xxxx ♥K9xx ♦xxxx ♣K . Here is the beauty of the D.S.I.P. system & 5 level bidding in general . You can just pass as the 5 level belongs to the opponents or you have two other options. The double of course is penalty at the 5 level. A 5♠ bid means I have loads of distribution so I think 5♠ is a good bid. I have ♠AKJxx ♥x ♦xx ♣QJ10xx so Toms tactical bidding has done its dirty work & 5♥ goes one down. Tom made a tactical bid with their trump but I can not get in his way by bidding other than with a penalty double. In D.S.I.P. theory , the opponents are making an attempt at game ( competing ) or sacrificing its just not clear. If it were clear that they were sacrificing , forcing passes apply for our side.

Say Tom had ♠Qxxxxx ♥x ♦xxxx ♣Kx & since spades are the bully suit he would just have bid 5♠ as he feels that –500 is better then –650. O.K. what if the auction went a little bit differently. Say I doubled 1NT originally with ♠AKJxx ♥x ♦Ax ♣QJ10xx ( we can not bid Michaels with an intermediate hand & defense ). They bid 2♥ so Tom decides to make a tactical bid of 4♠. Now when they bid 5♥ , I would make a penalty double since they are at the 5 level. Tom just quietly passes the double so we collect our 500 or 800 with a club uppercut for Tom’s heart 9.

Switching back & forth into two different modes of thinking either forcing passes or D.S.I.P. is the key to these auctions. Say the auction went a little bit differently again. I double 1NT with ♠AKJxx ♥x ♦Ax ♣KQJ109 , they bid 2♥ so Tom bids 2♠ to compete with ♠Qxxx ♥K9xx ♦Qxx ♣xx. I leap to 4♠ vul so in the pass out position they bid 5♥. Now my pass has a different meaning as I show a huge hand for jumping to a vul game . This time forcing pass theory applies. My pass means that I would like to bid 5♠ as opposed to doubling their sacrifice. Tom would simply double them for penalty with his hand so that ends the auction. Forcing pass theory is when we own the hand so they are deemed to be sacrificing. D.S.I.P. theory is for competitive auctions where nobody owns the hand or they do or you can not tell from the bidding.

In forcing pass theory there are some subtleties. 2/1 as a passed hand or in competition does not turn on forcing passes until our side bids game . Same subtleties with invitational sequences , as they do not turn on forcing passes until game is reached. Contrast this with a normal 2/1 where forcing pass theory is in effect immediately or with a 2♣ opener. In auctions where forcing pass theory kicks in ( game is reached by your side ) the auctions are originally deemed to be just competitive auctions. In competitive auctions , D.S.I.P. theory is applicable. D.S.I.P. theory is applicable when both sides are actively competing until forcing pass theory takes over. This is why it is so important to know Forcing Pass theory.

Here is a hand that shows this concept of forcing pass “taking over” nicely. ♠void ♥KQxxxx ♦Ax ♣AQJxx , you open 1♥. LHO overcalls 1♠ & partner bids 2♥. RHO bids 3♠ so you make a slam try of 4♣. LHO bids 4♠ , partner doubles. Since you made a slam try, we have switched modes to forcing pass theory. Partners double is as per forcing pass theory. She knows how many spades are around the table from the bidding & she has heard your slam try. She is warning you not to bid due to spade duplication of value. You trust partner & reluctantly pass. Partners spades KQ9x so a blood bath ensues.