Monday, March 07, 2005 3:44 AM

Hand Evaluation – Forcing Pass ( Auctions )

PITBULLS:

An established partnership has tools to counteract Bridge terrorism . Bridge terrorism is when the opponents are trying to “blow up” your auction with destructive bids. Forcing pass theory is a hand evaluation skill designed to combat terrorism. A serious Bridge player has an obligation to analyze the auction while in progress. A hand evaluation concept called ownership now enters the picture. Bridge auctions ( ownership ) are divided into 3 types . Those auctions that neither side owns ( competing ) , the auctions that the opponents own ( sacrifices ) & the auctions you own ( forcing pass theory ) . The latter auction is extremely important as the meaning of simple bids like the pass & double change meaning !!!!!

My partner had two auctions where our counter terrorism tools failed us in one instance but succeeded in the other. I held ♠x ♥Qx ♦KQ109x ♣KQ98x & partner opened 1♦ . RHO overcalled 1♠ , you bid 2♠ which shows a limit raise or better and automatically turns on forcing passes if they or us reach game. Forcing passes are the best anti-terrorism tool invented in Bridge. However , the tool is useless if you do not “pick up” on the forcing auctions where it applies. Forcing passes are like step responses in that each action shows an increasingly better hand.

Anyway , after the 2♠ Q bid , the opponents leap to 4♠ so what do you do with ♠x ♥Axxx AJxx Axxx ? With forcing pass theory , there are 5 bids in your repertoire to convey your hand to partner. Each “step” shows increasing values on which partner can base his decision. The bids are double , pass , direct bid , Q bid and pass & pull the double in this exact order for showing strength. This hand is not a double as that shows a dog or duplication of values or losers in their suit. A pass is the next step saying I would prefer you to take offensive action , if I had my choice. The next step is bidding directly . This action is saying we can make our contract even if you have a minimum over there for your previous bid. A Q bid is of course a slam try & the pass & pull the double is probably having aspirations for a grand slam.

Partner with this hand made a wrong forcing pass decision. He bid 5♦ which says we can take 11 tricks even if you held a minimum for your bid on this auction . I held way more than a minimum , 15 points in support of diamonds counting distribution so I bid 6♦ which has no play. With no wastage in spades , partner must have the 3 Aces for his bid. ♠x ♥Qx ♦KQ109x ♣KQ98x Partner should just make a forcing pass so I would have bid 5♦ for our +400. A forcing pass is a 5♦ bid needing some help from partner. You have 13 HCP so with your spade shortage you should encourage partner to bid 5♦ by passing. You base your forcing pass auction on the assumption that partner holds the minimum for a variable bid. You assume a limit raise in diamonds & bid accordingly. If partner has more, he might bid 6♦ so you bid your own hand but not partner’s hand.

A few hands later we got the board back thanks to forcing pass theory. I held ♠AJ10x ♥AQ10x ♦Qx ♣xxx vul against not vul so I refuse to open 1♣ with those hands. I opened 1♥, partner bid 4♣ & RHO doubled. OK , the first bidding clue comes into play re splinters. There are forcing pass understandings specifically applicable to splinters. If I bid directly over the double that is the death response saying I have club duplication of value. A pass shows offensive interest so that’s what I did. LHO jammed by leaping to 6♣ ! Partner held ♠KQxxx ♥KJxx ♦KJ9x ♣void so all his forcing pass options come into play . He chose the pass so I had an easy 6♥ bid for +1460 & 13 IMPS for our side.

The opponents bidding turns on forcing passes. If they pre-empt in an auction or sacrifice , the assumption is that we own the auction. Maurice held ♠J10xx ♥void ♦AQJxx ♣10xxx , I opened 1♣ , they overcalled 1♥ so Maurice doubled. They pre-empted to 4♥ but I bid 4♠ so forcing passes are turned on by virtue of their pre-empt. They now bid 5♥ equal vul so what is your forcing pass action ? This hand is a 5♠ bid as you think you can make the contract. Since you own the auction , it is a contradiction to bid 5♠ thinking they can make their contract. You must assume when you own the auction , they can not make their contract at the 5 level. Thinking that the opponents can make something should be the farthest thing in your mind. Sometimes they do make their doubled contract but it is a small price to pay for the advantages of forcing pass theory.

When you play against terrorists , be sure you are up on your “homeland security” i.e. forcing pass theory.