Tuesday, March 23, 2004 9:35 PM

Hand Evaluation - Forcing Pass ( History )

PITBULLS: 

I am not sure when forcing pass theory came about . I think sometime in the 1940’s . Experts put a different meaning to a pass when their side owned the auction. The pass at higher levels above game meant a mild slam try or a “green light” for partner to bid again. There is a “pecking order” in forcing pass theory . The double shows the worst hand of all the alternatives. This bid shows a “bad “ hand . A bad hand can be a number of things in forcing pass theory. A bad hand could mean a doubleton in the opponents suit , so we are warning partner of two quick losers in their suit. Bad hand also could mean duplication of value in their trump suit similar to a trump stack double. Lastly a bad hand could just mean that your hand will be a disappointment for your partner in that your hand is a dead minimum for your previous bidding. Warn partner of your dog by doubling , so just take your plus. 

Be careful though about the warning aspect of the double in forcing pass situations. If the auction dictates that partner is very short in the opponents suit , do not issue a warning about the length in their suit. Maurice & I had an auction recently where this came out but it was a disaster for the opponents.

1♦-3♠-4♥-4♠

5♥-P-P-5♠

X-P-P-P . The doubler had a doubleton spade so was warning partner about his length in that suit. Partner had a void in spades but was worried that the double showed duplication so she passed. I made 5♠X but the opponents make 7♥ unless we cash our club Ace. I know its counter-intuitive , but trust the opponents to show their known length in these types of auctions.

The 2^rd best hand is shown by bidding your trump suit.  Remember by bidding , you are preventing partner from doubling them , so you are probably have a very distributional hand unsuitable for defense. Also since you preventing partner from doubling them, you are convinced that you can make the contract.

The 3rd best hand is shown by passing. This bid usually has no extra for slam purposes but partner feels that our game contract can make in light of the auction. A pass gives partner room to Q bid , double the opponents or the green light to bid. Usually the pass shows shortness in the opponents suit so this hand would rather play the hand than defend. The pass can also show a good opener so is getting out of the way for partner to Q bid or make a decision. Your pass is just describing your hand type to partner with your offensive preference.

The next best hand in forcing pass theory is a Q bid . This is an obvious slam try in the traditional Q bidding sense. The best hand of the bunch is shown by a pass & pulling partners double. This bid probably shows controls in both the unbid suits so just needs a suitable minimum hand by partner for a slam . Grand slams might be reached on these types of sequences. When you are at very high levels , a pass shows 1st round control in the opponents with an interest in more . 

I was playing with Maurice & held ♠Jx ♥AJ109 ♦AKQxx ♣Kx vul . The auction went p-p-2♠-x by me. LHO bids 3♠ so Maurice contracts for a vul 4♥ game . The vulnerability here with this type of auction ( pre-empt & passed hand ) turns on forcing passes. LHO now sacrifices to 4♠ so partner makes a forcing pass and around to you. Partner’s pass shows a willingness to play 5♥ hearts. So he is either short in spades or maximum for his bid with the club Ace & the KQ of hearts. Anyway if partner has given you the green light to bid , you certainly go for +650 with this hand. Not a tough decision , in light of partners pass. 4♠x only goes for 300 so you save 8 IMPS due to partners forcing pass. Say the auction went a little differently . Say Maurice held ♠xx ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx & of course he passes 3♠. I double again as I have 25 HCP’s so I force Maurice to a vul game. Maurice bids 4♥ . I pass , LHO sacrifices to 4♠ . Since my bidding has turned on forcing passes , Maurice must double to prevent me from bidding again. This certainly is a minimum hand so let’s just take our plus ! I hold ♠xx ♥AQJ10 ♦AKQx ♣AKQ so his double prevents a minus in 5♥ . 4♠x goes for 500 which is much better then –100 in 5♥ . What if Maurice held ♠x ♥Kxxxx ♦Jxxx ♣xxx ? In light of this auction with his previous pass , he actually holds a good hand ! He should make a forcing pass . I would bid 6♥ so we collect +1430 . 

You hold ♠Kxx ♥AQ109x ♦x ♣KJ10x & are vul against non vul . Tom Gandolfo , your vul partner opens 1♥. RHO bids 2♦ so you turn on forcing passes by making a slam try vulnerable with a 4♦ splinter. LHO is Steve Willard so of course he bids 5♦ . Tom passes so what do you do ? Toms bid is only saying that in light of your bid I think we can make 5♥ but I am not interested in anything higher . You have your bid so there is nothing really extra for you to over rule partners decision. You bid 5♥ , collect +650 as Tom held ♠Qx ♥KJxxx ♦xxx ♣AQx . Tom held no duplication of value in diamonds , so he felt that 5♥ could make & he was right. What If Tom held ♠Ax ♥KJxxx ♦xxx ♣AQx ? Still only 14 but the controls with no duplication of value indicates an interest in bidding 5♥ directly . By bidding, the auction can be interpreted as a mild slam try . If Tom bid, I would continue to 6♥ so that contract makes with that hand. What if I also held the stiff diamond Ace ? With Toms direct 5♥ bid , I would be encouraged to make a grand slam try of 6♦ . Tom with his hand , should bid 7♥ as he has nice controls for his 5♥ bid.

  Playing against opponents like Steve Willard & Alex Fowlie, your forcing pass theory gets a work out but that’s why it was invented . This high level judgment is what partnership Bridge is all about . Forcing pass theory is just a tool to help deal with those type of players. The opponents are irritating you with their interference. Forcing pass theory fights back by using the opponent’s interference to elicit information. Discuss forcing pass theory with your regular partner so you are on the same wavelength.