Sunday, January 29, 2006
8:26 AM
Hand Evaluation – Forcing Pass ( Game Force Auctions )
PITBULLS:
Do
not forget when partner makes a strong bid
like a reverse , strong jump shift or a 2NT rebid ,
this action turns on forcing pass theory
when the opponents interfere. Forcing pass theory takes precedence over D.S.I.P. theory as this is not a competitive
auction,
you just have an intruder in your
midst. This is the classic example of switching
modes from D.S.I.P. theory
to forcing pass theory.
NV vrs vul I opened 1♣ , my partner responded 1♠ . I rebid 2NT but
LHO entered the auction with 3♣. Even if you are light for your response , the 2NT bid turned
on forcing passes as we are on a game
force. My partner held ♠1098xxx ♥Kxx ♦A10xx ♣void so what are his options ? A double is
penalty saying that I have club values or I just think this is the
best spot to get a plus. A pass says that I prefer offensive action ,
but if you do double them I will abide by your decision. A bid says I strongly
prefer offensive action so we are ignoring the
intruder. Of course , pass & pull is the slam try
as is a Q bid.
With
my partner’s hand I would make a forcing pass
& abide by partners decision.
They are vul
vrs not , he has 1 ½
defensive tricks with them bidding partner’s suit at the 3 level. I have an
easy decision after the forcing pass. ♠AKx
♥AJ10x
♦Kxx ♣K109 since I have 7 HCP’s , length in spades , minimum length in clubs with a finessible honour , I will abide
by partners preference to take offensive action. Partner prefers offensive action so I will use his judgment in making my decision. I will bid 3♠ , partner will bid 4♠ which gets us +450.
3♣X only gets us +200 so a zero on the board. Do not forget that a forcing pass is a bid that is conveying information to me re partners hand type.
Change
partner’s hand slightly just by taking away one spade & adding a club. ♠1098xx ♥Kxx ♦A10xx ♣x with this hand I would double
3♣ as there is no guarantee
of a game .The spades could be breaking very badly. We have a club loser , a diamond loser & a possibility of 2 spade
losers with a bad spade break. The double is not a command that I pass but it
is partner’s preference. I will make the final decision depending on my club holding . I pass so
victory with +200 so thank you opponent !
Change
partner’s hand to ♠Q1098xx ♥Kxx ♦AQxx ♣void , he has a pass &
pull slam try. With a lesser hand
he could have made a direct Q bid
as a slam try. Do not forget the “step responses” in forcing pass theory. The
opponents have given you an opportunity to describe your hand within 5 levels of strength as per forcing pass
theory. Take advantage of forcing pass theory to base your Bridge decisions &
watch your bidding accuracy improve immensely. You even will prefer to have Steve Willard
, Ray Grace and Osama in your auction , so you can describe your hand better J