PITBULLS:
Some
guidelines for partnership discussion from Eric Kokish:
A
pass is forcing when. . .
(1)
The partnership is in a game-forcing auction.
(2)
An invitational bid has been accepted.
(3)
A bid is forcing to a particular level not yet reached.
(4)
A strong two-bid has been opened by our side (however, a 2NT bid, because it is
limited does
not
create a force).
(5)
The partnership has VOLUNTARILY bid
game after an adverse preemptive
opening bid or
overcall.
. .
EXCEPTIONS:
(a)
the opponents open with a game preempt, direct overcalls create a
force
only
if VUL vs NONVUL, e.g.
4H-4S-5H-Pass
... not forcing except VUL vs NONVUL
(b)
after an opening bid, a preemptive jump overcall forces responder to
bid
game
in another suit, e.g.
1C-3S-4H-4S
... Pass ... not forcing except VUL vs NONVUL.
(c)
after an opening of 1H or 1S and a preemptive jump overcall,
responder
jumps
to game instead of cue-bidding
(6)
The sound of bidding makes it so:
if your opponents are willing to play a partscore and finally
bid
a
game after you have voluntarily bid a game.
When
a pass is forcing, either the opponents play a contract doubled or you play the
hand.
Forcing
passes at high levels express doubt, double suggests playing for penalty,
bidding "one
more"
suggests primarily distributional extra values, and passing, then pulling a
double when
a
suit is agreed suggests slam possibilities but when a suit is not agreed
suggests a flexible
hand.
Hopeless hands must double in
"forcing pass" auctions to warn partner against bidding.
When
two passed hands get to game after your side has VOLUNTARILY bid game, a forcing
pass
is
always in effect. When THIRD HAND preempts 3C, 3D, 4C or 4D, fourth hand
doubles, and responder raises to
game,
forcing passes are on unless they (the preemptors) are VUL and you are
NONVUL;
e.g.
Pass-Pass-3D-DBL; 5D-Pass.....forcing