Wednesday, October 20, 2004 1:40 PM

Sacrifices & Forcing Passes

PITBULLS:

An excellent hand came up in the IMP league which shows what forcing pass theory is all about . The opponents were NV against vul and opened the proceedings with 1♠. Tom G passed and RHO bid 1NT which I doubled. I had xx AKQJxx AK109 x and LHO bid 2♣ . Tom passed and RHO bid 3♣ which brought 4♥ by me. RHO decided to sacrifice in 5♣ and I made a forcing pass around to Tom.

If Tom held xxxx Ax Qxxxx xx we are cold for +1430 . If Tom had as little as xxxx Kxxx xx xxx we are cold for +650 . My forcing pass says I want to bid 5♥ but I am short a trick or so. Over to the small hand to make the final decision. With people not used to forcing pass theory the big hand always does the bidding for both sides of the table. This is very wrong. If the partnership is disciplined , the small hand should have input into the decision also . I could double 5♣ but that is a redundant bid. Everyone at the table knows 5♣ is not going to make. The decision to be made is if some number of hearts is going to make. This is where expert skills come in The small hand has to now bid both hands at the table. Partner has passed him information but still expertise is still required to make a good decision.

Tom actually held QJxx xxxx xx xxx and decided that 5♥ was not going to make and doubled. 5♥ of course can not make and declarer was lucky not to go for –300 . The 1NT bidder had Kx x Jxxxx QJ109x and took out insurance for a nv 5 ♣ sacrifice against a vul 4♥ game. At the other table Lee Barton bid 4♥ directly with the strong hand without doubling first. This is a bad bid for a number of reasons. Non vul opponents open and respond light against vul opponents. Tom could easily hold cards where 6♦ is cold Axx xxx QJxxxx x . The main deterrent to bidding 4♥ is that it is a single handed bid which takes partner out of the decision making process. If the opponents bid again at the 5 level , how can partner visualize a two suited 6-4 with 17 HCP ? The big hand now will have to take control of the auction and make a decision for both sides of the table. Just because you have a huge hand does not give you the right to own the auction by yourself.

O.K. what of the pre-emptive value of a 4♥ bid ? It might jam the opponents out of a good minor suit sacrifice ? This may be true on some hands but it also might make it easier to find your sacrifice. The 1NT responder held Kx x Jxxxx QJ109x and hears a vul 4♥ bid around to you in the pass out seat. Is a 4NT bid not good insurance against 4♥ making ? Give the vul 4♥ bidder the 10 HCP’s in hearts ( partner did not double ) and we are playing with a 30 point deck. Give partner his 13 HCP and we have 20 of the 30 remaining points. 5 of a minor certainly can not get hurt too badly and may even go for –100. Now the 4♥ bidder has fixed himself so he must double the sacrifice single handed Partner with an Ace will never bid the cold 5♥ as he can never dream the type of hand that brought about the 4♥ call.

This hand brings up a matter of style. There are some auctions if you feel that partner has nothing over there just shoot to your game. If the opponents were vul , the odds that partner has anything is very remote. Leaping to 4♥ might have some merit as it jams them . This is not my style though as I am always blood thirsty looking for a big set with a penalty double by partner when I have such a good hand. What if Tom held QJxx xx xxx QJ109 ? The opponents can get into serious trouble and Tom will start wielding the axe whatever they bid. If partner leaps to 4♥ , the opponents escape some sort of set and adding insult to injury 4♥ goes down at least one !!