Friday, August 06, 2004 5:57 PM

Hand Evaluation - Forcing Pass Auctions

PITBULLS:

In order to play D.S.I.P. doubles effectively , you must know when they do not apply so forcing pass theory takes over. O.K. we will assume you know the understandings involved in forcing pass theory but lets examine the auctions which “turn on” forcing pass theory. There is also a “when” factor with forcing pass theory. Sometimes forcing pass theory does not “kick in” until you bid game with the opponents bidding again. Otherwise , forcing pass theory is in effect immediately.

Essentially forcing pass theory applies when it is clear that you own the hand. You must have your ear to the bidding so finely tuned to pick up the auctions that forcing pass theory applies . The obvious auctions that turn on forcing passes are when your partnership opens a

• strong 2 ♣.

• direct 2/1 bid

• a redouble 10 HCP +

• limit raise or better auction & game reached by either side

• systemic forcing bids ( Jacoby 2NT , inverted minors , strong jump shift , reverse etc )

• game bid vul against not in a non pre-emptive auction

• double of their NT ( forcing thru 2 level )

• penalty double or conversion

• penalty double of a 2NT conventional bid ( after weak 2 or similar )

• 2/1 in competition & game reached by your side

• 2/1 as a passed hand & game reached by you side

• when its obvious opponents are sacrificing against your game ( they signed off previously or are two passed hands etc )

• when you or your partner have voluntarily bid game after an adverse opening preempt (other than 4♥ or 4♠), or preemptive jump overcall, all subsequent passes by your are forcing, e.g., 2♥-4♠-5♥-P, or 3♣-4♥-5♣-P, 1♥-2♠-4♥-4♠-P (here we cannot jump to 4♥ with a weak hand since you do not pre-empt over a pre-empt). Unless we are vulnerable and they are not, the following sequence is an exception since we might be saving: 4♥-4♠-5♥-P

· When your side has overcalled at the two level & partner has responded in a new suit . You own the hand so forcing passes apply after you bid game .

Lets discuss a couple with examples submitted by Stan Cabay . A 2/1 in competition is forcing only one round if the suit rebid but if you continue on to game , Forcing Pass Theory kicks in as your 2/1 shows a reasonable hand.

W N E S

1♣ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠ East has ♠KQx ♥K109xxx ♦xx ♣xx , doubles for penalty which ends the auction.

3♥ P 4♥ 4♠

P P ?

W N E S

P

P 1♥ 1♠ 2♣

2♠ 3♥ 3♠ 4♥

P P 4♠ X South has ♠xx ♥Ax ♦QJx ♣QJxxxx & is doubling to warn partner that 5♥ is not a good idea as per forcing pass theory.