Saturday, November 11, 2006 7:00 AM

Hand Evaluation - Forcing Pass ( recognition )

PITBULLS:

Forcing pass recognition is a huge part of partnership Bridge. You look for the clues that deem that our side owns the auction. Interpreting the bidding properly determines whether your side has “turned on” forcing passes. Looking at Bridge from this “ownership” perspective there are three types of auctions. Those auctions that you own , those owned by the opponents & those auctions nobody does. The latter auctions define competing in Bridge. Ownership is a hand evaluation concept that needs to be understood.

A Tormentee held ♠KQ ♥Q1098x ♦AQxx ♣Ax , partner opens 1♥ & they overcall 2♣. You do not waste any time & jump to 4NT. Partner shows two key cards but RHO surprises you by backing in 6♣. You have enough controls to bid 6♥ , but you can bid 6♥ in a different way. Since you own the auction , partner interprets your pass as having enough for 6 , but leaving the final decision up to you. Partner doubles & they go for 800 & your slam fails. If the diamond finesse was on side , you would have made +980 but they go for 1100 so a pass is win , win. The Tormentee did not invite partner to the partner & unilaterally bid 6♥ for –50 as she did not recognize the forcing pass situation. This is an equal vulnerability scenario where the opponents must be extra careful with their sacrificing.

A rare form of “pass & pull” came up recently with my partner & myself recently. The opponents were not vulnerable , we were. LHO opened a weak 2♠ bid , my partner overcalled 3♥ & I held ♠xx ♥Kx ♦KJxxxx ♣xxx & raised to game . This was passed around to the pass out seat but they decided to take the nv sacrifice. This action by the opponents alone turns on forcing passes but the vulnerability has already done that. You double to warn partner that the 5 level is somewhat risky from your perspective , however , partner ignores your warning & bids 5♥ anyway. What does that mean ? This is a rare form of the “pass & pull” part of forcing pass theory. Since he passed originally , by bidding at the 5 level he is telling the table that 5♥ is virtually a lock with his hand. I could even bid 6♥ , if I had suitable cards.

Change my hand to ♠xx ♥Kxx ♦KJxxxx ♣Kx , I would have made the forcing pass. You have two spades people would say . At the 5 level yes , I would double with my 2 spades to warn partner we are off two fast losers but not at the 4 level. I would pass saying I have good cards with nothing wasted in spades. I would prefer offensive action from my perspective. With the help of forcing pass theory & the same hand he held , partner would have bid 6♥ which makes with any lead. Forcing pass theory lets the opponents help you with your auctions rather than just being a nuisance by intruding into your auction. With modern bidding & bidders , forcing pass theory gets elevated in importance.

Forcing pass theory determines D.S.I.P. theory. For all auctions that forcing pass theory does not apply , D.S.I.P. theory does. Playing D.S.I.P. theory , you must know forcing pass theory inside & out including what auctions trigger forcing pass theory. This is a bidding skill that does not have to just in the realm of Bridge experts. Forcing pass theory is a tool to ward off pesky opponents. Using the opponents as stepping stones when they are out to destroy your auctions is quite satisfying J.