2007-10-28 01:13

Hand Evaluation – Forcing Pass ( Partners Hand )

PITBULLS:

Many of my articles have had the theme “bid your own hand” & let the partnership decide the final contract. There is a time when you are allowed to bid partner’s hand . Forcing pass theory allows that luxury. When partner makes a strong bid which suggests that you own the auction or may own the auction , forcing pass theory is in effect. This means that penalty doubles apply from both sides of the table.

You open a weak 2♥ nv vrs vul & partner bids 2NT. This is a strong bid as she did not leap to 4♥ nv so you assume you own this auction until you hear otherwise. The opponents overcall 3♣ so the weak 2♥ bidder with clubs as a 2^nd suit is now allowed to bid partners strong hand & double for penalty. Since they are vul & you are not , they have wondered into –1100 to –1700 territory vrs your +450 in hearts.

The reason forcing pass theory exists is preventing the opponents from being rescued from their bad bidding in your auction. Knowing that partner has a good hand , either partner can double for penalty. It’s just like partner making a XX , you announce to the table we own the auction so let the doubling commence. 2NT is a strong bid so it should say we own the auction unless the 2NT bidder corrects the impression later on .

Playing the vulnerability means that give up on your nv game when they offer you a vulnerable set. The 2NT bidder held ♠KQ109 ♥QJ10x ♦AQ9x ♣A 18 HCP & they are at the 3 level vulnerable in diamonds. RHO pulled 3♣X to 3♦ . Even +980 in hearts might pale in comparison to what the vulnerable carnage could be their way. Would you want to play a contract where you hand to take 8 out of the 13 available tricks with this hand & partner showing 5-10 HCP’s with a weak 2 ? Even when you think they have a resting spot in 4♣ , you can always bid 4♥ over 4♣ undoubled. Do not rescue opponents when they are in trouble vul vrs not or even equal vulnerability. Your controls & trump should guide your decision.

When the opponents wiggle out of a bad spot & you have a good spot to play the contract , go for the gusto. As some of my old rubber Bridge players used to say in these types of auctions. You do not like money ??? Go for the throat first & your nv contract 2^nd.

Bidding partner’s hand is used in all balancing auctions. Why are they passing the auction out at the one level or two level ? Quite often it is because partner is trapped by their opening bid or pre-empt. It is imperative to choose your balancing bid wisely or you are just rescuing the opponents. Note your controls not HCP’s when choosing a double. When you have defense measured in controls , bid partner’s hand for her by making a balancing double.

Placing specific cards in partners hand is generally not a good practice. However , you can bid partner’s 2 ½ quick tricks she has shown by opening the bidding. Sometimes you have so many HCP’s yourself , you can fill in the blanks with these controls that partner announced by opening the bidding. You do not need to have the opponents set in your own hand , or game in your hand or slam in your hand to take these Bridge actions. You bid partner’s hand also when she opens the bidding. Modern garbage openers do not have this luxury & believe me it hurts them in competitive decisions. Ownership & balancing are two hand evaluation concepts which should be ingrained in every good Bridge player.