Sunday, January 29, 2006 8:26 AM

Hand Evaluation – Forcing Pass ( Game Force Auctions )

PITBULLS:

Do not forget when partner makes a strong bid like a reverse , strong jump shift or a 2NT rebid , this action turns on forcing pass theory when the opponents interfere. Forcing pass theory takes precedence over D.S.I.P. competitive double theory as this is not a competitive auction, you just have an intruder in your midst. This is the classic example of switching modes from D.S.I.P. theory to forcing pass theory.

NV vrs vul I opened 1♣ , my partner responded 1♠ . I rebid 2NT but LHO entered the auction with 3♣. Even when you are light for your response , the 2NT bid turned on forcing passes as we are on a game force. My partner held ♠1098xxx ♥Kxx ♦A10xx ♣void so what are his options ? A double is penalty saying that I have club values or I just think this is the best spot to get a plus. A pass says that I prefer offensive action , but if you do double them I will abide by your decision. A bid says I strongly prefer offensive action so we are ignoring the intruder. Of course , pass & pull is the slam try as is a Q bid.

With my partner’s hand I would make a forcing pass & abide by partners decision. They are vul vrs not , he has 1 ½ defensive tricks with them bidding partner’s suit at the 3 level. I have an easy decision after the forcing pass. ♠AKx ♥AJ10x ♦Kxx ♣K109 since I have 7 HCP’s , length in spades , minimum length in clubs with a finessible honour , I will abide by partners preference to take offensive action. Partner prefers offensive action so I will use his judgment in making my decision. I will bid 3♠ , partner will bid 4♠ which gets us +450. 3♣X only gets us +200 so a zero on the board. Do not forget that a forcing pass is a bid that is conveying information to me re partners hand type.

Change partner’s hand slightly just by taking away one spade & adding a club. ♠1098xx ♥Kxx ♦A10xx ♣x with this hand I would double 3♣ as there is no guarantee of a game .The spades could be breaking very badly. We have a club loser , a diamond loser & a possibility of 2 spade losers with a bad spade break. The double is not a command that I pass but it is partner’s preference. I will make the final decision depending on my club holding . I pass so victory with +200 so thank you opponent !

Change partner’s hand to ♠Q1098xx ♥Kxx ♦AQxx ♣void , he has a pass & pull slam try. With a lesser hand he could have made a direct Q bid as a slam try. Do not forget the “step responses” in forcing pass theory. The opponents have given you an opportunity to describe your hand within 5 levels of strength as per forcing pass theory. Take advantage of forcing pass theory to base your Bridge decisions & watch your bidding accuracy improve immensely. You might even will prefer to have Steve Willard , Ray Grace and Osama in your auction , so you can describe your hand better J