Monday, February 20, 2006 2:19 AM
Hand Evaluation - Kokish Forcing Passes
PITBULLS:
Some guidelines for partnership discussion
sent to me from Eric Kokish:
“A pass is forcing when. . .
(1) The partnership is in a game-forcing
auction.
(2) An invitational bid has been accepted.
(3) A bid is forcing to a particular level not yet reached.
(4) A strong two-bid has been opened by our
side (however, a 2NT bid, because it is limited does
not create a force).
(5) The partnership has VOLUNTARILY bid game after an adverse preemptive opening
bid or
overcall. . .
EXCEPTIONS:
(a) the opponents open with a game preempt, direct overcalls create a force
only if VUL vs NONVUL, e.g.
4H-4S-5H-Pass ... not
forcing except VUL vs NONVUL
(b) after an opening bid, a preemptive jump overcall forces responder to bid
game in another suit, e.g.
1C-3S-4H-4S ... Pass ...
not forcing except VUL vs NONVUL. ( Do
not agree, should be an exception only on the terrorist vul
, Bob C)
(c) after
an opening of 1H or 1S and a preemptive jump overcall, responder
jumps to game instead of cue-bidding
(6) The sound
of bidding makes it so: if your opponents are willing to play a part
score and finally bid
a game after you have voluntarily bid a game.
When a pass is forcing, either the opponents
play a contract doubled or you play the hand.
Forcing passes at high levels express doubt, double suggests playing for
penalty, bidding "one
more" suggests primarily distributional extra values, and
passing, then pulling a double when
a suit is agreed suggests slam possibilities but when a suit is not
agreed suggests a flexible
hand.
Hopeless
hands must double in
"forcing pass" auctions to warn partner against bidding.
When two
passed hands get to game after your side has VOLUNTARILY bid game, a
forcing pass
is always in effect. When THIRD
HAND preempts 3C, 3D, 4C or 4D, fourth hand doubles, and responder raises to
game, forcing passes are on unless they (the preemptors) are VUL and
you are NONVUL;
e.g. Pass-Pass-3D-DBL; 5D-Pass.....forcing