Wednesday, August 16, 2006 1:09 AM
Hand Evaluation – Forcing Pass ( Ownership)
PITBULLS:
Forcing passes apply when you own the auction. Ownership is a hand
evaluation concept where entire books have been written on the subject.
Ownership is not the sole domain of the opening bid side. After a T/O double
, one side can own the auction. After an overcall or
even a pre-empt by your side , you can end up
owning the auction. After a negative or
conventional double , your side can own the auction.
Even after an initial competitive double , your side
can eventually own the auction. There are multiple situations where it is obvious you own the
auction after an opening bid, therefore forcing passes are turned on. There are
some more subtle auctions which
turn on forcing passes involving the 2 level overcall with game
reached by your side. The two level overcall & forcing passes
were never a mix in the early days of Bridge. This was because an overcall at the two level was
never a good enough hand to warrant considering
forcing pass theory.
In the modern game
, a two level overcall has
respect on every vulnerability
except nv vrs vul.
After a two level overcall , a new suit by partner causes forcing passes
to kick in when your side reaches game. You have reached game on a strong auction so
this should be enough to say you
own the auction when & if the opponents crawl in. The forcing pass should
not be restricted just to the opening bidders
side. The overcalls & T/O double side
can eventually own the auction.
When partner just raises your suit after a 2 level overcall
with you bidding game , forcing passes are not turned on. The game bidder is just captain of the auction. When the overcaller’s
partner Q bids first or makes another strong
bid ,
forcing pass theory applies so both partners can get in on the act. A new
situation came up tonight involving either D.S.I.P. or snapdragon doubles after a two
level overcall. My partner overcalled a 1♥ opening bid
with 2♦ , RHO bid 2♠.
I made a “snapdragon double” with ♠Ax
♥xxx ♦Jx ♣A109xxx which shows defense , the unbid suit with
tolerance for partners suit. LHO jumped to 4♥ , partner bid 5♦ so passed
around to the opener who doubled. RHO pulled to 5♥ so is forcing
pass theory applicable ? Yes, it
is. A two level overcall with some strength
showing double at the two level should be
enough to say you own this auction.
Partner may have a void in hearts , so you make a
forcing pass saying you are amenable to a 6♦ bid. Partner on
this hand says thanks but no thanks so just doubles. You only beat the contract
two but the partner who was in a better
position to make the decision was the captain of the ship due to
forcing pass theory.
Essentially forcing pass theory applies when it is clear that you own the hand. In some cases , game
must be bid by either side before it kicks
in. You must have your ear to the bidding so finely tuned to pick up the auctions that
forcing pass theory applies . In other words analyze the auction while in
progress. Ownership is a broad concept
so even the following auctions turn on forcing
passes
·
An opening bid that shows forcing
to game strength
· An overcall that subsequently shows strength by doubling or Q bidding & game is reached
· A T/O double that forces to game with a Q bid or multiple doubles
· A weak two or pre-empt where partner shows strength initially via a 2NT bid or Q bid than drives to game vul vrs not
· A leap to game vul vrs not ( Kantar vrs Kokish ) Captaincy applies otherwise.
· Direct Q bids after a pre-empt by the opposition 3♥-4♥-P-
· Strength showing conventional doubles & your side reaches game 1♠-2♣-X-P 2♥-P-4♥
·
Pre-emptive bidding by their side
& you reach game