Friday, August-22-08

 

Hand Evaluation –  Forcing Passes ( Penalty Doubles )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            All good Bridge players are aware that a penalty double or penalty conversion turn on forcing passes for one round. The reason behind this treatment is so that their rescue sequences can also be doubled by either partner or  forcing passes  prevents your own partner from rescuing the opponents from disaster. Let’s take a simple example . You have ♠AKxxx ♥Ax ♦AKxx ♣xx & open 1♠ nv & Mr. Willard overcalls 2♣ all pass & around to you. You double  & partner converts for penalty. It is a Bridge axiom that you do not double ( or convert ) the only contract you can beat . Therefore, responder has values & her action has turned on forcing passes. Mr. Fowlie now bids 2♥ so do you bid 3♦ in case 2♥ gets passed out  when you hold 18 HCP ? Of course not , as your pass is forcing one round. Rescuing the opponents when you have a big hand is absurd. Partner has turned on forcing passes when she converted for penalty. You get out of the way for partner to double when she can double. Partner does double & you collect your +1100 & on to the next hand. Forcing passes must be turned on with penalty doubles or the opponents will always escape their fate. What if responder does not have hearts ? She makes a bid & you get to your best contract eventually.

 

           Same forcing pass idea when you make a penalty double of their 1NT contract. Forcing passes are on thru the 2 level by default. This idea allows you to punish the opponents from either side. Say the opponents run to 2♠ after you double 1NT & partner has 10 HCP with a doubleton spade. Partner's initial double shows "cards" so that you can convert & pass with your ♠KQJ10 . Partner does not rescue them just because she has HCP's , that is silly. What if partner has ♠KQJ10 ? The pass is forcing so you must re-open with a double & now she converts. You have them coming & going.

 

         A "grey area" that is not discussed much is doubling of toys ( Michaels , Unusual NT , sandwich NT , Capelletti etc ) . We feel that when you double their toys you are saying we own this auction for at least for this level anyway. Forcing passes should be turned on for one round in these auctions also. Say you have an intermediate to strong hand 16-20 HCP & you open with partner responding with 6 HCP. You side has a minimum of 22 HCP to a maximum of 26 HCP. Your RHO bids a sandwich NT so you double with a hand in that 16-20 range. Your double should turn on forcing passes or they may escape their fate . Say you hit a home run & responder has 13 HCP's . They run to 2♦ one of the suits advertised by the sandwich NT bidder. Should responder now rescue the opponents with her 13 HCP because she does not have diamonds  ? They are heading for a possible -1400 when you have diamonds ! Responders pass is forcing one round & they have landed in your 4 card diamond suit for a horrible set. You do not have the luxury of changing your mind after you doubled 1NT initially. You doubled saying that we own this auction so you must bid again. When responder is weak , she should bid in front of your double. Say responder has a 13 HCP hand with a fit for you but no convenient Q bid. She can use the "pass & pull" aspect of forcing pass theory. All the above advantages stems from a simple Bridge rule that has been in effect since the 1930's , penalty doubles turn on forcing passes for one round. A double of a toy or a sandwich NT is in effect a penalty double. Discuss with partner.

 

          When you double a Michaels or an unusual NT , you say you have HCP's & one or both of their suits. They now bid the suit you do not have so you can make a forcing pass around to partner in case she has their suit. If forcing passes were not turned on with your initial double , they could steal your side blind when you own the auction.  A double is an informative bid showing enough HCP's to "own the auction" for the level in which it was made. What if you pass first & double later ? I like this to be a competitive double saying I just do not want the auction to die. I would have doubled earlier when I had a hand good enough to turn on forcing passes initially.