M J Bridge
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♣
Bidding
Creating forcing situations
This is something of a revision page, pulling together various themes from elsewhere.
One of the earliest lessons after moving on from the ranks of the beginners is not to jump to game too quickly. This is particularly the case if either the optimum strain is not obvious, or if there is still the possibility of bigger and better things.
Equally you will have become aware of those occasions when it is of paramount importance that you bid rapidly to dizzy heights before the opponents find their contract. This will be most likely when a suit-
Sometimes it is not clear in which of these categories a given hand belongs -
On many more hands, you will have to take it slowly as you do not yet know how far you wish to go, but you aren’t ready just yet to shut up shop and go quietly.
It is to cover some of these situations that certain bids or certain sequences are described as forcing, so that you may remain confident that partner will not leave you stranded. It is vital that you understand which bids constitute your ‘forcing’ armoury, and also that you and your partner are agreed on just how forcing these bids are (in particular -
If you or your partner opened with 1NT, 2NT or an artificial 2NT sequence
then these forcing situations are created initially by responder’s use of either Stayman or a transfer bid. The continuations are to be found in the appropriate sections.
If you opened with a strong two-
then that is in itself forcing for at least one round. There will be various options for maintaining a forcing situation in the subsequent auction.
You or your partner opened one of a suit
The most important situations here are when you locate an immediate major-
On these hands we have agreed that various direct raises are either weak or invitational but are always non-
If you need to make enquiries then there are a number of ‘support’ options which can be found in the sections on responder’s first bid and on opener’s rebid. Each of these will be associated with a number of trial bids, cue-
It is possible to play the 2NT bid by advancer (facing partner’s overcall) as a support bid in a similar manner, except that it is only forcing ‘to the three-
This method is not unknown but it is far from universal, and should be agreed specifically with partner if you wish to go down this route.
Far more common is to use the unassuming cue-
Non-
I am only referring at this point to those auctions in which the final denomination is either not clear to responder, or is in any case not that already agreed by partner. It is possible that a good suit fit is still there, waiting to come to light.
Responder’s first bid constitutes the first opportunity to make a wait-
Forcing on opener’s rebid
Jump in a new suit
This bid is usually used by opener on his rebid. It is unconditionally forcing to game. Typically it shows a hand of about nineteen points.
This bid can also be used at any point later in the auction, provided that it does not qualify as a splinter bid because the simple bid of the suit would have been forcing. Note however that if you have adopted fit-
New suit (third suit)
With up to about eighteen points opener will not be quite strong enough to force to game when responder changes suit at the one-
If the hand is balanced or single-
It is with two-
The problem is solved by moving the onus to responder.
Opener’s non-
If his first response was at the one-
That is to say, he can pass with six points (or a miserable seven) but with anything more than this he must find a further bid facing a possible eighteen points.
Frequently this will involve a ‘false preference’ as a means of keeping the bidding alive.
Even if the partnership finishes in two of opener’s first suit on eleven points facing eight and a 5-
If the first response was at the two-
Beginner and above
If opener’s rebid constituted a reverse then how forcing it is will depend upon the partnership agreement.
Playing a traditional strong reverse (minimum sixteen points or so), such a bid following a first response at the one-
Playing the alternative non-
♠
♥
♦
♣
K J T 2
K
A K T 9 5
K Q 4
Bid 2♠.
You have sixteen points, even if you choose to discount the singleton ♥K.
Playing a non-
Playing a strong reverse the auction is now game-
You |
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Pard |
RHO |
1♦ |
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2♣ |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
8 4
Q J 7 5 3
A K
K Q T 2
Enough for game.
Bid 3♣. -
Give partner the opportunity to support hearts, show a spade stop, support clubs, or rebid his diamonds.
You |
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
1♥ |
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2♦ |
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Very occasionally, such bids will have to be made on a non-
When opener holds seventeen or eighteen points in a hand unsuitable for a jump in his first suit, a rebid in no trumps, or a strong reverse then he might not be strong enough for game facing a one-
First of all he should make an ‘all but forcing’ bid in a new suit, and provided that partner finds a rebid he should then make a further bid.
If partner fails to make a rebid then he has six or a miserable seven points at best, and game is unlikely to be missed.
If partner can dredge up anything at all then your further bid will show your seventeen or eighteen points, and will usually define your hand-
If this further bid is in no trumps or in a previously bid suit it will not be forcing but it will be highly encouraging and responder will usually accept the invitation with eight or more points.
♠
♥
♦
♣
8 4
Q J 7 5 3
A K T
K Q 2
Assuming that you chose not to open with 1NT you now have a choice.
3NT and 4♥ are your target contracts.
My choice is 2NT (forcing facing the two-
If partner is so inconsiderate as to raise your clubs then you will have to retreat to diamonds.
You |
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
1♥ |
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2♦ |
- |
? |
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The Opponents join in
Once the opponents have joined in then space has been lost, but alternative bids have been created.
A simple change of suit by responder is still available as a forcing bid.
2NT is still available as a good raise if partner’s suit was a major, or if the opponents doubled. However, this bid is now usually played as ‘forcing to three of partner’s suit or higher’ in the contested auction rather than game-
A jump in the opponents’ suit is available as a splinter bid.
Double will frequently be available as a constructive though not quite forcing option.
As a simple method, a lowest-
However, it should be noted that when used as a first response, or by advancer at his first opportunity, it is more useful to keep this as some kind of support bid for partner.
Note that it is no longer mandatory to make a first response with only six points. Partner will have the opportunity to bid again. In this situation, if you don’t have anything to say then don’t say it.
The auction continues
In general, by the time we reach this point we will frequently be searching for a slam and the continuations will be specific to that situation.
New suit following suit agreement
Once a suit has been agreed then any bid in a new suit will be at least a one-
It might be played as natural, or as any type of trial-
Fourth suit forcing
If a fit has not been established then three suits will have been bid and the fourth suit will be available as a forcing option.
The most common option will be to play it as a request to partner to bid in no trumps if holding a stop (or perhaps a partial stop) in the fourth suit.
But it is potentially a far more powerful weapon than this.
In particular, a bid in the fourth suit followed by a further bid either in responder’s suit or in one of opener’s suits will be forcing and stronger than any form of direct raise in that suit.
Frequently this will be the means of setting a suit as a precursor to a slam-
♠
♥
♦
♣
Q 4
Q J 7 5 3
A K T 2
A Q
2♥ might be no more than a reluctant or false preference on no better than a two-
Bid 2NT, promising seventeen or eighteen points and suggesting a hand as balanced as it could be for the bidding to date (5-
You |
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
1♥ |
- |
1♠ |
- |
2♦ |
- |
2♥ |
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? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
A K T 9 5
K J T 2
K
K Q 4
You won’t stop short of game, but which game?
Bid 2♥.
Following a change of suit response at the two-
You |
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
1♠ |
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2♦ |
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? |
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This page last updated 10th Dec 2019
♠
♥
♦
♣
K
A K T 9 5
K J T 2
K Q 4
2♦ would be ‘all but forcing’, but not quite.
You cannot allow partner the opportunity to drop the auction short of game.
Bid 3♦ -
You |
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
1♥ |
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1♠ |
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♠
♥
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♣
T 5
A K Q 8 6 5 3
8 2
A K
You want to investigate a slam -
Bid 2♣ (fourth suit). When you then revert to hearts you will then have set the suit, forced to game, and shown at least a slam interest.
You |
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
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1♦ |
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1♥ |
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1♠ |
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Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |