Hand of the day #727
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This article was written by Larry Cohen and was originally published in Bridgerama+.
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I don’t love new bridge terms, but I’d like to start to throw around “PA” – to mean “Partnership Agreement.”
Many areas of bridge have no “standard.” It is just a matter of how you and your partner agree to play. Here are some examples:
Without discussion, there is no way to know if East’s 2♥ is weak or strong.
Without discussion, there is no way to know if West’s 2♠ is Natural or a Michaels’ cue-bid.
Without discussion, there is no way to know if East’s 3♦ is meant as weak, invitational, or forcing.
Without discussion, there is no way to know if West’s 3♠ is shortness, a control, or a second suit.
Without discussion, there is no way to know if East’s 3♦ is meant as weak, invitational, or forcing is invitational, weak or mixed.
Without discussion, there is no way to know if West’s 2♠ guarantees extra values or if it can be bid with a dead minimum.
I could list dozens more. Here is the point: There are many “non-standard” areas in bridge. Unless you and your partner make an agreement, there is simply no way to know if Player A is thinking one way and Player B is thinking the other.
Regarding “which way is better”, that would be like asking a politician his thoughts on whether or not to raise taxes. There are hundreds of conventions and treatments around. They all have their adherents, and they all have pros and cons. For example, I prefer 2♦ waiting after a strong 2♣ opener (I think it best to give opener room to describe). Others like 2♥ as a bust and still others like step/control responses (my least favorite). Rather than debate it, I just advise players to stick with what is comfortable to their partnership.
What about defensive carding? I teach “Standard.” I get asked “What about odd-even?” Or, “My teacher said that upside-down attitude is best.” My answer – the same: “PA.” Choose whatever you and your partner are comfortable with.
Keeping this in mind, let’s turn to the sometimes complex topic of when a bid is forcing.
Forcing or Non-Forcing?
How hard can it be? “Just tell us Larry, which bids are forcing, and which are not.” It is very hard. It requires study, memory and sometimes partnership agreement (PA).
Forcing versus Game Forcing
It is important to recognize the difference between Forcing (F) and Game Forcing (GF). “Forcing” (F) means your partner “cannot” pass the bid. If he does pass, he does so at his own peril. I might pass a forcing bid once a decade. Suppose my partner opens 1♣ and I dredge up a response with a very weak shapely hand. Partner (opener) now makes a forcing rebid (like a jumpshift) but I decide to bail out with a pass. I’d better be right! “Game Forcing” (GF) means neither partner can pass below game. I plan to break it down as follows:
Our opening bid, response and opener’s rebid (with no interference)ID
The obvious forcing opening bid (though not GF) is 2♣. Any other forcing opening bid would have to be conventional (such as Namyats or a special use for a 4NT opening).
I recommend a two-level response (in a new suit) to be played as GF. That ends any need to know what is forcing, because everything is forcing until game is reached.
But, even in “old-fashioned,” a two-level response (in a new suit) is forcing for one round.
A jump-shift to the two-level (for example, 1♣-2♥) is a matter of partnership agreement (if it is played as weak, it is not forcing; if a strong jump-shift, then it is GF). What about other responses? One-level responses (in a suit) are forcing (such as 1♣-1♥) and responses of 1NT are not (unless your partnership plays 1NT forcing after a major-suit opener). A response of 2NT or 3NT is a matter of partnership agreement.
A raise is certainly NF. Conventional raises (such as Bergen Raises or Splinter bids) are forcing if they are artificial bids; the opener will have to return eventually to the real trump suit.
Opener’s No-Trump rebid is NF (2NT after a one-level response is 18-19, but passable).
Opener’s bid (non-jumps and non-reverses) in a new suit is NF. For example: 1♣-1♥-1♠ or 1♦-1♠-2♣. While not forcing, these rebids do have a fairly wide range (up to about 17 or even 18).
Opener’s rebid of his own suit is NF (a jump rebid such as 1♦-1♠-3♦ is only invitational).
Opener’s raise of responder’s suit (such as 1♣-1♥-3♥) is NF (the higher the raise, the more the opener has). Opener’s artificial raises (such as a Splinter bid like 1♣-1♥-4♦) would obviously be forcing.
Opener’s reverse or jump-shift is forcing.
The fourth bid and beyond of our auction (with no interference)
Again, we assume no interference and that we are not in a 2/1 GF auction (where obviously we are forced until game is reached). Let’s start with auctions where our response is 1-of-a-suit.
Opener Rebids on the one-level in a new suit:
After 1 of a suit-1 of a suit, what if opener bids a 3rd suit? Let’s start where the third bid is still on the one-level. So, we are looking at these auctions: 1♣-1♦-1♥, 1♣-1♦-1♠ and 1♦-1♥-1♠. In all cases, responder’s bid of the 4th suit is forcing. So, in the auctions above, it would be 1♠, 2♥ and 2♣ respectively (though not all partnerships agree on 1♣-1♦-1♥-1♠). If responder bids anything but the 4th suit, it is not forcing. His bids of 1NT, 2NT or 3NT can end the auction. If he repeats his suit or raises opener’s suit (on any level), it can end the auction.
Larry is widely regarded as one of the world's best bridge teachers and is as close to a household name as you can probably get in the world of bridge. He has been named ACBL Player of the Year, ACBL Honorary Member of the Year, 2020 Hall of Famer, and has won a total of 25 National Bridge Tournaments. He’s also a regular contributor to bridge magazines and has written and produced many best-selling, award winning bridge books, cd’s/computer software, videos and webinars.
According to SAYC leaflet, 1C-2H is GF, invites to slam. So there is a standard of that bid. Without further agreement it should be counted that jump response is forcing to game.