FORCING PASSES  

GENE SIMPSON 1999

You have all heard this phrase before, but what does it really mean?

Forcing passes apply when your side bids a game or higher and the other side sacrifices.
So you say "How do I know they are sacrificing?"

The following rules apply.

  1. You bid a vulnerable game
  2.  You bid a non vulnerable game and are not forced into it
  3. The opponents have preempted


FIVE LEVEL

Traditional discussion says you double at the 5 level with 2 losers in their suit, but this is not completly accurate.

Five level bids by opponents present you with the following choices of actions.

  1.  Pass and Pull Double This is a slam try
  2.  Bid 5 Directly This shows the second best hand
  3.  Pass. This shows the third best hand
  4.  Double This shows the Worse hand
Very few situations encourage the Pass & Pull, but you need to know the parameters for this bid.
 
 
1S 3 4 5
P P X P
5

 
A Void A K Q x K A
K x Q x x Q x
x x x x x x
x x x x x x
x
On this hand you do not know if partner has wasted heart cards, so you want to show the best possible hand you can show. If partner doubles and you bid 5 spades and expect partner to bid slam with no wasted values. Alternatively you could cuebid 6 hearts looking for a grand slam.

When partner bids 5 spades as a Pass & Pull action after you double and you hold this hand you will pass because of the wasted heart values.
 
Q K K x
x J Q x
x x x
x x

BIDDING 5

You bid 5 when you have extra values, but not necessarily many extra values. Remember at IMP's you may need to just take your plus score. Conditions of contest always apply to your bidding methods.
 
K K A
Q Q x
x x x
x x x
Bid 5 spades and hope for the best.

 
A x J K
x x x Q
x x x
x x
You have 2 top losers and hope they cannot get a diamond ruff.
A x A K
x x x Q
x x
x x
x
If partner bids 5 spades you bid slam, knowing he has extras and no wasted

This is a hand I held at the Portland Regional in 1999.
 
K Void A x
J K x
x Q x
x x
x
x
Auction:
1 2 3 P
4 P 4 5
P P ?

 
Partner held
A x x A
Q x x K
x x
x x
What would you do????

My partner, who was an inexperienced player passed and we collected Plus 200 for a Zero board at matchpoints. Partner said "I had no heart cards and so many spades that I was afraid we could not se their contract." Don't be afraid, If it makes because of Wacky Distribution, which it will some of the time, you will win 90% of the time by doubling.

PASSING The third option

This bid, or non bid tells partner you have extra values for the auction, but "I do not have enough to bid at the 5 level." When should you pass???
 
A A K Q
Q x Q x
x x x
x x
1.  Wasted Aces in the opponents suit.

Sometimes partner has a void in thier suit
A x A x
Q K x
x x
x x
x
x
2.  Distibutional hand with some extra values.
A x A x
Q x K x
x x x
x
x
3.  Extra values with no Distribution.
K Void A x
x J x
x x x
x x x
Hand # 1 Above

Parnter will bid quite strongly with this hand, knowing we have a fit.
But must be warned that we cannot go plus past the 5 level.

DOUBLE

Use the double when you have a minimum for your previous bidding or when you have wasted values in the opponents suit. This is the most discouraging bid for partner and he should generally pass. He could bid on with slam interest or very distributional hand patterns.
 
A A x x
Q Q x x
x x x
x
x
Auction:
1 3 4 5
?
You want nothing to do with a 5 Spade call. You can see how the Old Rule of
 Doubling with 2 losers DOES NOT APPLY.
 
You would also double with:
K x K Q
Q x Q x
x x x
x
x
This minimum hand has 2 losers in the opponents suit.
Partner will hold
 
A x x A
x x K
x x x
x x
x
or
A x J A
x x J
x x x
x x x
The 5 level is risky so we must take our Plus Score.

SIX LEVEL

At the six Level the Rules become clearer.
 

  1.  Pass with less than 2 losers in the opponents suit.
  2.  Double with 2 or More losers, unless partner has shown first or second round control.


SEVEN LEVEL

  1.  Pass with First Round control or the opponents suit.
  2. Double with 1 or more loser, unless partner has shown first round control.

 Gene Simpsons Top 25 Rules For Winning

      25.  Make Takeout Doubles
      24.  Overcall light at one level
      23.  Understand forcing passes
      22.  Balance
      21.  Know when and what kind of gerber you are playing
      20.  Hold up when you hold the trump ace
      19.  Don't overruff with sure trump winner
      18.   Give partner their ruff-he/she will appreciate this
      17.  Return partners lead unless you know what to do
      16.  Don't lead aces
      15.  Don't underlead aces
      14.  Show distribution first
      13.  Know your methods
      12.  Learn basics
      11.  Keep head above table
      10.  Hold hand back-especially against pros
      9.  Count winners and loser on every hand
      8.  Don't overthink
      7.  Forget last hand
      6.  Table time
      5.  Read bridge books
      4.  Concentrate
      3.  Use your instincts
      2.  Count-Count-Count
      1.   Pick a good partner or teammates-hire a professional

 

Contact Gene Simpson via gsimpson@gte.net, please let him Know I sent you.