The Expert Difference - Part II

310bridgeL

Knowing what is forcing.

Many club partnerships find it difficult to consistently bid minor suit contracts, chancing no trumps instead. Others languish in a game rather than a slam because in some situations they only have Blackwood as a forcing bid. Why?

One reason is perhaps the fear that a forcing bid might be passed, another is not knowing if partner will take a bid as forcing or not.

The better partnerships have rules of thumb or specific agreements as what is forcing and what is not.

Some simle ules you might discuss with your favourite partner are:

  • If partner can respond to a one level suit bid at the one level then he must not pass another one level suit bid so 1 club by opener, and 1 heart by partner followed by 1 spade by opener is forcing,

  • 2-level fourth-suit forcing is forcing to 2NT or 3 of a suit,

  • A new suit at the three level is forcing to 3NT or 4 of suit,

  • A weak hand does not fight with partner so 1H 1S, 2H 2S is forcing.

It is truly amazing how many even fail on the first rule of thumb and this severely limits communication and so encourages 'punting' by opener.

But you and your partner are better than this aren't you?

Enjoy your bridge.
R. Wells clubs diamonds Simple Tips with Big Impact hearts spades

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