The next example auction is a situation which comes up frequently. The hand will continue to illustrate how to think of bids as either forcing or non-forcing.
You hold as East:
♠7
♥876
♦QJ5
♣KQ6543
The auction begins:
W N E S
1S P ?
What do you bid and why?
The first bid that many players consider with this hand is 2C. The hand has good clubs, clubs are the primary feature of the hand, and responding in clubs is the most natural looking bid. However, the bid of 2C is a forcing bid and opener will expect 10 or more HCPs from responder. In bidding 2C’s responder coerces opener into a mindset of looking for the best game or possibly slam. Responder’s actual hand really only has the strength to warrant a dialogue for the best part score. Opposite a minimum opener the partnership could easily contract at too high a level if the responder overbids their hand with a 2C response.
A 1NT bid by Responder shows less than 10HCPs and less than 3 spades. A 1NT bid aligns the partnership in the search of level since it is non-forcing bid. Should the responder get another chance they can offer up clubs as a possible strain.
The message of this hand:
When responder bids 1NT after their partner opens 1 of a major (1H-1NT or 1S-1NT) the response is a non-forcing bid. The responder is showing a hand with less than 10 HCP’s less, than three cards in partners major, and also does not promise a balanced hand. With a long suit and less than 10 HCP’s it is better to limit the strength of the hand and create a non-forcing auction by responding 1NT then to overbid the strength of the hand to show a long suit.
Let us look at how to think about the concept of Forcing and Non-Forcing bids by looking at practical auction:
You hold the following cards in the East position.
♠KQJ6
♥AQ6
♦K5
♣J643
The auction begins with your partner Opening 1C:
W N E S
1C
Is the 1C a forcing bid?
1C is a non-forcing bid. Responder is allowed to pass as the opener is limited to a range of about 11-21 HCP.
The auction continues:
W N E S
1C P 1S
Is the 1S bid forcing?
1S is a forcing bid. This bid is forcing because the bid is unlimited.
The auction continues:
W N E S
1C P 1S P
1NT
Is the 1NT bid forcing?
1NT is a non-forcing bid. The opener is showing a limited hand with 12-14 HCPs. A responder without a strong enough hand to invite to game opposite a 14 HCP balanced hand is allowed to pass.
The auction continues:
W N E S
1C P 1S P
1NT P ?
Responder has 16HCP. Opposite a 12-14 HCP hand, responder knows that the partnership belongs in a game contract. This means that the responder must choose a bid that is forcing (or a game contract) and must avoid making a (non-game) rebid that is non-forcing.
For example the east player must discard the choices of bidding 2C or 2NT because these bids are non-forcing.
The basic building block of bidding is the concept of forcing bids and non-forcing bids. Every bid can be defined as either forcing or non-forcing, and every bid that a player chooses to make in an auction should be influenced by this concept.
All bids are either forcing on non-forcing. Partner must make a legal bid or is allowed to pass. There is no in-between.
What about invitational bids?
Invitational bids can be passed and therefore are non-forcing.
Hello, my name is Corey Krantz and I am a professional bridge player and teacher from Philadelphia.
In this blog I plan on identifying and discussing bridge topics to help advancing players improve their game.
There are a many of bridge concepts that are commonly misunderstood and can be easily clarified. Additionally, there are many bridge concepts that are not discussed enough or at great enough length. Exposure to these concepts can exponentially increase ones understanding and enjoyment of the game.
In the first posts I will embark on discussing some philosophical ideas that will clarify and simplify many auctions.