Let's play a game. The name of the game is "Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?"
We've played this before in this post:
Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?
I will give you a bid and you have to tell me whether or not it is a Non-Forcing bid (Partner is allowed to Pass the bid), a One Round Forcing bid (Partner must respond at least one more time) or a Game Forcing bid (neither Partner can Pass until a game is reached)
Bid 1
Opener
Responder
1♦
1♥
1♠
Is Opener’s bid of 1♠ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 2
Opener
Responder
1♥
1♠
2♥
Is Opener’s bid of 2♥ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 3
Opener
Responder
1♥
2♣
2♥
Is Opener’s bid of 2♥ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 4
Opener
Responder
1♥
1♠
2♦
Is Opener’s bid of 2♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 5
Opener
Responder
1♥
2♣
2♦
Is Opener’s bid of 2♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 6
Opener
Responder
1♥
1♠
3♦
Is Opener’s bid of 3♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 7
Opener
Responder
1♦
1♥
1NT
2♠
Is Responder’s bid of 2♠ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 8
Opener
Responder
1♦
1♥
1NT
2♣
Is Responder’s bid of 2♣ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 9
Opener
Responder
1♦
1♥
1NT
3♣
Is Responder’s bid of 3♣ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
Bid 10
Opener
Responder
1♦
1♥
1NT
3♦
Is Responder’s bid of 3♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?
WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.
Please read these posts first to learn a little bit about pre-emptive bidding:
Pre-emptive Bidding -- An IntroductionResponding to a Weak 2
When Partner pre-empts and you have good trump support but a weakish hand you should UP the PRE-EMPT. That means make it even MORE difficult for the Opponents to figure things out.
For instance Partner opens 2♠, RHO Passes (or Doubles or even Overcalls) and you hold:
♠K765
♥J4
♦2
♣QJT832
What do you bid?
Well if you said "Pass" because you are not going to make a game you are sort of right. You are probably NOT going to make a game. But guess who is?
That's right. Your Opponents. They've got to be making at least 4♥.
But they are not in the auction yet. Or if they are in the auction they don't really know what is going on. Want to make life VERY difficult for your LHO? Bid 4♠. Now they have a tough bid. Maybe you are bidding game because you will make it. They don't know. Maybe they will Pass and let you play in 4♠. Sure you will go down one or two but you probably won't be doubled. They might not even figure out they can make a game.
But if you Pass Partner's 2♠ bid it is easy for LHO to come in with either a Double or an Overcall. Now they will find their contract.
Once they know they have game, if you then bid 4♠ it is easy for them to know what to do. They will either Double you in your game or bid 5♥ and make that. It is easy once you give them room to explore.
So when Partner opens and you have a weakish hand, raise them to your LAW level. That means raise them to the same level of the number of trumps you hold between the two of you.
So if Partner opens a weak 2 they have six trump. If you have three trump raise them to the 3 level. If you have four trump raise them to the 4 level.
Let's practice. Partner opens the bidding 2♠. RHO Passes (or Doubles or even Overcalls). What is your bid?
Hand 1
WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.
Please read these posts first to learn a little bit about pre-emptive bidding:
Pre-emptive Bidding -- An IntroductionResponding to a Weak 2
Question: Does vulnerability make a difference when making a pre-emptive bid? Why does that even matter?
Answer: Vulnerability is HUGE! The reason for that is the scoring. First check out my post on:
How to Score at Matchpoints
Now let's see what happens if you go down in your contract. This is the amount of points you give your Opponents if you go down in your contract.
# Tricks you went DOWN in your contract
Non-Vulnerable
Vulnerable
1
50
100
2
100
200
3
150
300
Now let's see what happens if you go down in your contract and the Opponents DOUBLE you.
# Tricks you went DOWN in your contract DOUBLED
Non-Vulnerable
Vulnerable
1
100
200
2
300
500
3
500
800
The BIG number on both these charts is the minus 200.
Minus 200 is a score you never want to get in matchpoints.
Why? Because if you give away 200 points to the Opponents that is a number they will never get for any part score they bid.
Sometimes making a pre-emptive bid means you "steal" the contract from the Opponents. So they were going to bid on the contract but you stopped them because you bid too high, too fast for them. This generally means that you will not make your contract. After all, it should not have been yours. The Opponents have the majority of the points. You were just bidding because you had length in your suit. So now let's look at what would happen if you did NOT steal the contract from the Opponents. Rather you had let them bid instead. How many points would you have given away?
If you let them bid 2♠ and take 9 tricks they will get 140 points. Even if they bid 2♠ and take 10 tricks they will still get only 170 points. Neither of these scores beats giving them 200 points. If the Opponents could be in a minor suit (say 3♣) even if they take all 13 tricks they only score 190 points. You would rather give them 190 points versus 200 points.
That means that unless the rest of the Opponents can not only bid but also make a game if you give your Opponents 200 points you will get a bad score at matchpoints. You were better off NOT bidding and just letting them play in their part-score.
That also means that if you go down 2 in your vulnerable contract that is a bad result for you unless the other Opponents bid and make a game.
If the Opponents manage to double you in your vulnerable contract and you just go down 1 trick that is a bad result for you unless others bid and make a game.
What about if the Opponents can bid and make a game?
Well now you need to check out the Opponents vulnerability. If they Opponents are NOT vulnerable (but you are) then you are allowed to go down only one doubled. If the Opponents double you and you go down two tricks the Opponents score 500 points. If they can bid and make 3NT they would only score 400 points since they are not vulnerable. If they can bid 4♥ and take 11 tricks they only score 450 points since they are not vulnerable.
So here's a chart:
Opponents Vulnerability
You are Non-Vulnerable
You are Vulnerable
You are Non-Vulnerablebut DOUBLED
You are Vulnerableand DOUBLED
Non-Vulnerable
You can go down one for sure -- that's only 50 points and that will beat any part-score.If you can go down two you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor
If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you.
If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you.
If you can go down one you'd better make sure the rest of the Opponents can bid and make a game. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents need to bid and make a slam for this to be good for you. Very unlikely.
Vulnerable
You can go down one for sure -- that's only 50 points and that will beat any part-score.If you can go down two you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor
If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you.
If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two or three the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you. Going down four will be bad.
If you can go down one you'd better make sure the rest of the Opponents can bid and make a game. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you. Going down three will be bad.
That's an INCREDIBLY difficult chart to memorize!
This is true. Don't bother. Here's an easier way to think of it:
Vulnerability
Meaning
Therefore
FAVOURABLE vulnerability
YOU are not vulnerable but the Opponents are vulnerable
You can go down THREE
EVEN vulnerability
You have the same vulnerability as the Opponents -- either both non-vulnerable or both vulnerable
You can go down TWO
UNFAVOURABLE vulnerability
YOU are vulnerable but the Opponents are not vulnerable
You can go down only ONE
In general just remember that if you are VULNERABLE make sure you have a GOOD suit and be a little more timid in the bidding. You shouldn't get into too much trouble that way.
