CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

THE BACKBONE OF THE FORCING SYSTEM. (By ELY CULBERTSON.) I have frequently referred to the forcing takeout as the backbone of the forcing system. There are other principles of almost equal importance,, but the foundation of the syeteiu and the reasons for its success are the principles of approaching with low-suit bids so that as many roads as possible may be explored, responding with forcing I take-outs when the responding hand, in view of the strength already shown by his partner'* opening bid, feels sure that game 'is a near certainty, and using the minimum no trump for the purpose of disclosing that the full stoiy of honour and distributional strength has been told in regard to

the hand. Contrasted with the opening bid of two in a suit, the forcing take-out is based on known facts. The opening bid of two ill a suit, no matter how well safeguarded it may be, is a lea]) in the dark. Partner may hold the dreaded bii<?.t, and it is for tills reason that an opening bid of two in a suit, which requires partner to respond until a game contract is reached, must have a very firm I foundation in honour and playing tricks to justify its use. On the other hand, the forcing take-out, if wieely used, should rarely be a .'osing bid. It is based upon known facts—first that partner has the.■honour trick strength to make an opening bid. This discloses a minimum of two half honour tricks. When partner of the opening bidder holds three or slightly more than three honour tricks he knows that game is almost certain, provided the partners can ascertain the best road to game. A forcing take-out is a bid of more than necessary in a suit to overeall the last previous bid, provided partner and not opponents have opened the bidding. The hand below, which was sent to me by a friend in Vancouver, British Columbia, illustrates how safely not only game but a slfim contract was renrVWl through its use: A—9 «p—K QJ 3 2 ' • $— A Q 9 *—A Q7 6 A—A 10 5 i n A—Q 364 3 2 «f—lo 654 L E V—9 7 o—lo 3 2 c ❖—J 7 #—10 9 3 ! 1 #— J 8 5. A—K J 7 V-α 8 $—K8 6 5 4 *>— K 4 2 The Bidding.

(Figures lifter bids in tiible refer to numbered explanatory paragraphs.) South West North East 1 Pass 2 V (1) Pass 2 NT..(2) Pass 3 & Pass 3 N.T. (3) Pass 4 0 (4) Pass 4N.T. (5) Pass 6 $ (f) Pass Pass Pass I.—"Keep the bidding open, partner. We have frame here somewhere. It , : .s either an Diamonds, in Hearts in no tnfmp or in a suit yet to bo disclosed." 2,—Sonth'a hand is practically a minimum, although there is half honour trick above a bare opening bid. 3. — Again denying re-bid values. 4.— For the first time disclosing assistance for the Diamond suit. s.—When South hears North's strong; bidding and knows that part of it is based on Diamond strength, he for the first time becomes interested in slam possibilities. The bid of four no trump discloses additional strength as contrasted with his former bids of no trump which denied them. (i.—Soutli's last bid emboldened North to bid for s'ain, There is nothing at all difficult in the play of the hand. Wcvt opened the Ace of Spades, and. if he had not done so, South would have made an over-trick, as all suits except the Spades were solid in the North and South hands.