[OleBerg]

In forcing-pass situations, you have the option of passing and then pulling partners expected double.

Where I play, the standard is, that when we have found a fit, passing and then pulling, has the same general meaning as the direct bid, just stronger. (With all the implications that contains.)

But what when we havent found a fit?

An example, inspired by another thread:

2♣ - (3♣) - Pass - (4♣)

???

What is the difference betweem a direct bid, and passing and pulling partners double?

[FrancesHinden]

This auction is different to most forcing pass auctions, because both hands are almost completely undefined. All we know is that opener has game forcing, or better, values and responder couldn't bid over 3C (whatever that may mean, depending on our agreements).

On this particular type of auction (intervention over a strong club before anyone has shown a suit) I have a special set of rules, which are not the same as in other auctions. Here it's far more important for opener to describe his hand than it is to differentiate between a 'strong' and a 'really really strong' hand. I play:

Double = balanced (the higher the level, the less strict my definition of 'balanced')
Suit bids = natural one-suiters (including the 'cue bid' e.g. 5C is natural here)
NT bids = natural (4NT here likely to be running diamonds with clubs stopped)
Pass = two- or three-suiter or penalties
Pass then bid if partner doubles = flexible hand, invites correction to another suit

If I pass, responder usually doubles.
If I double, responder is allowed to bid knowing I've got 23+ balanced(ish).

Obviously this depends a bit on the level; there's a world of difference between 2C (2D) P P x and 2C (2D) P (5D) x.

Similarly exactly what you do with a 2-suiter depends on the suits.
2C 3C P 4C P certainly invites partner to bid 4S on a very weak 6-card suit, so with a 1651 hand I would just bid 4H over 4C and get on with it; but with a 5521 I can pass 4C and bid 4H over double or 4D to imply both majors.


It's possibly to swap the meanings of double and pass here (as whereagles suggested in the companion thread). I keep double as 'balanced' because I also play 2C (action) P P double as strong balanced and this is consistent.

[hackenbush]

FrancesHinden, on Mar 12 2009, 09:41 AM, said:

Obviously this depends a bit on the level; there's a world of difference between 2C (2D) P P x and 2C (2D) P (5D) x.

What is your general agreement when RHO passes? Obviously pass option is gone.