[blackshoe]

I've seen bids described as "forcing", with no qualifiers, "forcing for one round", "promising a rebid", "forcing to game", "forcing to 3NT or 4m", "forcing to 2NT", and probably others I've forgotten. Seems a very nebulous set of descriptors. Can we quantify them a little better? I get "forcing to game" for example, and "forcing to <some level>", but what's the difference between "forcing for one round" and "promising a rebid"? Is it just that in the former case the forcer is permitted to pass at his next call? And what does "forcing", with no qualifiers, mean? "Forcing 1 round"? Something else?

[Vampyr]

blackshoe, on 2011-June-24, 21:33, said:

what's the difference between "forcing for one round" and "promising a rebid"? Is it just that in the former case the forcer is permitted to pass at his next call?

Normally, yes.

Quote

And what does "forcing", with no qualifiers, mean? "Forcing 1 round"? Something else?

Should be forcing 1 round.

[Zelandakh]

In many countries forcing means "forcing to game" and semi-forcing means "almost forcing to game" (ie like an Acol 2 bid) and opening a benji 2C and describing it as "semi-forcing" is completely normal. For Americans and Brits forcing tends to mean "forcing for 1 round". Anyway, if I make a bid that is:-

F1R = partner must bid, I can pass
promises rebid = partner must bid, so must I
F->x = all bids below x are forcing
FG/GF has 2 meanings, for me it is functionally the same as F->3NT but can also be played as UGF (see below)
UGF = unconditionally game forcing = any non-game bid (including 4m) is forcing

[Vampyr]

Zelandakh, on 2011-June-25, 06:37, said:

In many countries forcing means "forcing to game" and semi-forcing means "almost forcing to game" (ie like an Acol 2 bid) and opening a benji 2C and describing it as "semi-forcing" is completely normal.

I didn't know this. Which countries?

[nige1]

blackshoe, on 2011-June-24, 21:33, said:

I've seen bids described as "forcing", with no qualifiers, "forcing for one round", "promising a rebid", "forcing to game", "forcing to 3NT or 4m", "forcing to 2NT", and probably others I've forgotten. Seems a very nebulous set of descriptors. Can we quantify them a little better? I get "forcing to game" for example, and "forcing to ", but what's the difference between "forcing for one round" and "promising a rebid"? Is it just that in the former case the forcer is permitted to pass at his next call? And what does "forcing", with no qualifiers, mean? "Forcing 1 round"? Something else?

Local players define : Partner's call ...

• is F (Forcing) -- you should keep the bidding open (by bidding/doubling/redoubling) unless opponents are passed out for penalties, in a doubled contract. i.e. you should not pass unless RHO bids.
• is F1 -- Forcing on you for one round.
• promises a rebid: F1 on you and partner. Partner guarantees he will keep the bidding open.
• is forcing to <level>: you and partner should both keep the bidding open until the specified <level> is reached or opponents are doubled for penalties. e.g.
• is F2N means that neither you nor partner should pass each other's bids below two no-trumps unless opponents are doubled for penalties.
• is FG or GF (Game-forcing) you and partner should keep the bidding open until the game-level is reached or opponents are doubled for penalties.
• creates a FP (Forcing Pass): neither you nor partner should pass out an opponent's bid, undoubled, at any level. For instance, In Dum and Dee's old-fashioned methods a strong 2♣ opener or the auction 1♠ (X) XX creates a forcing pass.

[Zelandakh]

Vampyr, on 2011-June-25, 10:02, said:

I didn't know this. Which countries?

It is certainly true in Germany. I am told it is also true through much of central Europe although I do not have personal experience to back this up.

[mgoetze]

Zelandakh, on 2011-June-27, 04:20, said:

It is certainly true in Germany.

Disagree.

[the hog]

mgoetze, on 2011-June-27, 04:39, said:

Disagree.

I have played quite a bit in Germany and I also disagree.

[Zelandakh]

I guess it must be a Bayern thing then. I tend to trust the locals when they tell me such things...some of them even have experience at quite a high level.

[the hog]

Well, I have played a lot in Munich and in Berlin. I have not come across this in either city.

[aguahombre]

Back to "forcing one round". I have used it to mean that I must keep the auction open but then partner doesn't have to. Now that the question is posed, however, I don't know what a "round" is and imagine many people might think it means partner will bid again, too. It only applies to forcing NT/major in our style, btw --even though 1/1, for instance, is also forcing we don't alert it.