Evening star., 1937-07-25
Forcing Bids.

almost entirely matter OF expert
mentation. However, there was one
thing that the more intelligent neo-
phvtes learned almost instantly
namely, the need for one or more
forcing bids, which partner would rec
oenize as demand on him to keep
the bidding open, irrespective OF his
holding
For a long while. Of course, certain
PLAYERS insisted on following what
they called common sense system
of employing no forcing bids whatso-
ever. We could never see any common
= sense in player refusing to take ad-
vantage of his opportunities. For in
stance, the following hand is a fine
example Of the lack of value of COM
mon sense" bidding at contract. Your
partner opens with one diamond. You
hold:
Spades A K xxx
Hearts. A Kxxx
Diamonds. X
Clubs, K
II you are not employing forcing
bids, you are Immediately helpless,
since you must, of course, Jump to
game. But If you bid four hearts,
maybe your partner holds:
Spades, @ Jxx
Hearts, X
Diamonds, A XXX XXX
Clubs, K OK
He will have to pass your four
heart bid, and you will probably make
1t. But seven spades is every bit as
easy and possibly an easier contract
to fulfill.
Or, if you happen to guess four
spades as the game contract to bid,
he may be found to have heart sup
port and singleton spade.
incidentally, from time to time
We still meet pair who insist they
play no forcing bids, but we find that
when they hold that particular hand
and partner opens with one diamond,
such players bid two spades; and,
should partner now pass, they prac-
tically have apoplexy.
BY 1881, while every one was using
forcing bids, the theory ranged from
the Culbertson system, which treated
only jump bids in new suit as a
game force, to the extreme Sims, or
''merry-go-round" system, which
treated practically any bid at all as
a force. 1t required little thought
on the part of the better players to
realize that the Culbertson method
was but slightly better than no forces
at all, while the Sims method, which
never allowed one to quit short of
game, was. of course, hopeless. It
was necessary to find middle ground.
By 1888 We had decided just where
the proper middle ground should lie,
and produced our theory of forcing
bids as one Of the basic principles
Of the -Four Aces system. While
this theory may not be perfect. at
least We are gratified to find that
now. four years later we are still able
to use 1t without any change what
soever. and in the meanwhile Ely
Culbertson and most other writer's
have also done us the honor of
adopting it without change
AS first step in our theory, we
divided all forcing bids into two
classes: (A) the game force, and
fb) the temporary force Once
game force is made, the partnership
is committed either to contract for
a game or slam, or to double the
opponents for penalty if they deem
that more profitable
The temporary force, on the other
hand, merely compels partner to
respond once and. unless followed by
other forcing bids, may be dropped
at any time
The following are the game fore
ing bids of the Four Aces system:
l. Any opening bid OF two In a
suit.
2. Any Jump bid by original bid
der or partner.
8. Any cue-bid
The preceding is really simple, and
there is no reason why a player,
even though he be an utter begin
ner, should be unable to learn and
follow the above. Yet. every now and
then we see situation where the
bidding proceeds: One spade, pass, two
no-trump, pass, three spades. all
pass; or, one club. pass, one spade,
pass. two no trump pass, three clubs
or three spades, all pass.
Invariably the excuse OF the player
who has first bid two no-trump and
then passed is, We'll. partner, you
gave me signoff, and all I had is
mere two no-trump bid What
difference does that make? The fact
that you are willing to make a game
forcing bid at one time should tell
your partner that you intend to keep
on to game, regardless Of what he
responds.
Let us just consider the first in
stance, IN which the bidding has been:
One spade. two no-trump. three
spades. The exact significance of
the three-spade bid in this situation
is as follows: Cd The opening bid
der is definitely interested in game.
but wishes his partner to choose be-
tween four spades and three no-trump
Tor the final contract; or (2) the
opening bidder intends to play the
hand at four spades, but does not
wish to jump Immediately. since that
would indicate more strength than
he holds; or 90 the opening bidder
has a very strong hand and intends
to follow his three-spade bid by a
slam invitation on the next round.
Examples OF three such hands are
Is follows: -
Hand No. 1-Opening bidder holds
Spades-K @ XXX
Hearts-x
Diamonds-A xxx
Clubs-K Jx
High card value-s1a. The open
ing bidder would much rather play
four spades than three no-trump if
his partner has sufficient spades to
raise them after his rebid.
Hand No. 2-Opening bidder holds