Bridge Notes

Dorothy Hayden Truscott Bid Better, Play Better

There are 2 types of forcing bids; forcing for 1 round (1RF)or forcing to game (GF).

1. An opening strong 2 bid in a suit is GF.

2. A jump shift by either partner of the side that opens the bidding is GF.
3. A new suit by responder is 1RF.
4. Any jump bid by responder is GF.
5. A jump bid by opener is not forcing, but is encouraging, but if responder has bid at
the 2 level, a jump by opener is GF.
6. Once a suit has been agreed on, a bid in another suit is 1RF.
7. A bid in the enemy suit, called a cuebid, is 1RF.
8. A new suit or jump by responder is not forcing if he has previously passed, but over
an opening 1NT, a jump by responder is GF even though he has previously passed,
e.g. P (P) 1NT (P) 3H (P) 4H
9. A reverse is invitational but not forcing.
10. A new suit by responder is not forcing if the opener has just bid 1NT.
11. If the opponents have opened the bidding, jump bids invite game but are not
forcing.
12. Any suit response to an opening 2NT is forcing.
13. A bid by the opposition may allow a forcing bid by partner to be passed.
14. When a part score is held, a new suit or a jump by responder is not forcing if it
completes the partscore.
15. When your RHO doubles your partner's opening bid, make your natural call with
less than 10 points, but redouble with 10+. After your redouble, any jump or new
suit by you is forcing. If you dont redouble, nothing by you is forcing.
16. A cuebid at a low level indicates a desire to reach game. It does NOT promise any
controls in the enemy suit.
17. New suit bids are never forcing if the enemy has opened the bidding.
18. Landy Convention: A bid of 2C over the enemy's 1NT is a takeout bid showing 15
points or less and good support for both majors. If you play Landy, you cant overcall
a 1NT opening bid with 2C naturally.
19. An overcall bid of 1NT by a passed hand is Unusual and asks partner to choose a
minor, e.g. P (P) P (1S) 1NT
20. Jacoby Transfers are Off following interference.
21. When returning a suit led by partner, lead the highest card unless you held 4 cards
originally. In that case, lead your original 4th highest. Leading the suit partner bid,
select the card normally.
22. Hands in which declarer will probably make his contract call for attacking leads.
Against 6NT or any grand slam bid, make the safest lead.
23. Lead Directing Doubles. A double of an artificial bid asks for a lead in that suit. A
failure to double is informative.
24. A double of 3NT asks for a lead of one's bid suit, or of partner's suit if one has not
bid. If only declarer and dummy have bid, it asks for the lead of dummy's suit.
25. Lightner Slam Double. A double of a slam is always lead directing. It calls for an
unusual lead. The doubler may hold a void. It usually calls for dummy's suit, never
trumps, and never the suit which the opening leader might be expected to lead.
26. Signalling. When partner leads to a trick, play a high card if you want the suit
continued, and low if you dont. An honour denies the card above. When declarer or
dummy leads a suit, not trumps, a defender should echo (play high-low) to show an
 even number of cards, or from the bottom up to show an odd number. The count
signal shows the original holding. The suit preference signal occurs in leads other
than the opening lead. A defender leads a high card to show his entry is in the
higher ranking of the other two suits. He leads a low card to show an entry in the
lower ranking.
27. When the opposition interfere over Blackwood use DOPI, double for 0,2,4 Aces,
pass for 1,3 Aces.
28. An Inferential Takeout Double: When both opponents announce length in a suit and
you hold 3 small cards, your bid is based on the inference that partner is very short
in the suit. Following (1NT) – P – ( 2D/H/S) - Double. The double shows a
singleton or void in the bid suit, almost regardless of HCP, based on East's 2 bid
showing weakness i.e. A WTO.