In the card game
contract bridge
Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions ...
, a forcing bid is any that obliges the partner to bid over an intermediate opposing pass. Owing to the partnership's
bidding system or a
bridge convention, partner must "keep the bidding open",
i.e. not pass, thereby preventing his left-hand opponent from ending the auction with a pass and enabling the "forcing bidder" to bid further.
A forcing bid that creates no further obligation is called ''forcing for one round''. A bid that is ''forcing and promises a rebid'' creates an obligation on the forcing bidder next round (typically, up to some level of the auction). A ''game forcing'' bids creates a mutual obligation to continue bidding at least to game level, or to double the opponents.
All
bridge bidding systems use forcing bids. For instance,
one over one and
two over one responses to one-of-a-suit opening bids are treated as forcing in almost all bidding systems. Also, introducing a new suit at three level is generally treated as forcing provided this bid is made in a non-limited hand. The main reason it is necessary to have certain bids in the system designated as ''forcing'' is to allow the partnership to start a dialogue exploring for the right contract.
Partnership agreement on which bids are forcing is essential. This is no easy territory, as is exemplified by the fact that in certain auctions even a
pass can be forcing. In particular, the following bidding situations require agreement as to their forcing character, i.e. non-forcing, round forcing or forcing to a specified level:
* responses to
preempts
* responses to
overcalls
* various responses to a
reverse bid
A reverse, in the card game contract bridge, is a bidding sequence designed to show additional strength without the need to make a jump bid; specifically two suits are bid in the reverse order to that expected by the basic bidding system. Precise ...
of opener
* 2NT in competitive bidding situations
See also
*
Forcing pass
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forcing Bid
Contract bridge bidding