In a disturbed auction, bids of suits we have already shown are to play – often pre-emptive and based purely on Total Tricks.
New suit bids are forcing only if they are below game and partner's last call showed a suit. The logic is that, without a fit for partner's suit, you need power to introduce new suits into an auction. (But as we saw earlier, a takeout double followed by a new suit is a scramble.)
Natural rebids are never forcing.
Forcing.
2
disturbed the auction and partner's last call showed a suit.
If instead you have a weaker hand wanting to compete in diamonds, and unwilling to make a takeout double, then you must be patient and pass – for now. For one thing, competing without any sign of a fit may well be the wrong thing to do. And for another, partner is still there and may yet re-open the bidding.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | | 3 | |
| 3 | | | | |
Not forcing – partner has yet to call.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | 3 | dbl | pass | |
| 3 | | | | |
Not forcing. A disturbed takeout double is not considered to have shown a suit.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | 2 | pass | |
| 3 | | | | |
Forcing. This coincides with the preference of most modern authors: why play anywhere but partner's pre-emptive suit unless you have a big hand?
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | 2NT | pass | |
| 3 | | | | |
Forcing – partner's last call showed two suits!