Source: ACBL Bulletin November 2006
Dear Eric, how far is 3 forcing in this auction?
West | North | East | South |
1 | 2 | 3 | |
Your partnership might agree that if your next bid is 4 the bidding could die, but I’ve always detested that idea. 3 should be treated as a game force even if it’s a slight stretch – another reason to open sound hands and not the modern garbage.
Best of all however is to play transfers here:
2NT=3
3= 3
3 = limit raise in
3 = competitive
3 = all splinter raises of hearts (3NT asks and you show them up the line)
3NT – strong balanced heart raise
4/4 = fit jump.
This scheme lets you introduce a minor over 2 with something like:
9 2 5 K Q 10 9 7 4 3 A 8 6; intending to pass if opener bids 3.
If you add a king to this hand, you’d transfer to diamonds and cuebid.