Forcing Notrump - Forcing Next Step

Forcing Next Step

With this approach, the next step bid over the major open is forcing and unspecified. "Forcing next step," also known as the "Kaplan Inversion", is a mid-chart convention in the ACBL.

  • 1♠ - 1NT is forcing, unspecified
  • 1♥ - 1♠ is forcing, with responder having 0-4 spades
  • 1♥ - 1NT is forcing with responder showing 5+ spades.

One immediate benefit of this is that the correct major fit can be found. In standard forcing notrump, responder with 5 spades bids 1♠ over opener's 1♥ but if she also has 2 hearts she does not then know whether to rebid 2♥ or 2♠. In forcing next step, opener will raise 1♥ - 1NT to 2♠ if she has support, so if she makes another bid, responder can happily give preference to 2♥.

The forcing next step approach has the further benefit over the classic forcing notrump of allowing an opener with a balanced hand to define his point count range more tightly.

Here is a simple approach. Assuming the use of strong 1NT openings, the sequence 1♥ - 1♠ - 1NT would show a balanced 12-14 HCP with five hearts and 1♥ - 1♠ - 2NT would show 18-19 HCP with five hearts.

Here is a more complex approach: Over a sequence of 1♠ - 1NT, opener rebids:

  • 2♣ = 12-16, 4 clubs, or balanced. (2♦ from responder finds out which, as well as the strength range.)
  • 2♦/♥ = 12-16, 4 card suit
  • 2♠ = 12-16, 6+ card suit
  • 2NT = 17-18 balanced
  • 3 any = 17+ natural

If responder wishes to know further about the 2♣ bid, she asks with 2♦. Opener rebids 2♥ = 12-14 balanced, 2♠ = 12-14 club suit, 2NT = 15-16 balanced, 3♣ = 15-16 clubs.

Similarly with a sequence starting 1♥ - 1♠, opener rebids:

  • 1NT = 12-16, balanced, or 4 spades. (2♣ from partner finds out which, as well as the strength range.)
  • 2♣/♦ = 12-16, 4 card suit
  • 2♥ = 12-16, 6+ card suit
  • 2NT = 17-18 balanced
  • 3 any = 17+ natural

If responder wishes to know further about the 1NT bid, she asks with 2♣. Opener rebids 2♦ = 12-14 balanced, 2♥ = 12-14 spade suit, 2♠ = 15-16 spade suit, 2NT = 15-16 balanced. Note that if responder and opener both have 4 spades, they can still play in 2♠ in spite of the artificial response.

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Famous quotes containing the words forcing and/or step:

    “It is quite true, as some poets said, that the God who created man must have had a sinister sense of humor, creating him a reasonable being, yet forcing him to take this ridiculous posture, and driving him with blind craving for this ridiculous performance.”
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    “If you excommunicate one of us there will be 10 more to step up and take her place. Excommunicate those 10 and there will be 100 to take their places.”
    —Lynn Knavel Whitesides, U.S. Mormon feminist. As quoted in the New York Times, p. 7 (October 2, 1993)