Is this forcing or non forcing? by Frank Stewart

A: 4♥: If you held A K J 10, Q 7, 9 6 5 3, A 6 2, you wouldn't be sure of a good heart fit; your best contract would be unclear. Hence you might temporize with a bid of two diamonds. As it is, your decent three-card heart support lets you place the contract. Bid four hearts. A jump to three hearts would invite game.

Your result so far:

A: 4NT: Your partner's bidding has not been aggressive, but slam is possible even if he has minimum high-card values. He might hold K 10 6 5, K, A Q 10 7 6, Q 4 3. Raise to 4NT (not Blackwood since no trump suit is agreed, but "quantitative").


Your result so far:

A: 3♥: I would take a slightly conservative view and raise only to three hearts. Though the hand has 19 high-card points, there are three queens and two jacks, and many of the honors are stuck in short suits. Moreover, the queen of hearts may be wasted: If partner has J-x-x-x-x, he may be able to pick up the trumps without the queen.

Your result so far:

A: Pass: This is one of many situations I treat in "What's Your Call?" Opener's non-jump change of suit is generally played as not forcing. (A few pairs agree to treat this specific sequence as forcing.) You had a rock-bottom minimum for your first response, and game is unlikely. Pass.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣: Your preference showed at most nine points, and partner would have passed if he knew game was impossible. His 2NT shows interest, but your hand is too minimum to accept. Moreover, if his hand is short in hearts, notrump may not fare well. Bid three clubs.

Your result so far: