The Forcing Pass

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It can be annoying when you bid a game and the opponents bid over it. Often you're not sure whether to double or bid on and would like to leave the decision to partner.

This is why the forcing pass was invented. The broader rule is this:

When it's "our hand", the opponents must not be allowed to play anything undoubled.

"Our hand" means one of the following:

1. We are in a game-forcing auction
2. We have bid a game expecting to make
3. We have doubled the opponents for penalty (not lead-directing), or for takeout where taking it out puts us in game
4. It's otherwise obvious that we have the balance of power

Case 3 leads us to emphasize this rule:

Don't double for penalty if you can't also double their run-out.

Now back to the forcing pass. Having decided it's our hand, you can pass an opposing bid to say you're not sure what to do and want partner to decide whether to double or bid on. Furthermore if you pass and partner doubles and then you yourself bid on, this is the strongest possible action and is invitational to slam.

Sometimes both sides can make game, and you could possibly get the best score by letting them play undoubled even though the "our hand" test is good. That takes us to one final rule:

If your opponents never make a doubled contract, you're not doubling enough.