High level bidding
When both camps have irregular fitted hands, the bidding can be competitive until high levels.
If a camp has shown at least 23H or committed to going to game without bidding it, iit is said to be in " offense", the opps camp is then in "defense".Examples of NS camps NS in 'offense' :
South West North
1
♠ Pass 2
♣ ...
2
♦ Pass ...
1
♣ 1
♠ 2
♠....
In these cases,
- Either North South plays a contract it is hoping to make,
- or East West plays a sacrificecontract it thinks will go down... but hopes to not go down too much or not be doubled
As a consequense,
- Pass, by a player in offense is forcing and encourages his partner to overbid
- The double is punitive and discourages his partner from overbidding