Bergen Raises

Bergen raises are conventional treatments of responses to a major suit opening in a five-card major system. Developed by Marty Bergen and first published in April 1982, Bergen raises are based on the Law of total tricks, a hand evaluation concept which states that with a combined nine trumps in the partnership one should compete to at least the three-level regardless of combined high card strength.

Bergen recommended that instead of the more rare occurrence in the use of the 3 and 3 response as a jump shift to show a strong hand, these bids should be redeployed to provide more precise information about the length and strength of support held by responder for partner's five-card major suit opening when responder has four-card support.

1 of a Major - 3 shows 6-9 HCP and FOUR card trump support. We use 3 as the 6-9 HCP raise to enable opener to make a game try by bidding 3. This asks responder to bid game if his hand rates as close to 9 HCP. A new suit by responder is a cue-bid maximum.

1 of a Major - 3 shows 10-12 HCP and FOUR trump support.

1 - 3 and 1 - 2 are unspecified splinters.

1 of a Major - 3 of that Major shows 0- 5 HCP and FOUR trump support.

1 of a Major - 4 shows 16 HCP or better with FOUR or FIVE trump.

1 of a Major - 4 shows 6-9 HCP with 5 trump.

1 - 4 shows what?

1 of a Major - 2NT is Jacoby showing 13 to 15 HCP and 4 trump and no singleton or void.

How does one show a limit raise with three trump?

First bid another suit or 1NT forcing then jump to 3 or 3.

Example:

1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	3

We play Bergen over 1st or 2nd seat openings, and use 2 Way Reverse Drury over 3rd and 4th seat openers, but the Bergen 3 bid can still be used by a passed hand to show 4 trump and 6-9 HCP. Bergen is ON with any interference if it is still a jump. (Partnership agreement)