You are ignoring the author of this comment. Click to temporarily show the comment.
Two and a half quick tricks plus a five-card spade suit is not ‘crap’. But of course, if a pair opens light, they must use heavier game and slam tries.
You are ignoring the author of this comment. Click to temporarily show the comment.
Sensible opponents will usually play double of 2♦ for take-out, often a balanced hand worth a minimum opening bid, suits bids to be natural, and 2NT strong. The simplest defense after double is that pass is (a proposal) to play, all suit bids retain their meaning, and redouble is your pick, possibly business.
After an overcall of 2♥/♠, double is ‘negative’, i.e., wants to contest the partscore or better, unless of course partner has their long suit coinciding with opponent's (which does happen, believe it or not). After higher overcalls, double is penalties, 3♥/♠ is pass-or-correct.
You are ignoring the author of this comment. Click to temporarily show the comment.
Playing North's double as ‘lead directing showing good diamonds’ does not make sense. This double is generally played as take-out, often a minimum balanced hand or any strong hand; it says nothing about diamonds.
You are ignoring the author of this comment. Click to temporarily show the comment.
The original Bergen raises (from Bergen's book, see above) are, over 1♥/♠:
1NT includes 5–7 or 11–12 with three-card support 2♥/♠ 8–10 (or 9 losers) with three-card support 2NT Jacoby, game-forcing with support 3♣ 6–9 (or 9 losers) with four-card support 3♦ 10–11 (or 8 losers) with four-card support 1♥-3♠, 1♠-3♥ any splinter 3NT 13–15 usually 4333 with three-card support, passable 4♣ 16+ balanced with support 4♦ ‘good’ preemptive raise to four 4♥/♠ weak preemptive 1♥-4♠, 1♠-4♥ to play
You are ignoring the author of this comment. Click to temporarily show the comment.
Most people who state playing ‘Bergen Raises’ play just the 3♣/♦ responses as Mixed Raise and Limit Raise with four+ card support. However, Bergen Raises as advocated by Marty Bergen (see reference above under Michael Hargreaves' contribution) encompasses all bids of 2NT through 4♥ as raises and includes 4♣/♦ as described in the original post.
Next to 3♣/♦, the only part of original Bergen Raises that I play is the ‘Bergen 3NT’: around 13–15 HCP and usually 4333, passable.
You are ignoring the author of this comment. Click to temporarily show the comment.
That very idea is in fact part of the original complete Bergen Raises (Bergen, Marty, ‘Better Bidding with Bergen, Volume I – Uncontested Auctions’, Max Hardy, 1985, ISBN 0-939460-32-7, pages 37–43).
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
After an overcall of 2♥/♠, double is ‘negative’, i.e., wants to contest the partscore or better, unless of course partner has their long suit coinciding with opponent's (which does happen, believe it or not). After higher overcalls, double is penalties, 3♥/♠ is pass-or-correct.
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
Rosalind Hengeveld
1NT includes 5–7 or 11–12 with three-card support
2♥/♠ 8–10 (or 9 losers) with three-card support
2NT Jacoby, game-forcing with support
3♣ 6–9 (or 9 losers) with four-card support
3♦ 10–11 (or 8 losers) with four-card support
1♥-3♠, 1♠-3♥ any splinter
3NT 13–15 usually 4333 with three-card support, passable
4♣ 16+ balanced with support
4♦ ‘good’ preemptive raise to four
4♥/♠ weak preemptive
1♥-4♠, 1♠-4♥ to play
Rosalind Hengeveld
Next to 3♣/♦, the only part of original Bergen Raises that I play is the ‘Bergen 3NT’: around 13–15 HCP and usually 4333, passable.
Rosalind Hengeveld