[Winstonm]

Partner opens 1S. Partner and I came up with a treatment some time back that has proved quite useful - Extended Bergen. We use "Standard Bergen" so 3D is the limit raise; however, we found that by "extending" this bid to include balanced forcing hands with 3-card support we freed other bids to be more precise. And it is very simple: after a 3D raise, opener bids 3 of the "other" major with any hand on which he would bid game opposite a limit raise. If responder bids anything other than 4 of the agreed upon suit, he is showing a forcing raise with only 3-card support. Thoughts or comments on this treatment?

Thanks in advance.

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[mike777]

1) This is an 8 LTC hand with 4333, it is not a game force unless you open very strong one bids.


One other problem is you are losing the ability for opener to show a second suit which may make responder hand worth game now not just an invite.

1s=1nt
2d=Now I may want to bid 4s or 3nt and not invite.

1s=3d bergen with perhaps 3 card support only.
3s=Now I have lost the knowledge of Double fit in D.

Seems you lose much more than you gain.

[luke warm]

there's a whole lot to be said about 1M : 2nt being natural, 13-15 with at most 3 card M support

[Winstonm]

Quote

Second: What if partner has a slam try over this limit raise? If he has to bid 3 of the other major then his partner might bid 4M and he has lost alot of room

I don't dispute that a "natural" 2N has a lot going for it - funny how we came full circle with that bid, heh heh; however, I don't think I can get parter to give up his "pet", Jacoby 2N. Hence, a compromise.

Do note though, that 3 of the other major in fact becomes "Serious", so it can help clarify the holdings with 3-card support and a forcing raise. But your point is well taken that over 1H-3D-3S we would have to bid 4H with a limit raise - a flaw.

Now I wonder whether this treatment couldn't be set in place with the Bergen 3C bid more profitably or perhaps we should simply Reverse the Bergen raises?

WinstonM

[Fluffy]

Jlall, on Jun 5 2005, 08:12 PM, said:

First you give them more lead directing Xs (3 of the other major is partners most likely rebid over this).

He who doubles is on lead I think. This doesn't mean this might help them find a good defence or a good switch, but not a lead.

[flytoox]

mike777, on Jun 5 2005, 08:40 PM, said:

1) This is an 8 LTC hand with 4333, it is not a game force unless you open very strong one bids.

This would be too pessimistic. After all, you have good trump, good side suit. and DT is also a good card. I would say facing any min opening hand this should be good enough to make a game. If 4S goes down, then 3N must have play.

[mike777]

flytoox, on Jun 5 2005, 06:45 PM, said:

mike777, on Jun 5 2005, 08:40 PM, said:

1) This is an 8 LTC hand with 4333, it is not a game force unless you open very strong one bids.

This would be too pessimistic. After all, you have good trump, good side suit. and DT is also a good card. I would say facing any min opening hand this should be good enough to make a game. If 4S goes down, then 3N must have play.

I can think of 11 hcp hands I open where 3s may go down which is why I play 1nt semi-force to get out at 1NT level while everyone else is trying for slam with this method.