[jillybean]

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Do I owe partner a simple raise here?

[DavidKok]

Yes.

[mikeh]

One of the advantages of playing a forcing 1N response (there are disadvantages as well, of course) is the ability to differentiate between very weak raises and more constructive raises. As an example, in my main partnership, we bid 1N. Over either 2C or 2D we bid 2H, puppeting to 2S, which we then pass. This is a variant of Bart.

If not playing a forcing notrump then raising is more dangerous since opener is going to be guessing with extras. Try for or bid game, expecting more, and turn a plus into a minus. But imo it’s better to bid than not. 2S has a very preemptive value while pass makes one an easy opponent to play against.

[mycroft]

I've been taught that an Ace is a response. Years of experience shows me that was right much more often than not. So yes.

If I can do a "weak or doubleton raise" I will do so. I will be happy to do so (I actually dislike constructive raises (except when I have one), but here it's "easier" than lying with "normal and no BART"). If not, an Ace and a ruffing value is probably as good as the worst of the 6 counts I would auto-raise on.

[jillybean]

I will *always* respond if I have an Ace but coming from the "Only 4 hcp" school, many still pass and here I languished in 1S

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1♠:1nt*
?

[mycroft]

1♠-1NT*;
3♦-4♠?

If you believe that "you don't hide controls, even with a (sub)minimum", then 3♠.

I don't mind missing a 6 that depends on picking up the trumps +. Wouldn't be upset to be in it, though; it's nowhere near the worst I've brought home. But I expect 3♠ will stop in 5, "off an ace and the ♠Q".