Expert Conventions Expert

Bergen Raises and Drury

When you are first learning about bidding, there is so much to process that we start with simple methods wherever we can. Having fit with partner’s major suit is a pretty common occurrence, so using a simple “raise to two if weak, three if invitational, four if game forcing” approach gets the job done. Once you are fully confident of the basics, though, there are advantages to being able to give partner a more precise description of invitational hands in response to major suit openings. This module introduces two linked systems of artificial bids - for passed and non-passed hands - that allow us to do just that. Using these bids also frees up the jump to the three level in partner's major as a useful pre-emptive option.

Try some hands

Hand 1

What does your partner’s strange jump to the three level mean, and how should you respond? In the play, see if you can figure out a way to guarantee the contract rather than guessing the hearts. Don’t worry if you can’t see it though – it’s quite difficult!

Hand 2

This time, it’s your turn to pick the right response when partner opens. Using a similar technique to last hand, can you spot how to guarantee only one club loser?

Hand 3

Now you’ll have to pick the best response after your partner opens in third seat. See if you can make use of a possible spade loser to avoid a club loser.

Hand 4

After your partner bids Drury, how can you find out more about their hand to see if game is the best contract? Once more, see if you can eliminate the side suits before giving up the lead, and ensure you only lose one diamond.

Back

Bergen Raises and Drury

Discover how these two closely-related pieces of system can give you the ability to further refine your responses to partner’s major suit openings when you have fit with their suit.

Question 1/7

Penelope has opened 1♥. How should Walter respond with this hand?

Walter can show both his invitational values (10-11 points) and his four card heart support by making a Bergen raise bid of 3♦. Although he has four spades, there is little point in showing that suit when the partnership has a known nine card fit in hearts. 3♣ would show invitational strength, but only three card support. Now Penelope can sign off in 3♥ if she has a minimum hand, or bid game with a little bit extra.

How should Walter respond to his partner's 1♥ opening bid here?

Although he only has four points, Walter's hand is likely to be very useful to Penelope if she plays in hearts. By jumping to the three level in opener's major, he is able to show four card support in a weak hand. This is known as bidding 'to the level of the fit': With a nine card fit, the partnership should usually be able to make nine tricks, with ten card fit, ten tricks and so on. It also has the advantage of making it more difficult for Ophelia to come into the auction, which is useful, as it looks as though she and Boris have a big spade fit. Raising to 2♥ shows a more constructive hand, with at least six points and maybe only three card support.

Walter is very happy to see his partner open 1♠ on this hand. But how should he respond?

Even though he is quite weak, with five card support and a singleton, Walter should jump straight to game. As we saw in the module on game forcing hands with major suit fit, a jump straight to game in partner's major does not show a good hand once we have the Jacoby 2NT bid in our toolkit. Without the singleton, Walter might well choose to jump to three spades, but the combination of the fifth trump and a singleton makes 4♠ a better description. 3♦ would show a stronger hand (10-11 points) with 4+ cards in partner's major.

Walter has already passed, as dealer, with his very average hand. What should he bid now that Penelope has opened 1♥?

As Walter is a passed hand and his partner has opened a major suit, 2♣ becomes a Drury bid, showing invitational strength and three card support - a hand that is too good to just bid 2♥. A 2♦ bid here would show the same strength, but with four card support.

Walter is the dealer again, and has started with a pass. What should he bid now that Penelope has opened 1♠?

Here again, because Walter is a passed hand, Drury applies, so 2♦ shows and invitational hand with four card support for partner's major.

What about this time, with Penelope having opened 1♥ instead?

Whilst Walter does have four spades, and could respond 1♠, it's more important to establish the heart fit quickly, especially as Penelope may have opened light in third seat. Walter does not have a strong enough hand for a Drury bid, so he should just bid 2♥.

Walter couldn't bring himself to open the bidding with this hand, but it's looking pretty good now that Penelope has bid 1♠. How should he respond?

2♦ would show the invitational strength of his hand but Penelope could pass that if she had a minimum opening bid. With five trumps and a singleton, Walter can be pretty confident that the partnership belongs in game, so he should go straight to 4♠.

The links will take you to the Bridge Training website, where you can have a go at bidding and responding to Bergen and Drury. You will then be able to play the hands and see if you can make your contract. These hands are quite technical, so have as many goes as you like and don’t worry if you don’t manage!