Bergen Raises and the Law
Have you noticed how popular Bergen Raises are amongst the people you play with and against? It seems almost a given though, that anything that becomes popular will eventually generate some criticism that is probably valid. There is a book by Mike Lawrence: I Fought the Law of Total Tricks which says that the Law of Total Tricks might not be as useful as people think. (Marty Bergen's raises are based on this "Law") Mike further says that after a lot of his own research, combined with the mathematical analysis of others, that the Law is accurate perhaps 40% of the time. Bergen's supporters say Mike is not using the "Adjustments" suggested by the author. Mike replies that any "law" that only works 40% of the time, and needs "adjustments," confirms his opinion that the idea is not a law at all.
If Mike Lawrence is correct then anything that is wrong 60% of the time doesn't seem like a very good idea to me. I have two problems with the Law. The first is that it allows the opponents to make completely safe lead-directing doubles of the minor suits, and the second is that it's too complex, especially with those "adjustments."
Modification to Bergen Raises
However, if you a play this convention you might be interested in a modification.
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How do you show 3-card support with a limit raise? The accepted way is to bid 1NT forcing followed by a jump
raise for partner's major. This runs into trouble, though, when the opponents interfere or your partner
makes a strong jump shift.
Consider this: After partner opens 1
or 1
, your jump to
3
is the 3-card limit raise. A jump to 3
is a two-way bid --
either a 4-card constructive raise (8-10 support points) or 4-card limit raise (11-12). Opener can ask
which one you hold by bidding 3. Your retreat to three of the major shows the
constructive raise while any other bid confirms the stronger hand.
A Couple More Criticisms...
There are numerous bridge forums and discussion groups available on the internet where you will see other criticism of Bergen Raises. Many comments seem to suggest that jump shifts in the minors have better uses.
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Lead Directing Doubles
The use of 3
or 3 to show 4-card support but limited point-count gives the
opponents the opportunity to make lead directing doubles which would not have been available otherwise.
Partner's 6-8-10 Hand
The 6-8-10 response may be only popular in a few small European bridge groups, but it does seem to have merit. It's a jump shift which shows a 6-card suit with the values of a good weak two bid, perhaps 8-10 points.
Opponent's Can Use the Law Against You
The Law, when it works, works for both sides. If the opponents know you have a 9-card fit they can deduce that they probably have at least an 8-card fit and can compete more aggressively. (Especially when you hold hearts and the opponents have spades.)