Bergen Bids
Bergen bids are only used over major suit opens. Bergen bids are OFF with interference.
For an opening 1 of a major – you need:
Bergen bids were designed by Marty Bergen TO GIVE US AN EXACT COUNT ON THE NUMBER OF OUR TRUMP. This is VERY IMPORTANT, because it allows us to IMPLEMENT MAXIM THREE OF THE LAW OF TOTAL TRICKS.
Maxim Three of the Law of Total Tricks:
YOU ARE SAFE SCOREWISE IF YOU BID TO THE LEVEL OF YOUR TRUMP HOLDING.
This translates into the following BERGEN BIDS:
In the case of the last two bids, the three heart response and the four heart response,
you NEED NO POINTS TO MAKE THIS BID.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT BERGEN BIDS IS THAT IT WILL GIVE YOU AN EXACT COUNT ON PARTNERS OPENED MAJOR.
SO…LET’S START WITH THE LOWEST BERGEN BIDS AND WORK UP THE LINE.
BERGEN BID #1:
One of the more difficult
Bergen bids to learn is the simple pass! The Bergen response of PASS on the
open of a major at the one level is ALERTABLE BECAUSE IT SHOWS ONE OF TWO
DIFFERENT HANDS, BOTH SHOWING AT LEAST TWO CARD SUPPORT.
1 heart...pass...PASS BY PARTNER SHOWS ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING TWO HANDS:
· A DOUBLETON IN HEARTS AND 0-7 HCPs or
· THREE CARDS IN HEARTS AND 0-4 POINTS INCLUDING DIST.
NOTICE BOTH HANDS HAVE AT LEAST TWO CARDS IN HEARTS, so
you ALERT AND SAY THIS: "at least
two hearts promised." In hand 1,
the hand with two hearts, you can have from up to 7 points, but notice, you
WILL HAVE A MINUS ONE FOR THE SHORTNESS IN PARTNER’S SUIT. YOU CAN COUNT NO OTHER DIST. POINTS, SINCE
OPPONENTS HAVE NOT BID AND YOU AND PARTNER DO NOT HAVE AS YET A FIT. YOU COULD HAVE FROM 0 TO 8 HCPS FOR THIS BID
SINCE IF YOU HELD 8 HCPS + YOUR MINUS ONE FOR SHORTNESS YOU WOULD IN FACT HAVE
A TOTAL OF 7. The second type of Pass hand, the hand containing three hearts
and 0-4 points, contains three card support. THERE IS A FIT SO THOSE 0-4 POINTS
WOULD ALSO INCLUDE ANY DIST. POINTS FOR SHORTNESS IN THE OTHER THREE
SUITS. YOU CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT FUDGE
THE POINT COUNT ON THESE HANDS. This Bergen bid means you will BE PASSING
PARTNERS OPEN ON:
BERGEN BID #2:
This Bergen bid shows EXACTLY 3 card support and 5-8 points including dist:
·
1 heart…pass...TWO HEARTS SHOWS EXACTLY THREE CARD SUPPORT AND 5-8 POINTS (INCLUDING
DISTRIBUTION). AGAIN YOU MUST NOT FUDGE!! IF YOUR PARTNER OPENS 1 SPADE AND YOU
BID TWO SPADES, you MUST HAVE EXACTLY 3 SPADES IN YOUR HAND AND FROM 5 TO 8
POINTS!
· 1 spade by partner...pass...THREE SPADES BY YOU SHOWS four card support in spades and from 0 TO 7 POINTS (INCLUDING DIST.) THIS IS A VERY WEAK BID AND IS IN FACT A PREEMPT ON YOUR PART IN YOUR PARTNER’S SUIT.
Because of the LAW OF TOTAL TRICKS, YOU DO NOT NEED ANY POINTS TO MAKE THIS BID. HOWEVER, YOU MUST NOT MAKE THIS BID IF YOUR HAND IS WORTH MORE THAN 7 POINTS!
BERGEN BID #3:
BECAUSE OF THIS, NOW YOU NEED BIDS FOR WHEN YOU HAVE FOUR
CARD SUPPORT BUT STRONGER HANDS. THERE ARE THREE BERGEN BIDS FOR THIS…IT
IS CALLED THE four card support chain of Bergen bids.
· 1 heart ...pass...three hearts by you shows 0-7 points and four card support
· 1 heart...pass...three Clubs by you shows 8-9 points and four card support in hearts
· 1 heart….pass...THREE DIAMONDS by you shows a good 9-11 points and four card support in hearts.
Note:
THREE DIAMONDS AND THREE CLUBS ARE TOTALLY CONVENTIONAL.
THESE TWO BIDS SAY NOTHING ABOUT DIAMONDS OR CLUBS. THEY SIMPLY SHOW STRONGER HANDS AND SUPPORT FOR PARTNER OF FOUR CARDS. Again you alert them both.
ALL OF THESE BIDS ARE BERGEN BIDS
BERGEN BID #4:
1 heart...pass...FOUR HEARTS BY YOU SHOWS: 0-7 POINTS AND FIVE CARD SUPPORT. Again, it is preemptive and must be alerted as such.
BERGEN BID #5:
1 heart by partner...pass...one spade by you shows: 5 to a zillion points and at least five spades.
BERGEN BID #6:
1 of a major by partner...pass…TWO OF A NEW SUIT BY YOU SHOWS: 10 + POINTS AND AT LEAST FIVE CARD BIDDABLE SUIT IN SUIT BID. 1 SPADE BY PARTNER...PASS…TWO HEARTS BY YOU. With this "two over one" bid YOU ALSO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AUCTION SINCE THIS BID IS FORCING AT LEAST ONE ROUND. For now, TRY TO HAVE A FIVE CARD SUIT, BUT
SOMETIMES YOU WILL NOT HAVE THIS FIVE CARD SUIT, AND YOU
MUST MAKE THIS BID WITH ONLY A FOUR CARD SUIT. This is okay if YOU MAINTAIN
CONTROL OF THE AUCTION. You can NOT MAKE THIS TWO OVER ONE BID WITH A
SINGLETON! For now, only bid two over one with a five + card suit and 10+
points.
BERGEN BID #7:
1 heart.....pass...TWO SPADES SHOWS A WEAK JUMP SHIFT SHOWING SIX + SPADES...NO MORE THAN ONE OF THE TOP THREE HONORS IN SPADES AND A SINGLETON OR VOID IN HEARTS. Note, you can only make it in that one situation…1 heart....pass…two spades. You can not make it in minor suits as they are reserved to show four card support.
BERGEN BID #8:
1 heart..pass...four clubs is SPLINTER BID, as is:
· 1 Spade…pass…4 clubs
· 1 SPADE...PASS…four diamonds
· 1 heart...pass...THREE SPADES
· 1 SPADE...PASS...FOUR HEARTS
You are promising with ANY DOUBLE JUMP THE FOLLOWING:
AT LEAST FOUR CARD SUPPORT...11 TO 15 POINTS AND A
SINGLETON OR VOID IN THE SUIT JUMPED IN.
BERGEN BID #9:
If you do not have that singleton or void, YOU WILL BID JACOBY TWO NOTRUMP: 1 HEART ..PASS…TWO NOTRUMP BY YOU SHOWS:
FOUR CARD SUIT IN HEARTS, 11-15 POINTS...NO SHORTNESS AND THE BID ASKS PARTNER IF SHE HAS SHORTNESS. If you like partner’s singleton, you tell her by q bidding, if you don't, simply sign off in game in your suit
BERGEN BID #10:
1. IF YOU ARE BIDDING FORCING NOTRUMP IN ORDER TO FIND A NEW SUIT WITH PARTNER HOLDING A WEAK HAND, YOU BID NOTRUMP AND THEN BID THAT SUIT AND GET THE HELL OUT
2. IF YOU ARE BIDDING FORCING NOTRUMP IN ORDER TO SHOW HER SUPPORT AND A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS, YOU WILL BID NOTRUMP AND THEN RETURN TO HER SUIT.
3. WHEN YOU BID FORCING NOTRUMP, YOU TAKE ALL CONTROL MAKING ALL DECISIONS FOR PARTNER, AND YOU only give it back to partner when you RETURN TO HER SUIT.