Practice on Cuebids
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Last updated
2026-08-01
What are Bergen Raises?
Bergen Raises are artificial responses after partner opens one of a major. They show four-card support and sort responder's hand strength below game.
The most common idea is that 3 and 3 are not natural. They are coded major-suit raises.
The convention was devised by Marty Bergen and rests on the Law of Total Tricks: with nine combined trumps, the partnership is usually safe competing to the three level. It assumes five-card major openings.
Artificial raise after a major
- 3 is artificial in Bergen methods.
- The exact strength depends on whether the partnership plays standard or reverse Bergen.
Why play Bergen?
The convention lets responder show four-card support immediately while separating weak, constructive, invitational, and forcing raises.
Variants
Bergen has many variants. Some pairs reverse the meanings of 3 and 3, some include mixed raises, and some turn parts off after interference.
A common default is that Bergen stays on over a takeout double but is off over an overcall, and off by a passed hand. Other pairs keep the bids on whenever they are still a jump, so agree explicitly.
Typical raise ladder
A practical Bergen structure tries to keep every major raise in one lane: simple raise for constructive hands with three-card support, Bergen jumps for four-card support below game, Jacoby 2NT for game-forcing raises, splinters for shortness, and direct game raises for preemptive shape.
The convention is strongest when it removes guesswork about trump length. If responder's raise might be based on only three trumps, opener may compete too high expecting a nine-card fit.
- Standard Bergen and reverse Bergen swap which minor shows the stronger raise.
- Decide whether Bergen is on by a passed hand.
- Decide whether Bergen is on after a double and off after an overcall.
- Agree what the jump in the other major means: some pairs play it as an ambiguous splinter, others avoid assigning it a raise meaning.
One common Bergen structure
There is no single universal Bergen table, but one common standard framework uses 3 for about 7-10 points with four-card support and 3 for a limit raise of about 11-12 points with four-card support. Reverse Bergen swaps the strength meanings of 3 and 3.
- After a standard 3 constructive raise, opener can bid 3 to ask where responder falls within the range. Responder signs off in three of the major with about 7-8 and bids game with about 9-10.
- After the limit raise, three of the agreed major declines the invitation and four of the major accepts it.
- Other side-suit continuations are forward-going and must be defined by the partnership.
Constructive four-card raise
- In one common style, 3 shows about 7-10 points with four spades.
- In reverse Bergen, this may instead be the stronger raise.
Limit four-card raise
- In one common style, 3 shows about 11-12 points with four hearts.
- The exact strength must be agreed because many pairs reverse 3 and 3.
Preemptive raise separated
- Many pairs keep direct three of the major as preemptive, roughly 0-6 points with four-card support.
- That lets Bergen bids handle constructive and invitational raises.
Opener re-invites after 3
- Opener uses 3 to ask where responder sits within the constructive range.
- Here responder accepts with about 9-10; with 7-8 responder signs off in 3 instead.
Raise hand examples
Bergen is mainly a trump-length convention. Four-card support lets the partnership compete to the three level with more confidence than a normal three-card raise.
Constructive Bergen raise
- After partner opens 1, this hand has four-card support and constructive values.
- Use the agreed Bergen bid rather than a simple raise if that is the partnership method.
Not Bergen with three trumps
- The hand has only three spades.
- Most Bergen methods reserve the artificial jump raises for four-card support.
Preemptive Bergen raise
- After partner opens 1, jump straight to 3: four trumps but only 3 HCP.
- The direct jump takes bidding space from the opponents while the Bergen minors stay available for better raises.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting whether 3 or 3 is the stronger raise.
- Using Bergen with only three-card support without agreement.
- Assuming Bergen is still on after interference.
FAQ
Does Bergen promise four-card support?
In the usual treatment, yes. Bergen Raises are designed around four-card major support.
Is 1 - 3 natural when playing Bergen?
No. In Bergen methods it is an artificial spade raise.
What does a partnership give up by playing Bergen Raises?
The natural jump shifts to 3 and 3. Pairs who value weak or invitational minor-suit jump shifts often prefer a different raise structure.