[dickiegera]

What should 1♥ - 2♥ show? [No interference]

What should 1♥ - 1NT -2♣-2♥ show? [No interference]

Thank you

[Stephen Tu]

There is no such thing as "ACBL 2/1". There's no official 2/1 standard promulgated by the ACBL unlike "SAYC".

A standard raise shows up to a bad 10 pts (including distributional values) or so with 3+ support (hands with more trumps may be excluded/rare if something like Bergen raises are in use). The bottom end of it depends on partnership agreement, whether you are playing std (~6-10-), semi-constructive (~7-10-), or constructive (~8-10-) raises.

The other sequence is either a non-constructive heart raise (~4 to whatever the bottom of your single raise is), or more commonly some 6-bad 10 hand with a doubleton, often a "false preference".

[Siegmund]

As Stephen noted, you're going to get two basic answers -- "first auction shows 3 hearts second auction shows 2 hearts" (and no long minor), and an alternative where a number of subminimum and/or 4333 hands go through 1NT first.

My personal experience is that the former is a Westernism and the latter an Easternism, within the ACBL, but that's not an absolute fact.

[edited to correct a typo that reversed my meaning]

[nigel_k]

You need two ways to raise because the range of 1♥-2♥ is much too wide if it has to cover all hands with three card support and less than invitational values. Going via 1NT and giving preference to hearts should be the weaker one because opener will want to pass that on some fairly good hands. So the immediate raise has to be the stronger one.

The upper limit of the immediate raise is anything less than a three card limit raise. With the kind of hands that people typically open at the one level now, that means you'll just raise to two on most hands with three card support, 4432 shape and 10 HCP. The lower limit will be the same as the upper limit of the hands where you start with 1NT and give preference. This upper limit should be set so that opener will be right to move on the same hands regardless of whether you have three card support or a doubleton.

I think the above is more or less generally accepted and what is below is just my opinion.

Most 7 HCP hands are better off raising immediately but a below average 7 will go via 1NT. So an average 7 to a slightly above average 10 for the single raise and 1NT first for weaker hands. This assumes 4432 shape. With more shape and certainly with a singleton the HCP requirements are reduced.

What you do with four card support is a separate issue. My (minority) view is that it's not worth jumping to the three level with a balanced hand and four card support. I'd rather make a single raise on most of the 7-9 HCP range hands where others are using Bergen raises. A jump would be either full invitational values or have a shortage. Either way, four card support is better and should be evaluated accordingly. With no shortage, four card support is worth about 1 HCP more than three card support. With a shortage it is worth 2 HCP more.

[peachy]

The majority view (= those who do not play Constructive Major Raises that show about 7-10) is that the first is 3-4 hearts in support and 6-9 or up to very bad 10, the second is heart preference with a doubleton and less than invite, of course.

Other agreements are possible but this is what I would expect in the ACBL with pickup partner when no Bergen on the card.

[dickiegera]

My original question was because of holding

Would Qxx, 10xx, AJxx, xxx

Be an immediate raise to 2♥?

[mcphee]

I like the constructive raise approach. The second way is generally less than a decent 10 count with 2 S.

The hand you have shown is close to a constructive raise but not quite what partners might expect, so this would be a slow raise hand for me, 1 less C would be a direct raise.

[pooltuna]

dickiegera, on Apr 10 2010, 06:53 AM, said:

My original question was because of holding

Would  Qxx, 10xx, AJxx, xxx

Be an immediate raise to 2♥?

I would go through F1NT for that hand as it does not fit my definition of a constructive raise

[neilkaz]

dickiegera, on Apr 10 2010, 05:53 AM, said:

My original question was because of holding

Would Qxx, 10xx, AJxx, xxx

Be an immediate raise to 2♥?

If playing constructive raises I wouldn't think this is good enough. 4333 hands don't play so well as dummy in trump contracts. To me this is a bad 7 count.

Of course if playing SAYC or not playing 2/1 w/constructive raises I raise to 2♥ although some may still wish to bid 1NT.

[jjbrr]

I prefer a style that can raise with that hand immediately.

[nigel_k]

dickiegera, on Apr 11 2010, 12:53 AM, said:

My original question was because of holding

Would Qxx, 10xx, AJxx, xxx

Be an immediate raise to 2♥?

That's a 1NT response for me. You have 4333 shape. poor trumps and a dubious !sQ. Switch the majors and it is a bare minimum 2♥. Put a club in with the spades as well (i.e. 10xxx Qxx AJxx xx) and it is a definite 2♥. Some people need a bit more for a 'constructive' raise than I do though.

[CSGibson]

dickiegera, on Apr 10 2010, 04:53 AM, said:

My original question was because of holding

Would Qxx, 10xx, AJxx, xxx

Be an immediate raise to 2♥?

As with most bidding questions, it depends on your agreements. I prefer 2 hearts, but I also play a system where 2♣ is either game forcing with clubs or a flawed 3 card LR in the major, so 2♥ is usually 6 to a bad 9 for us, since any good 9 and some good 8 counts we go through 2♣.