[gwnn]

on 4 trumps no you try not to bid 2S

[aguahombre]

gwnn, on Apr 22 2010, 07:14 AM, said:

on 4 trumps no you try not to bid 2S

Some disagree with that. Jlal, above, suggests that with most 4-4-3-2 (and presumably 4-3-3-3) advancing hands which contain four trumps and in-between values --he would just raise to 2, then compete later if appropriate.

That is our style, too. The mixed (jump que) raise usually has shortness --often in opener's suit; or might be the concentrated hand Phil posted (QXXX XX AQXX XXX)
But with just scattered quacks, as in OP, we are more likely to go low or jump raise.

[gwnn]

For me 4333 is always 2♠ with 4432 it depends. Sorry my phrasing was sloppy.

[ArtK78]

aguahombre, on Apr 22 2010, 10:30 AM, said:

gwnn, on Apr 22 2010, 07:14 AM, said:

on 4 trumps no you try not to bid 2S

Some disagree with that. Jlal, above, suggests that with most 4-4-3-2 (and presumably 4-3-3-3) advancing hands which contain four trumps and in-between values --he would just raise to 2, then compete later if appropriate.

That is our style, too. The mixed (jump que) raise usually has shortness --often in opener's suit; or might be the concentrated hand Phil posted (QXXX XX AQXX XXX)
But with just scattered quacks, as in OP, we are more likely to go low or jump raise.

I have always considered a 4333 hand to be a simple raise (assuming the hand is the appropriate strength for a simple raise). Any other hand with 4 or more card trump support and the usual strength for a simple raise is a mixed raise.

That, to me, is the definition of a "mixed" raise - a combination of the strength to make a simple raise with enough trump to preempt. However, 4333 is such a minus that it is treated like a 3-card raise.

My definition is the same as Jlall's definition - between a preempt and a limit raise, i.e., a simple raise with more trump. I would make the mixed raise on 4432 shape, but that is just a matter of style.

[junyi_zhu]

Mbodell, on Apr 20 2010, 11:53 PM, said:

When mixed raises were explained to me, hastily by one partner, I was told a mix raise hand is good enough to take at least a trick on defense, while a preemptive raise frequently will not. So partner could count on us for a trick if he wanted to double the opponents if they compete over our mixed raise.

Do people agree with that being a reasonable definition?

If that is the case here then it seems like with all our dubious values we are not a sure trick, but that we'd likely be worth a trick promoting something in partner's hand.

IMO, Mixed raise is a bad name. It merely shows a hand in the constructive raise range with 4 trumps. So it's better to be called a 4 card constructive raise. Of course, "mixed" is short. In that sense, Mixed raise simply says nothing about defensive tricks. It just shows a hand that is not as good as an invitational raise, but stronger than a preemptive raise, which is often made based on 6 or fewer HCP.