By Peter Rhead
Responding after partner overcalls Michaels Cuebid
This week we examine your responses to partner’s Michaels Cuebid.
His Michaels bid is against the opposition opening. Partner’s Michaels bid shows a competing two-suited hand of at least five-five in the two suits one of which must be a major.
In three weeks we will look at the Unusual Two No-Trump which works along with Michaels.
First a short review of Michaels. Your left hand opponent (LHO) opens at the one level of any suit. If your partner overcalls by cue-bidding the same suit one level higher, he has one of the following four two-suited five-five hands.
After One Spade, Two Spades means Hearts and an unknown minor.
After One Heart, Two Hearts means Spades and an unknown minor.
After One Club, Two Clubs means both majors.
After One Diamond, Two Diamonds means both majors.
From partner’s cue-bid, you now know partner is two-suited and what suits he may have. If you are looking for the unknown minor, you always bid Three Clubs. Partner will correct to Diamonds if that is his suit, or carry on in Clubs. Michaels works the same way if your right-hand opponent opens at the one level of any suit.
Now that partner has shared this information with you, your next bid is to tell partner which (if any) of the two suits interest you, depending on the strength of your hand.
Guideline One: Either partner may proceed to part-score, game or slam if warranted.
Guideline Two: If you have support for partner’s known major suit, show it right away.
Guideline Three: Partner must be at least five-five with one major in his two suits.
Guideline Four: Overcalling with Michaels, partner should have either a weak point count or an opening strong 1NT point count. Otherwise he bids naturally per agreement.
Guideline Five: With a lower point count, you are looking for a part score or game opportunity because you may have a good fit or double fit.
For more information, read “Michaels Cuebid” and “Unusual Two-No-Trump” in Barbara Seagram’s 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know, page 127.
Next Week: Examples of Responding to Michaels.
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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