Michael's Cue Bid

Situation: Your RHO opens 1 Spade and you have this hand: What do you do?

ª x
© KQxxx
¨ AJxxx
§ xx

The Problem. This hand will take a lot of tricks with any red card fit by your partner. But, what's your bid?

- Do you make the 2© overcall - vulnerable?

- Do you double, hoping partner won't bid Clubs?

- Do you pass, hoping to get in later?

- Do you bid 2¨, hoping partner will bid Hearts?

The Solution. The answer is to bid 2ª - the Michael's Cue Bid.

   Michael's shows two five card suits and some points.

N        E         S        W

1ª        2ª         . . .

This tells your partner you have the other major and a minor, each five cards in length.

It's the same for 1© - 2© or 1§ - 2§ or 1¨ - 2¨

These last two tells partner you have both majors.

Strength: 8 to 14 points concentrated in the two suits.

Example Michael's hands:

ª x ª AQxxx ª QJxxx

© KQxxx © Jxxxx © -

¨AJxxx ¨ x ¨ KJxxx

§ xx § Qx § Jxx

Bid 2ª over 1ª or
Bid 2NT over 1§
(see Unusual 2NT)

Bid 2§ or 2¨
over a minor

Bid 2© over 1©

Maxi-Michael's

Maxi-Michael's is the bid when you have a better hand with the same distribution, such as:

N     E     S      W

1©    3©    . . .

ª AKQxx
© -
¨ AKJxx
§ xxx

Your other choices aren't very good:

- Should you make a 1ª overcall and be passed out ?

- Should you double, hoping partner won't bid Clubs ?

Maxi-Michael's needs a hand with good game possibilities with a minimum of help from partner in HCP but hoping for some distributional help. These are rare opportunities as you can imagine.

Responses to Michael's Overcalls

Responder knows exactly the overcaller's distribution, and can judge how valuable his cards are in support of the two suits bid.

1ª        2ª       P         ???

With these hands, West should bid as indicated:

ª xx

ª xxx

ª xxx

© xxx

© Ax

© Axx

¨ Qxx

¨ KQxx

¨ KQxx

§ xxxx

§ Kxxx

§ KQxx

Bid 3©

Bid 2NT, then
pass East's minor.

Bid 4©

Example Michael's Sequences

N E S W

1§   2§ 3§ 4§ ! West says "You pick 'em, East "

1§ 2§ P   P ! West has a bunch of clubs .

1¨ 2¨ 2NT P

P P West hasn't many points, has he?

1©   2© 3© 3ª Is West competing or serious ?

P P . . . East has made his bid: don't mess up West's balance.

1ª 2ª 5ª Dbl West is taking it to N/S big time.

1© 2NT P 3§ The Unusual Notrump, not Michael's.

1© 2© P 4ª E/W find the right game.

ª x	ª AQxxx	ª QJxxx
© KQxxx	© Jxxxx	© -
¨AJxxx	¨ x	¨ KJxxx
§ xx	§ Qx	§ Jxx
Bid 2ª over 1ª or Bid 2NT over 1§ (see Unusual 2NT)	Bid 2§ or 2¨ over a minor	Bid 2© over 1©

ª xx	ª xxx	ª xxx
© xxx	© Ax	© Axx
¨ Qxx	¨ KQxx	¨ KQxx
§ xxxx	§ Kxxx	§ KQxx
Bid 3©	Bid 2NT, then pass East's minor.	Bid 4©

N	E	S	W
1§	2§	3§	4§ !	West says "You pick 'em, East "
1§	2§	P	P !	West has a bunch of clubs .
1¨	2¨	2NT	P
P	P			West hasn't many points, has he?
1©	2©	3©	3ª	Is West competing or serious ?
P	P	. . .		East has made his bid: don't mess up West's balance.
1ª	2ª	5ª	Dbl	West is taking it to N/S big time.
1©	2NT	P	3§	The Unusual Notrump, not Michael's.
1©	2©	P	4ª	E/W find the right game.