CUEBIDS of the Enemy Suit
Cuebids of the opponents' suit come in THREE different
types:
NATURAL - A natural and non-forcing cuebid is identified by
one of three different instances:
1. A PASS (where a double would be takeout) followed by
a bid of their suit.
e.g. 1S Pass 1NT Pass
Pass 2S
2. A JUMP in the opponent's short MINOR suit opening bid.
e.g. 1D 3D
3. When the opponents have bid TWO suits.
e.g. 1C Pass 1D 2C (or 2D)
Notice that in all three instances the bidder had
the chance to show the unbid suits (usually via a takeout
double) WITHOUT cuebidding.
CONVENTIONAL - An IMMEDIATE cuebid of their opening 1-level
or 2-level opening is MICHAELS, showing 8+ HCPs and a 5-5
2-suiter, including 5 cards in any unbid major. Thus,
a cuebid of a MINOR suit opening shows BOTH MAJORS while
a cuebid of a MAJOR suit shows the unbid major AND an
unspecified MINOR.
e.g. 1C 2C - MAJORS.
1H 2H - SPADES and a MINOR.
Orthodoxy states that Michaels should be reserved
for 5-5 2-suiters. Aggressive bidders will OCCASIONALLY
cuebid an opponent's MINOR opening with only four Spades
and 5 or 6 Hearts, though. This is an extreme example
of LOTUS. When making ANY 2-suited overcall (Michaels
or an Unusual 2NT overcall) the lower ranked suit should
be AT LEAST as long and strong as the higher ranked one.
S- AKQxx H- Jxxxx D- xx C- x
Over 1C or 1D, overcall 1S (bidding your suits
in natural order). Do NOT use Michaels. If you do
not get another chance to bid, at least partner will
not have to guess which (major) suit you want led!
S- Jxxxx H- AKQxx D- xx C- x
Now make a Michaels cuebid over 1C or 1D, since a
1H overcall would make it very difficult to show Spades
later without bypassing these fine Hearts.
Any 2-suited overcall, then, suggests that the
Lower Of the Two is Usually Stronger (hence, "LOTUS").
Opposite partner's Michaels cuebid of a MAJOR
1-level suit opening (e.g. 1H-2S-P or 1S-2S-P) bid,
2NT asks for the promised MINOR. Similarly, opposite
a Michaels cuebid of Opener's weak 2H or 2S opening
(e.g. 2H-3H-P or 2S-3S-P) a bid of 4NT asks for
minor suit. It is NOT Blackwood!
STRENGTH-SHOWING CUEBIDS - Cuebids later on in the
auction are used by the partnership to show general
strength. This usually implies GOOD support for
partner's suit (if one has been shown) in a strongly
invitational (or better) hand, but may be simply a
ploy to keep the auction alive with any game-forcing
auction.
1H 1S P 2H - Inviting game in Spades
or FORCING any game.
1D 1S 2S - Inviting game in Ds or
3NT, or FORCING game.
In the latter case, Responder tends to DENY
4 Hearts (since Responder could have made a negative
double here), 5+ Hearts (since 2H would show 5+
Hearts and be forcing) or 5+Clubs (since 2C would
show 5+Clubs and would also be forcing).
Opposite partner's STRENGTH-SHOWING cuebid
one can usually show a MINIMUM hand by returning
to the previous bid suit (e.g. 2S in the first
example, 3D in the second). Generally, though,
partner of the cuebidder will strain to bid
NO TRUMP if s/he holds a guard in the enemy suit.
After YOU have made a STRENGTH-SHOWING
cuebid you can force game by either cuebidding
AGAIN or by bidding a new suit.
1H 1S P 2H - STRENGTH-SHOWING.
P 2S P ?? - 3S invites game while
3C, 3D & 3H FORCE game.
