Cue-Bid
Cue-Bid means the repeat of the suit bid by one of the opponents. Michaels' Cue-Bid developed by Mike Michaels is applied to indicate 2 long suits. This Cue-Bid may be applied by the 1st or 2nd opponent in the first tour over the opponent suit with non-opening hands holding 6+ total points or with very good hands better than openning. Standard openning hands do not need to apply cue-bid and make a trump overcall. You can examine the following table for the meanings of Michaels' Cue-Bids.
Opener
Opponent
Explanation
1 Spade
2 Spades
At least 5 cards of Hearts and 5 cards of a minor.
1 Heart
2 Hearts
At least 5 cards of Spades and 5 cards of a minor.
1 Diamond
2 Diamonds
At least 5 cards of Spades and 5 cards of Hearts.
1 Club
2 Clubs
At least 5 cards of Spades and 5 cards of Hearts.
1 Suit
2 NT
At least 5 cards of unbid lowest rank 2 suits.
2 NT Cue-Bid is known as “Unusual NT “. If the openning suit is Diamond, it indicates Hearts and Clubs, if the openning suit is Club, then it indicates Hearts and Diamonds. Cue-Bid applications are different in Super Five Cards Major as in the following table.
Opener
Opponent
Explanation
1 Spade
2 Spades
At least 5 cards of Hearts and 5 cards of Clubs.
1 Heart
2 Hearts
At least 5 cards of Spades and 5 cards of Clubs.
1 Diamond
2 Diamonds
At least 5 cards of Spades and 5 cards of Hearts.
1 Club
2 Clubs
Natural, not a Cue-Bid
1 Suit
2 NT
At least 5 cards of unbid lowest rank 2 suits.
1 Spade 3 Clubs At least 5 cards of Hearts and 5 cards of Diamonds. 1 Heart 3 Clubs At least 5 cards of Spades and 5 cards of Diamonds. With these Cue-Bids it is not possible to show all 5-5 distributions, for instance Spades and Diamonds over 1 Club Openning. For a complete Cue-Bid application please examine the Ghestem Convention and Astro Cue-Bids.
If the responder bid a different suit, then the cue-bid applied by the 2nd opponent shows the other 2 suits. Here the Cue-Bid of the lower rank suit promises 16+ points, the higher rank suit promises 19+ points. With 13+ points you can show the other 2 suits by doubling.
2 NT Cue-Bid by the 2nd opponent over 2 suits of the other team, shows 13+ points and 6-5 distribution of the other 2 suits.
You can not pas when your partner applied a Cue-Bid unless the player before you, bid something.
There are some different Cue-Bid applications which do not necessarily indicates 5-5 distribution. You can examine some of them from the following tables.
Opener
1.Opponent
Responder
2.Opponent
Explanation
1 Club
1 Spade
2 Spades
No Spade stopper, No 4 cards of Hearts, No 5 cards of a minor, 11+ HCP
1 Diamond
2 Clubs
3 Clubs
At least 4-4 major distribution, 11+ HCPs, or Club Stopper search for 3 NT contract. It depends to Partnership agreement.
1 Diamond
1 Spade
Pas
2 Diamonds
May or not be Spade support, No Diamond stopper, No any 5 cards suit, 11+ HCP
1 Diamond
Double
Pas
2 Diamonds
Triple suited hand except Diamond, 11+ points
The Cue-Bids of the responder in the table above may have different meanings as you will see in the table below. You should have a common understanding on these Cue-Bids with your partner.
Opener
1.Oppoent
Responder
Explanation
1 Club
1 Spade
2 Spades
At least 5 cards of Clubs, 13+ points, No Spade stopper, No 4 cards of Hearts
1 Heart
1 Spade
2 Spades
At least 3 cards of Hearts, 13+ points
1 Spade
2 Diamonds
3 Diamonds
At least 3 cards of Spades, 13+ points
And one example for the Opener's Cue-Bid.
Opener
Responder
2.Opponent
Opener
Explanation
1 Diamond
1 Heart
1 Spade
2 Spades
Heart support, 19+ points, Slam invitation