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Two-Suited Overcalls: Michaels Cue Bid and Unusual 2NT

Learn two conventions for showing a two-suited hand in bridge: Michaels Cue Bid and Unusual 2NT. These bids can be used with weak hands (6-10 HCP) and indicate two 5+ card suits. Find examples and tips for responding to these overcalls.

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Two-Suited Overcalls: Michaels Cue Bid and Unusual 2NT

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  1. Welcome to NEWBURY BRIDGE CLUB Two-suited overcalls

  2. Two Suited Overcalls As overcaller when we have two long suits (at least 5+in each) we don’t often get the opportunity to bid both of them naturally especially with weak hands. Today we’re going to look at two different conventions we can use to show a two-suited hand. 1. Michaels Cue Bid is a direct cue bid of the opener’s suit and shows a 2-suited hand (at least 5-5). A 2C or 2D cue bid shows both majors. A 2H or 2S cue bid shows the other major and an unspecified minor. 2. The Unusual Two No Trump Bid is an overcall of 2NT of a 1-level suit bid which shows the lowest two unbid suits. (at least 5-5)

  3. Two Suited Overcalls Important: Both the Unusual No Trump and the Michaels Cue Bid must only be bid with 5-5 or better hands, never with 6-4 or 5-4. This is not something you should ‘bend’ the rules on. The normal strength required is just 6-10 HCP* with some suit quality in both suits although both Michaels and the Unusual 2NT can also be used with 16+ hands (not covered today) but not 11-15 HCP where an overcall of the better suit is recommended. Most of your points should be in the two 5+ card suits. The idea behind it is that when you bid Michaels or the Unusual 2NT your partner pretty much knows what sort of hand you’ve got. i.e. Usually you have two 5-card suits and only 6-10 HCP. *However note that you can bid two-suited overcalls with as few as 5 or even 4 HCP with a 6-5 hand.

  4. Two Suited Overcalls The general approach when responding to a two-suited overcall with a weak hand, (which is of course forcing with no intervening bid), is to raise to the level of fit when overcaller’s suit is known (as you would for an ordinary overcall) or give a preference to one of the overcaller’s suits. Usually the overcaller will not bid again. You can pass when weak if there is an intervening bid from the opposition. With stronger hands other bids are available...!

  5. Michaels Cue Bid • 1. Michaels Cue Bid is a direct cue bid of the opener’s suit and shows a 2-suited hand (at least 5-5). • A 2C or 2D cue bid shows both majors. • A 2H or 2S cue bid shows the other major and an unspecified minor.

  6. Michaels Cue Bids 2 over their 1 shows 5+ and a 5+ minor 2 over their 1 shows 5+ and a 5+ minor 2 over their 1 shows at least 5-5 in the majors 2over their 1 shows at least 5-5 in the majors The cue bid needs to be alerted

  7. Examples of Michaels Your right hand opponent has opened 1. What action would you take, playing Michaels with these hands?  A Q 8 7 4 4 3 4  Q J 10 9 3  A Q 9 5 2  8  K J 9 5  5 4 3  A J 9 6 2  9 3 K J 10 8 6  A 8 Bid 2 1 (only one 5 card suit ) 1 (too strong for Michaels)

  8. Examples of Michaels Your right hand opponent has opened 1 . What action would you take , playing Michaels with these hands?  K 7 6 5 3 10 8 6 4 3  Q  Q 5  Q 9 6 3 2  A J 6 5 2  9 8  4  A 10 9 7 3  9 3 K Q 10 4 3 2  Void Pass (poor suit quality) 2  1(2  shows both majors)

  9. Responding to the Michaels Cue Bid 1. Give preference If overcaller shows both majors: With 3-card support for either of overcaller’s suits give preference to one of the suits. (Sometimes you may have to give preference with only 2 cards.) If overcaller shows a major and a minor: Bid major with 3-card support. With 2-card support you can still bid major if you have no minor suit interest Knowing that West has 5 cards in both majors East is happy to bid 2H. After a simple preference West will always pass with a weak hand.

  10. Responding to the Michaels Cue Bid 2. Raise to the Level of the Fit With 4+ card support for overcaller’s known suit, responder can raise to the level of the fit with almost any hand. If spades if your suit and you’re not vulnerable you might even consider bidding 4S with a weak hand and just 4 spades. This is one more than the level of the fit but it messes your opponents up no end. (When vulnerable without a singleton or void or not vulnerable with 4333 shape, best to raise to one less than the level of fit.) East assumes West’s hand is the weak type and raises pre-emptively to 4H making life as difficult as possible for the opponents.

  11. Responding to the Michaels Cue Bid 3. Ask ‘Which Minor?’ – the 2NT enquiry The 2NT enquiry response can be used after a major suit cue bid to find out which minor the overcaller holds. You use this when you have length in one or both of the minors. It doesn’t promise any points but you might use it if you’re very short in the known major. As an artificial bid 2NT needs to be alerted. With only 1 spade East uses the 2NT enquiry to find which minor his partner holds

  12. Responding to the Michaels Cue Bid Summary 1. Give preference (weak with 3 or less of each suit) 2. Raise to the Level of the Fit (with 4+ of one of suits) 3. Ask ‘Which Minor?’ – the 2NT enquiry Other bids are rare and include bidding your own 7+ suit with a total misfit for partner’s suits. The only forcing bid you have apart from the 2NT enquiry is to cue bid the opener’s suit asking for more information. (Now you’ve both cue bid opener’s suit!) This invites game. (The overcaller will only bid again after a non-forcing response if they have the 16+ Michaels)

  13. North West East South 4S HAND 1 (dealer E) none vulnerable Q J 5 2 pass 9 8 A 10 8 6 3 5 2 K 6 3 9 A Q J 6 5 2 K 10 7 7 2 K Q J 9 5 Q 7 A 8 6 4 3 D 1H A 10 8 7 4 pass dbl 2H 4 3 4 pass K J 10 9 3

  14. North West East South 3C HAND 2 (dealer S) NS vulnerable Q pass J 10 9 5 J 10 9 4 K 9 8 6 K J 8 3 10 9 7 6 4 2 3 K Q 8 7 2 A 8 5 3 2 6 J 7 5 3 2 C 4S A 5 1C pass A 6 4 dbl K Q 7 A Q10 4 2

  15. South East West North 3S HAND 3 (dealer W) EW vulnerable J 10 8 4 pass K 5 J 3 Q J 9 8 5 K 6 3 2 void A Q 9 7 2 A Q 8 7 5 2 K 10 9 A K 7 2 10 6 4 3 1D 2 H A Q 9 7 5 3NT 2D 4 NT J 10 8 6 4 3 pass 4S 6 4 void pass

  16. West South North East HAND 4 (dealer N) Both vulnerable 2NT Q J 3H A 7 5 K Q 10 4 2 Pass K 10 4 5 2 K 7 6 3 Q J 10 9 4 8 6 2 A J 9 8 7 5 3 A 7 5 2 8 1H Pass A 10 9 8 4 pass 2H Pass K 3 pass 3C Pass 6 Pass Q J 9 6 3 3NT

  17. The Unusual 2 No Trump 2. The Unusual Two No Trump Bid is an overcall of 2NT of a1-level suit bid which shows the lowest two unbid suits. (at least 5-5) As before most of your points should be in these two suits. Some pairs only use it to show the minors (over an opening of 1 or 1) and it does need to be used with caution over an opening of 1 or 1(when you are showing hearts and the other minor) The unusual 2NT must be made over a 1-level bid. If the opposition opened a weak 2 for example a 2NT overcall would show 16-18 HCP and a stopper in spades. Also after an opening bid and two passes 2NT is not the unusual 2NT. Instead it shows a natural strong balanced hand 19-21 HCP with a stopper in opener’s suit.

  18. Unusual 2NT 2NT over their 1 shows at least 5-5 in the minors 2NT over their 1 shows at least 5-5 in the minors (2NTover their 1 shows 5+clubs and 5+hearts) (2NTover their 1 shows 5+diamonds and 5+hearts) The cue bid needs to be alerted

  19. Examples of Unusual 2NT Your right hand opponent has opened 1 . What action would you take, playing the Unusual 2NT with these hands?  A J 9  Q 7 5 4 3  J 8 6 5 2  9 2  5  K 10 7 6 2  A J 9 8 4  6  7 Q 10 8 6 4 2  Q J 10 5 2 Pass(suit quality too poor) Bid 2NT Bid 2NT

  20. Examples of Unusual 2NT Your right hand opponent has opened 1 . What action would you take, playing the Unusual 2NT with these hands? (N.B. You should use the unusual 2NT sparingly over a minor suit opening since you may end up in 3H when you could have played in 2H.)  5 3 K Q 10 5 3  A J 5 3 2  4  3  Q J 7 5 2  A 10 8 6 2  J 7 Bid 2NT Bid 2NT(if not vulnerable) but 1H (if vulnerable)

  21. Responding to the Unusual 2NT 1. Give preference With 3 or 4 card support for either of overcaller’s suits give preference to one of the suits. Sometimes you may have to give preference with only 2 cards Knowing that West has 5 cards in both minors East is happy to bid 3C. After a simple preference West will always pass with a weak hand.

  22. Responding to the Unusual 2 NT 2. Raise to the Level of the Fit With 5+ card support for overcaller’s known suit, responder can raise to the level of the fit with almost any hand. (When vulnerable without a singleton or void or not vulnerable with 4333 shape, best to raise to one less than the level of fit.) East assumes West’s hand is the weak type and raises pre-emptively to 5C making life as difficult as possible for the opponents.

  23. Responding to the Unusual 2NT Summary 1. Give preference (weak with 4 or less of each suit) 2. Raise to the Level of the Fit (with 5+ of one of suits) Other bids are rare and include bidding your own 7+ suit with a total misfit for partner’s suits. The only forcing bid you have is to cue bid the opener’s suit asking for more information. This invites game. (The overcaller will only bid again after a non-forcing response if they have the 16+ Unusual 2NT)

  24. The use of 4NT to show the minors The unusual no-trump bid can be used at higher levels when it is clear it couldn’t mean anything else. For example W N E S 1H pass 4H 4NT Or W N E S 3S 4NT Naturally you need to be stronger than 6-10HCP for these bids!

  25. The use of 4NT to show the minors You are South. West was dealer and the bidding has gone W N E S 1H pass 4H ? This is your hand. What do you bid?  void A J 3  K 10 5 3 2  K Q 8 6 5 Bid 4NT

  26. North West East South HAND 5 (dealer N) NS vulnerable 1H J 9 Pass K Q 6 4 3 2 A K 10 3 Pass 7 6 A Q 8 7 2 7 8 5 Q J 9 6 4 2 5 A Q J 10 5 9 8 6 4 2 K 10 5 4 3 2 NT 5C A J 10 9 Pass 4H Pass 8 7 Pass K 3 dbl

  27. North West East South HAND 6 (dealer E) EW vulnerable K 10 9 6 4 Pass A J 6 5 7 6 3 2 7 3 A Q J 8 2 K 9 8 6 4 2 Q 10 5 3 A K 10 7 4 Q 4 K 8 5 1H 4H 7 Pass 2NT Q J 9 8 3 2 A J 10 9 5 pass

  28. North West East South HAND 7 (dealer W) Both vulnerable 2NT 3 Pass A J 8 6 2 A J 9 7 5 4 Pass 10 A Q J 10 9 8 2 K 7 6 9 4 3 Q 10 8 3 K 10 5 A K 8 7 6 4 1C 5 4 3S 4S K 7 5 Pass 4H Pass Q 6 2 Pass Q J 9 3 2 5D

  29. East North South West HAND 8 (dealer N) Neither vulnerable Pass 8 7 6 5 5C Q 9 8 4 Pass A10 4 3 2 K Q 10 4 3 A J 9 2 10 9 8 7 2 K Q 6 5 4 7 A J 6 9 7 J 1H 4H dbl A J 3 4 NT Pass dbl K 10 5 3 2 Pass Pass K Q 8 6 5 Pass

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