BB What’s Standard? by David Lindop This series is based on Grant Length of the Suits Standard, a set of conventions and The Michaels As with the unusual notrump, a agreements that are in popular use Michaels cuebid typically promises today, such as 15-17 1NT openings, Cuebid at least five cards in each suit. The five-card majors, and weak two- more distributional, the safer it is to bids. A summary chart of Grant compete. For example: Standard and the corresponding MICHAELS CONVENTION WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH convention card can be found at ♣ ♦ ♠ www.AudreyGrant.com. The site • A direct cuebid of 2 or 2 1 ? shows 5+ cards in both majors. A 2♠ cuebid will also has Grant Basic, a simpler set ♠ — • A direct cuebid of 2♥ shows 5+ commit the part- of agreements. ♥ K 10 8 6 5 4 spades and 5+ clubs or diamonds. nership to bidding ♦ Earlier articles in this series ♠ Q J 8 7 6 3 appeared in the Bridge Bulletin and • A direct cuebid of 2 shows 5+ a suit at the three ♣ 4 can also be found under ‘Articles’ at hearts and 5+ clubs or diamonds. level, but with 6–6 www.AudreyGrant.com. distribution, there’s little danger. The Suppose the auction starts: opponents likely have a fit of their WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH own and won’t want to defend, even n the previous issue we looked at ♦ the unusual notrump, a way to 1 ? with the majority of the high cards. compete with a two-suited hand This would be an By promising at least 5–5 in the I ♠ A J 10 7 5 when the opponents have opened ideal hand to make two suits, partner, as advancer, will ♥ K Q 9 8 5 be able to compete knowing that the bidding. This convention proved a Michaels cuebid ♦ of 2♦, showing at 4 2 only three-card support is needed so effective, that Mike Michaels of ♣ 3 Miami suggested another ‘unusual’ least five cards in for an eight-card fit. way to to show a two-suited hand both major suits. Strength of the Hand over an opponent’s opening bid. Suppose the auction begins: The Michaels cuebid is primarily The Direct Cuebid WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH designed as an obstructive tool. It 1♥ ? When the opponent on our right does not promise much strength, opens the bidding in one of a suit, With this hand, we ♠ only good distribution. Typically, it can bid 2♥, showing A J 10 7 5 shows less than the values for an it’s rare that we want to suggest ♥ 3 at least five spades opening bid. With a stronger hand, playing in the same trump suit. So ♦ 4 2 and a five-card or the classic meaning assigned to a ♣ K Q 9 8 5 we can overcall the higher-ranking direct overcall in the opponent’s suit longer minor suit— suit, planning to show the other suit was to show shortness in the suit and which could be clubs or diamonds. at the next opportunity. a very strong hand—a sort of ‘super’ The advantage of showing two WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH takeout double. The artificial bid of an suits at once is that we have a better 1♦ ? opponent’s suit is termed a cuebid. chance of landing on our feet. Partner With this hand, ♠ likely has a fit for at least one of our A K 7 6 4 Over the years, the cuebid was South can simply ♥ A Q 9 8 3 expanded into a general forcing bid suits. Knowing we have a distribu- overcall 1♠ rather ♦ tional hand might help partner to ♦ 4 used in a variety of situations. than cuebidding 2 . ♣ Q 5 Experience showed that a direct compete, perhaps taking a sacrifice South can bid hearts cuebid of right-hand opponent’s suit against the opponents’ contract. The later if it is convenient. If South were wasn’t very useful to show a strong cuebid also takes more bidding room to start with 2♦, it would be difficult hand. Such hands occur rarely and away from the opponents. to judge whether to bid again if can be shown by starting with a Of course, there is a downside. advancer bids at the cheapest level. takeout double and bidding strongly We risk getting the partnership The hand has lots of defensive thereafter—perhaps following up overboard when we don’t have a fit. strength, so South doesn’t want to with a cuebid of the opponent’s suit. The opponents might then double ‘over’-compete when the opponents So Mike Michaels suggested that a our contract for penalty. However, can’t make anything. direct cuebid of the opponent’s suit the Michaels convention has proved Some partnerships prefer a wider could be used to show a two-suited so popular it is used by almost all range for Michaels and would use overcall as follows: club and tournament players. that call with the above hand. BETTER 14 BRIDGE VOL. 12, NO. 1 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 BB However, restricting the cuebid to penalty, even if we are in trouble. Suppose we are South and the weakish hands allows advancer to We shouldn’t consider notrump auction begins this way: compete aggressively with a good with this type of hand. We’re WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH fit on the assumption that if the con- unlikely to have a source of tricks. 1♠ 2♠ 4♠ ? tract goes down—perhaps doubled WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH With a good fit for for penalty—the opponents can ♣ ♣ ♥ ♠ 4 1 2 2 ? whichever minor suit ♥ make a game or slam. We should find out partner holds and little 6 5 ♠ Q 10 7 5 ♦ K 8 7 5 3 We can make an exception when what East’s 2♥ bid defense against 4♠, we ♥ K 9 6 ♣ Q J 8 5 2 we have a very strong two-suiter, means in this type of ♦ want to compete to the where we are willing to bid again 7 4 auction. Since North ♣ 8 6 4 2 five level, especially at favorable after partner’s call. ♠ has shown both major vulnerability. Any penalty is likely With this hand, for A K J 10 7 suits, most partnerships would treat to be less than the value of the ♥ K Q J 9 8 4 example, we can this as a cuebid by responder showing opponents’ game. We can bid 4NT ♦ 3 use Michaels over a to discover partner’s minor. ♣ 5 a fit for opener’s clubs. However, 1♣ or 1♦ opening. the auction can become confusing We should be a careful here. It We plan to raise partner’s advance when both sides are making artificial might be obvious to us that 4NT is to game or bid again if the opponents cuebids! Whatever it means, we have asking partner to bid a minor, but compete. For example: a fit with both of partner’s suits and partner might think we are using the WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH should be willing to compete. Blackwood convention. Similarly, a 1♣ 2♣ A bid of 2♠ would be conservative; bid of 3NT might be considered a 3♣ Pass Pass 4♥ a jump to 3♠ is likely to be more natural bid in some sequences. Some Partner will interpret our sequence effective; and many players would partnerships prefer to bid 5♣ in a as showing that we want to be in a make a preemptive ‘raise’ all the situation like this, expecting partner game contract in one of the major way to 4♠, especially if our side is to pass with clubs and correct to 5♦ suits. With a better fit for spades not vulnerable. Putting pressure on with diamonds. A partnership should than hearts, partner can bid 4♠. the opponents is an excellent tactic, discuss such sequences. As with all competitive actions, and we may come close to making Other Uses of Michaels vulnerability is a consideration. We ten tricks in the major suits anyway. ♥ ♠ Once the partnership is familiar can be very aggressive at favorable If partner cuebids 2 or 2 , we with Michaels, its use can be vulnerability—when the opponents know which major suit partner has extended to other situations. are vulnerable and we are not—, but —the other one—, but we don’t WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH know which minor suit. If we are should be very conservative if the 1♥ Pass 1NT 2♥! vulnerability is unfavorable. interested, we bid 2NT to find out. Since South is unlikely to want to Advancing After Michaels ASKING FOR PARTNER’S MINOR play in West’s five-card suit, North If partner cuebids 2♣ or 2♦, we should interpret South’s 2♥ bid as a When partner makes a Michaels know partner has both major suits. Michaels cuebid, showing spades cuebid of 2♥ or 2♠, advancer’s With a poor fit, we bid the suit we and a minor. bid of 2NT asks opener to bid prefer at the cheapest level, or pass the minor suit. Playing in the Opponent’s Suit if responder bids. With a good fit The opponents occasionally open a with one or both majors, we can WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH three-card minor suit, so it’s possible compete aggressively. 1♥ 2♥ Pass ? that we might want to play in that WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Partner has shown suit. This is typically handled by 1♦ 2♦ Double ? spades and a minor. ♠ 4 passing and then bidding the suit ♥ Q 9 7 3 We don’t have a good ♠ 2 We don’t have a fit later, although some partnerships ♦ K 9 6 4 2 hand to compete ♥ Q 6 3 for spades, so we’d treat a direct jump overcall in the ♣ Q 8 3 since too much of our ♦ K 7 5 4 2 like to play in our opponent’s suit as natural.