Michaels & The Unusual No Trump Overview Michaels & the Unusual No Trump (UNT) are the basic two suited overcalls. They both show a 5-5 shape. These hands have a low probability, but they do occur, and it is nice to be able to exploit them. They have excellent playing strength and there is a very good chance of finding a fit. Traditionally both conventions are played as being weak but could be strong; i.e. not intermediate strength. However many players now play 5-5 any strength. So partnerships need to agree on this aspect. Do note that after 2NT partner is being asked to respond at the 3 level. So the bid is very preemptive. In terms of losers a 5-5 hand with zero points has only 9 losers! Thus suitable hands should never have more than 7 losers. Moreover the points need to be in the long suits, and possession of intermediates is also important. In brief: • UNT is an immediate 2NT overcall. It shows the 2 lowest ranking suits 5-5 Note: 2NT in the pass out/balancing seat is natural. • Michaels is an immediate cue bid. After a minor it shows both majors. After a major it shows the other major and an unidentified, but discoverable, minor. The Unusual No Trump The best understood situation is where the bidding starts: 1M 2NT Thisshowsahandwith5-5intheminors However an off centre UNT is also possible: 1m 2NT Played as the lowest ranking suits this shows hearts and the other minor. If overcaller is 5-5 in spades and the other minor, a simple spade overcall can be used. Playing UNT there are other, but even rarer opportunities, to use the concept, e.g. pass 1♥ pass 1♠ 1NT Clearly,a1NTbidbyapassedhandcannotbeserious!Ithastobe unusual. It shows both minors 5-5, is clearly a weak bid, and keeps the bidding low. Michaels 1m 2m This shows both majors, 5-5. This is a very nice convention as partner can bid either major at the 2 level. An off beat Michaels would be: 1♥ 2♥ This bid is best played as showing spades and an unspecified minor. If played this way if partner wants to discover which minor is held, they bid 3♣ and partner can pass or correct. Ghestem There are 6 possible combinations of 2 suits. After factoring in that each combination can start with 2 possible bids by the opponents, there are 12 possible situations. Using UNT & the ambiguous version of Michaels one can cover 8 out of the 12 possibilities. The remaining 4 situations can be covered by making a very economical single suited overcall of 1♠. Ghestem adds a bid of 3♣ to 2NT and a cue bid. This enables the 2 suits to be unambiguously identified. But there is a price to pay! Firstly there are several different versions of Ghestem, depending on how the 3 bids are used. Secondly a 3♣ natural response is not available, which is a serous loss. Thirdly it is the most accident prone of all conventions. Whilst Ghestem is very popular at club level, few experts recommend it. Personally, and having played 3 different versions of Ghestem, I now refuse to play it. An economical♠ 1 overcall, fills all the gaps whereMichael's plus UNT cannot pinpoint the precise shape. Additionally its easy to play and remember, and no bids are lost. Summary In A Nutshell An immediate 2NT overcall shows the 2 lowest ranking suits. A cue bid shows the unbid major(s). After 1M 2M a response of 3♣ is pass or correct. To checkout, produce a table with 6 columns titled♠ /♥/♦/♣/bid/oc. Add 12 rows showing all possibilities. Then the overcall of 1♠ /cue bid/2NT. Phil Cooke Originated 2011 Revised Oct. 2019 .