Bridge Article: Unusual over Unusual

[Numbers Nerd]

This is a way to make the opponents pay for stepping into your auction. When an opponent makes a two-suited overcall, such with an Unusual 2NT, or a Michaels Cue-bid, you now been told about two suits your side won’t want to play in. Thus you have two free cue-bids in the opponent’s suits. There are several ways to define such cue-bids, but here is one that has been effective for me: Lower=Lower, Higher=Higher.

Simply put, when you have two known opponents suits, a cue-bid in the lower of those two suits shows the lower of the two remaining suits. If the suit you are showing is the suit in which your partner opened, you are showing a limit raise or better. If you show the unbid suit, you guarantee an opening hand and at least 5 cards in the suit you show.

If you support partner, or bid the unbid suit, your bid is natural and not forcing.

Examples

1. AKJxx, Qx, xxx, Axx. Partner opens 1H, and RHO bids 2NT. You bid 3D, showing a spade suit and an opening hand.

2. AQJxxx, Qx, xxxx, x. Partner opens 1H, and RHO bids 2NT. You bid 3S, not forcing.

3. x, Axx, AKJxx, Qxxx. Partner opens 1C, and RHO bids 2C showing the majors. You bid 2S, showing an opening hand with diamonds. If they jump to 4S against you, you can now bid 5C, to show both your minors.

4. QJxx, Axxx, xxx, xx. Partner opens 1S, and RHO bids 2NT. Bid 3S, not forcing.

[John F. Kennedy]

Application of the Useful Space Principle suggests a different approach. The cue bid leaving the least room below opener's suit should be the limit raise or better, the other cue should be reserved for showing the fourth suit.

And a jolly "well done" for stealing back the forum from the poker folks. :D