Q&A 09: CUE BIDS BY RESPONDER

There are going to be many times at the bridge table that you will want to tell partner about your hand
but won’t know how best to do so. That is why it is so important to discuss such things with your
partner. This article is aimed at getting a common understanding with partner by using takeout doubles
and cue bids when you and your partner want to compete against your opponents. I will describe the
potential bidding in plain English because, after all, the bridge bidding language is no different, it just
takes a different form

Here are some bidding situations from recent teams play

1. All Vul Dealer West:

South	West	North	East
-	1	X	Pass
2

No, 2C is NOT “Michaels”. The real Michaels cue bid is a direct cue bid in an opponent’s opened suit
and shows at least 5-5 in two suits. Here, it is a cue bid in response to partner’s takeout double, and if
you’re playing normal ‘major oriented’ takout doubles, partner has guaranteed at least 4-3 in the
majors. You cannot be expected to have a Michaels as a responder to the takeout double. What logic
says is that you’re asking partner to bid his better (maybe only) four card major. Since that is going to
be at the two level, you are saying “I have both majors and happy for you play in your better or only
major”.You therefore should have at least a normal raise to the two level, that’s all. Had partner opened
1H or 1S you would have raised to two. Does that make any sense?

2. NS Vul Dealer West

South	West	North	East
-	3	X	Pass
4

Again, the double by partner is takeout and your 4C must surely be saying much the same as before,
but now you have enough for game, given that partner will have enough points for the takeout double
and at least one, almost certainly two, good major suits. You are telling partner to choose which one he
thinks will play better for him. And for those who think 4C is Gerber and asking for aces, let me tell
there are better ways to succeed at bridge!

3. NS Vul Dealer West

South	West	North	East
-	1	Pass	4
X

On the face of it, partner’s double is a penalty double, but it is obvious that it is based on a lot of
points outside the heart suit, say about 18? East has a lot of hearts but not necessarily that many
points Partner expects to take four tricks outside the heart suit, and depending on what you can infer
from the bidding, you can take it from there. Yes, it is a penalty double, but not a directive for
North to pass no matter what

4. NS Vul Dealer West

South	West	North	East
-	1	1	Pass
2

Partner has overcalled so why are you now bidding West’s suit? The old fashioned understanding of
this situation is that you are asking partner ‘how good is your overcall’? The answer may or may
not get you to the correct level, but better than guessing. Yes, your side is vulnrable against
not and partner should not be overcalling on tram tickets but... so why not make an effort to find
out more? Partner should rebid spades with a minimum overcall, or bid another suit, or jump in
spades with a better hand and 5+ spades. Having anything in clubs has nothing to do with your cue bid

5. All Vul Dealer North

South	West	North	East
-	-	1	1
X

Your double of the 1S overcall should GUARANTEE 4+ hearts. It could be as weak as a six or seven
count and only four hearts, or more hearts and not enough points to bid 2H which most people would
play as a ‘free bid’ to show 5+ hearts and 10+ points. There is a lot of logic in the guarantee of four
plus hearts because a bid of 2C or 2D is still available as a forward going bid

6.All Vul Dealer North

South	West	North	East
-	-	1	1
X

There are two views about this. For some people it shows exactly four SPADES, whereas a bid of 1S
would guarantee at least five spades. But a bid of 1S is still available after the overcall, so for those
who choose to bid 1S with 4+, the other ‘treatment’ is that the double shows clubs with enough points
to say you can make 2C (if partner has club support) but not enough to make a free bid of 2C. Playing
basic Acol, I would need a discussion and an agreement with partner, and I would prefer the double to
show clubs, and and bid of 1S as a simple continuation of the auction with 4+ spades and 6+ points; but
playing with some partners my “1/1” it makes much more sense to play double as exactly four and a
bid of 1S as 5+ spades. “You pays your money and you takes your choice”, a favourite expression of
one of my (now departed) partners