Michaels Cuebids - An Assortment of Agreements

It doesn't take much research to find that a Michaels Cuebid shows two suits after the opponents have opened the bidding. However, you are likely to find that there is a wide disagreement on the point count for the bid with some partnerships saying it is a hand that is too weak for a takeout double, while others tell you it can have as much as 17 HCP.   The point count is by partnership agreement, but when the bid was originally conceived by Mike Michaels he thought it should be between 7-10 HCP.  Be aware that aggressive partnerships will often go below 7 points.  Here's a way to have either a weak or a good hand and a method for your partner to determine which you have.

Minimum or Maximum
First, let's agree on definitions for Minimum and Maximum hands...
Since we have an aggressive partnership let's choose 5 to 11- HCP for the minimum hand and any hand over 11+ for a maximum.   (If it makes you feel more comfortable when you are vulnerable use a range of 8 to 11- points.)

What's this 11- and 11+ mean?
Consider these two hands.  Both have 11 HCP but one is better than the other.  Those tens and nines make a big difference.   So the one on the left is an 11- hand and the other one is an 11+.


                   A K 6 4 2                                           A K T 9 7
                   K Q 5 4 3                                           K Q T 9 8
                    2                                           2
                   6 3                                    6 3


The original convention always promised at least 5-5 in the two suits.  You need that protection when you have less than 11 points, but if you are willing to use Michaels with a 5-4 hand and maximum point count, you will bid it a lot more often.

There are charts that tells you the frequency of hand patterns and they show that 5-5 or 6-5 hands occur aproximately 5.5% of the time.  If you include 5-4 and 6-4 hands the frequency jumps to about 35% - Isn't that a good reason to consider modifying a bid to describe such hands?

But remember, the only time you bid 5-4 hands is when you have 11+ HCP!


Partner's Response

Your partner might have a good hand and want to know if you hold a minimum or a maximum hand.   We're going to agree that certain responses are forcing and ask for more information.

If your partner forces you to bid again...

    Rebid the cheapest suit you have promised when you have a minimum hand.
      (Minimum hands are never 5-4 in shape.  You must have 5-5.)



Your Opponent Open 1
Your RHO opens 1 and you cuebid showing a hand with at least 5 points and both majors.

    Partner asks by bidding 2
      With 5 to 11- points just rebid 2
        (Remember, you must have at least 5-5 in the two promised suits with only 5 to 11 points)

      With 11+ points
      • Rebid 2 only if your spade suit is longer than your heart suit
      • Rebid 2NT with equal length in the majors
      • Jump to 3 with longer hearts than spades
      • Rebid 3 or 3 with a void in that suit
          note:   If your partnership prefers, you can agree this bid may be a singleton or a void
Your Opponent Open 1
Your RHO opens 1 and you cuebid showing a hand with at least 5 points and both majors.

    Partner asks by bidding 2NT
      With 5 to 11- points just rebid 3
        (You have at least 5-5 in the majors)

        With 11+ points
        • Rebid three spades if that suit is longer than your heart suit
        • Jump to four hearts with longer hearts than spades
        • Rebid 3NT with equal length in the majors
        • Rebid 3 or 3 with a void in that suit
    Your Opponent Open a Major
    Your RHO opens a major and you cuebid with at least 5 points and the other major and a minor.
    The standard way to discover which minor you hold is for partner to inquire by bidding 2NT, but we want to use that as our asking bid, so we are going to agree that a response of 3 requests you to either pass or correct to diamonds.  

      Partner asks by bidding 2NT
        With 5 to 11- points just rebid three of the minor you promised
          (You have at least 5-5 in the other major and your minor)

          With 11+ points
          • Rebid 3NT with equal length in your two suits
              (Your partner can ask about your minor by using the Pass or Correct method)
          • Jump.   Rebid four of your longer suit if the two suits are not equal
          • Rebid the opponent's major, 3 or 3, if you have a void in their suit
      Bidding Blackwood

      First, let's assume you are using a form of Keycard Blackwood.  If you aren't then there isn't any problem and you can skip this.

      There might be a few times when when you have shown two suits and your partner bids Blackwood.  If you have shown both majors and your partner has not indicated which one is going to be the trump suit, then which major is he asking about?   There are two ways to handle this:
        Both Majors
        Choose one...
        • Agree to play Standard Blackwood when the suit is not agreed
        • Agree that the spade suit is the default suit for showing keycards

        Major/Minor
        • With a major/minor hand, agree that Blackwood is keycard for the major




      Return to the Index

      This link will show you some examples.