Source: http://www.acblunit559.com/articles/michaels.html
Most of you are probably familiar with the convention known as a Michaels cuebid. It was invented by Mike Michaels many years ago and allows you to show a two-suited hand (usually with 5-5 distribution) after an opponent opens the bidding. The concept is to use a cuebid of the opponent’s suit to show two other suits, and thus describe your hand with one bid. The hand often doesn’t qualify as a takeout double, and the point count range can be on the weak side. In the past, the range of the Michaels cuebid was limited to about 7-10 high-card points. Over the years, however, it has become acceptable to have almost any range for this bid.
The convention works like this.
Over an opponent’s 1
or 1
opener, a direct cuebid shows both major suits, normally 5-5. Over a a major-suit opening the direct cuebid shows the other major and one unknown minor, again usually with at least 5-5 distribution. At favorable vulnerability, some partnerships have relaxed the suit length requirement so that the Michaels cuebid can be used with 5-4 or 6-4 hands with the longer suit being a minor. But at unfavorable vulnerability, most stick to the minimum distribution of 5-5 with reasonable strength.
It is this ambiguity that makes necessary a better way of responding to partner’s Michael’s cuebid. If you prefer to play that your Michael’s cuebid can have a wide range, it is necessary to have a method for your partner to find out how weak or strong you are. Here’s how you can do that.
MAJOR SUIT CUEBID – SHOWING A MAJOR/MINOR
| South | West | North | East | |||
1 |
2 |
Pass | ? |
After a Michael’s cuebid over a major, an auction such as this example, the responder would use this scheme:
2
is to play and is non-invitational;
3 asks the Michaels bidder to pass if his suit is clubs or to correct to diamonds if that is his second suit
3,4 or 5 shows diamonds and are not correctable;
4 or 5 show clubs and are not correctable;
3NT is to play;
2NT asks whether the Michaels bidder is minimum or maximum;
Let’s use this sample auction.
| South | West | North | East | |||
| 1 |
2 |
Pass | 2NT | |||
| Pass | ? |
You bid 2, a Michael’s cuebid showing hearts and a minor, and partner inquires with 2NT.
These are your suggested rebids:
3 shows clubs (and hearts) and a minimum;
3 shows diamonds (and hearts) and a minimum;
3 shows clubs (and hearts) and a maximum;
3 show diamonds (and hearts) and a maximum.
MINOR SUIT CUEBID – SHOWING BOTH MAJORS
In response to Michael’s over a minor, for example:
| South | West | North | East | |||
| 1 |
2 |
Pass | ? |
These are the responses:
2 is to play and is not invitational;
2 is to play and is not invitational;
2NT asks for major suit length and strength.
In this case, rebids to 2NT by the Michaels bidder are as follows:
3 shows minimum values with longer hearts;
3 shows minimum values with longer spades;
3
shows minimun values with 5-5 in the majors;
3 shows maximum values with longer hearts;
3NT shows maximum values with longer spades;
4 shows maximum strength with equal length and club shortness;
4 shows maximum strength with equal length and diamond shortness.
There’s some memory work involved but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!