The Cuebid of Opponenet’s Suit as a Limit Raise or Better

Source: Mastering Bridge

You are south and you hold:                              

  Kxx       xx     AQxx     xxxx

 The bidding proceeds:

West     North    East      South
1         1           Pass     2

As beginners, we are taught to raise partner’s overcall one level with 8-11 pts and to jump raise with 12-14 pts. including distribution.  Now that you are all grown up, we strongly recommend a change in strategy.

Let’s look at what happens when you bid this the old-fashioned way: 
 
West holds:    AKxxx                 East         QJxx
                            xxx                                         xxx
                            xxx                                         AKQ
                            xx                                           xx

South    West     North    East
1           1          P          3
P               P             P

The opponents quickly take the first 5 tricks. Down one. East had a limit raise and jumped. West had a dog’s breakfast and the bidding simply got too high.

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