home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Cream of the Crop 11
/
Cream of the Crop 11-1.iso
/
games
/
marvin01.zip
/
DIRECT.CBA
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-08-27
|
6KB
|
145 lines
DIRECT CUE BID OVERCALLS
(Those who will not abandon Michaels cue bids can now abandon this
chapter.)
A two-level cue bid made directly over a natural opening bid in a
suit is a two-way call:
North East
1D 2D
The cue bid is either:
-- A powerful hand that cannot be expressed by a strong jump
overcall or follow-up to a takeout double, or
-- A moderate hand with 6-4 distribution: six cards in the lowest
unbid suit and four cards in the highest unbid suit. This is the
"Top-and-Bottom" cue bid, fully described in that chapter.
If not a top-and-bottom cue bid, this cue bid is forcing to a limit
situation. It shows a hand that requires little or nothing in
partner's hand for game. A takeout double would not be suitable
because the cue bidder doesn't have that sort of hand. Perhaps he
has a void or a two-suited hand. If it is a strong one-suited hand,
the hand is too good for a strong jump overcall--which is not
forcing.
The strong sort of cue bid should seldom be made with more than one
loser in the opposing suit. Some typical 2S overcalls of a 1S
opening:
1) S- void H-AKQJ1087 D-AK4 C-Q107 (too good for 3H)
2) S-8 H-AKQ6 D-AJ108 C-AQJ10 (too good for a takeout double)
3) S-87 H-AKJ43 D-AK108743 C- void (a double could lead to
difficulty)
With hand 3), if partner responds in clubs the cue bidder will
repeat the cue bid, asking for a preference between the two unbid
suits. With a weaker hand the cue bid with two fast losers would
be unwise, because partner might bid a slam on the assumption that
the cue bid showed at least second round spade control.
South West North East
1C 2C Pass 2H
Pass 3C Pass ?
West is not only asking for a preference between diamonds and
spades, he is asking East if she has anything of value to offer.
If East now bids 3D or 3S she is denying any usable strength and
West can pass. With as much as a king in the right place, West
should make a jump preference in the preferred suit.
A direct jump cue bid overcall is a natural preemptive bid:
South West North East
1C Pass 1S 3C/3S - natural preempt
South West
1C 3C - natural preempt
A cue bid overcall of an opposing new suit response is lately being
used as a natural bid, but the wisdom of this approach is doubtful.
If an opponent bids your suit, you usually do better to pass and
hope they get into trouble. Often you can double 3NT for a lead of
that suit. Accordingly, cue bids such as the following have a more
valuable use:
South West North East
1C Pass 1S 2S
East is showing a two-suited hand with hearts and diamonds, 5-5 or
better. A takeout double would tend to show four hearts and longer
diamonds (making the top-and-bottom cue bid unnecessary), while a
2NT bid is natural: S-A3 H-J87 D-AKQ1087 C-K3
A cue bid in opener's suit after a new suit response is natural:
South West North East
1D Pass 1H 2D - natural overcall
2H - black two-suiter
A cue bid over a 1NT response to a natural opening bid is a top-
and-bottom cue bid in a major suit, but a takeout for both majors
in a minor:
South West North East
1H Pass 1NT 2H - top-bottom cue bid
South West North East
1C Pass 1NT 2C - shows both majors
A cue bid over a single raise of a natural opening bid of one in
a suit is a top-and-bottom cue bid:
South West North East
1H Pass 2H 3H - top/bottom cue bid
A cue bid overcall of a preemptive opening, including weak two
bids, implies a two-suited hand:
South West North East
2S 3S Pass 4C
Pass 4D - asks for a red suit preference
In the last auction West has a heart/diamond two-suiter. Of course
such a cue bid must be prepared for any response partner might
make. Do not cue bid 4C over 3C with S-3 H-A10875 D-AQ9763 C-5,
because if partner bids 4S you must then bid 5D to show a red two-
suiter. That is forcing the bidding too high with this hand. The
better course is to just bid 3D over 3C and hope to bid hearts on
the next round.
A cue bid overcall of a response to a preemptive opening (including
weak two bids) is natural, non-forcing, if the suit is a major:
South West North East
2H Pass 2S 3S - natural, not forcing
East is exposing a probable psych by North, while showing values
for a three-level bid. With less strength, East should double 2S,
showing values for a two-level spade bid. Similarly, if East has
enough strength to bid 4S, he should do so. To force with a cue
bid, East must bid 3H.
When the response is in a minor, the cue bid is a forcing takeout
call:
South West North East
3C Pass 3D 4D - asks for a major
Since East could bid either minor without sacrificing bidding
space, her choice of 4D implies that she has better control of
diamonds than of clubs.
Also see chapter REOPENING CUE BID OVERCALLS.
Direct cue bids by a passed hand are Michaels Cue Bids: cue bid of
a minor shows both majors, cue bid of a major shows the other major
plus an unknown minor (partner bids 2NT to inquire). See chapter
DEFENSIVE BIDDING BY A PASSED HAND in the book "Defensive Bidding."