Cue-bidding 1 by Paul Bowyer

Cue-bids are a way of exchanging information en route to a possible slam.

We already know of one method of slam bidding (Blackwood) which is question-and-answer session regarding the number of Aces and Kings partner holds. Sometimes, though, Blackwood does not help us locate whether we might be missing two quick losers or not. The essential question might be "Does partner hold the right Ace?"

A cue-bid shows a control in a side-suit and invites partner to co-operate by showing where his controls are. Rather than tying partner down and asking questions (which is what Blackwood does) a cue-bidding sequence is essentially a co-operative venture; a conversation between partners.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K 10 7 5 2
♥ A K J 2
♦ 4 2
♣ A

Q: 1 - You have opened the bidding and partner has responded. What should you do next?

South	West	North	East
1♠	pass	3♠	pass
?

A: 4♣. This hand is very powerful and a slam is in the offing, maybe even a grand slam. However, it is possible that the opponents may be able to cash the ♦A K. Many players would bid a Blackwood 4NT here but what would you do if partner now bid 5♣ (no Ace)? You would be guessing about Diamonds - you still would be unsure whether partner had the ♦K Q (say) or whether East-West could cash the ♦A K.

If you cue-bid 4♣ you are inviting partner to make a return cue-bid. If he bids 4♦ you know he has the ♦A. If he sign's off in 4♠ then you still have a chance of locating the ♦K (see Hand 6).

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8 6
♥ K 7 5 3
♦ A 6 4
♣ J 5

Q: 2 - You are responder. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	pass
3♥	pass	4♣	pass
?

A: 4♦. Partner's 4♣ bid is a cue-bid showing control of Clubs (presumably the Ace) and interest in a Heart slam. You must co-operate by showing the ♦A with a return cue-bid. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8 6
♥ K Q 7 5
♦ Q 6 4
♣ J 5

Q: 3 - You are responder. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	pass
3♥	pass	4♣	pass
?

A: 4♥. With nothing to cue-bid you must sign-off in 4♥.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A K 10 7 5 2
♥ A K J 2
♦ 4 2
♣ A

Q: 4 - You have opened the bidding and partner has responded. What should you do next?

South	West	North	East
1♠	pass	3♠	pass
4♣	pass	4♦	pass
?

A: 6♠. Well, you might carry on and look for a grand slam, it is true, but now you know that partner has the ♦A you may as well bid the Spade slam. If you bid 4♥ (a second cue-bid) you know partner (with poor trumps and nothing else to show) will sign-off in 4♠. Now what?

4NT is pointless (you know he has one Ace - what get him to tell you again??). 6♠ is the practical shot here unless you are bitten by the grand slam bug.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A 9 8 6
♥ K 7 5 3
♦ A 6 4
♣ 6 2

Q: 5 - You are responder. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	pass
3♥	pass	4♣	pass
4♦	pass	4♥	pass
?

A: Partner has made a slam try and has then subsided in 4♥. You might Pass this but the inference is that partner is worried about Spades. With the ♠A you are quite entitled to carry on with a 4♠ cue-bid.

For a 3♥ raise you could hardly be better with two Aces and the King of trumps.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 6

Your Hand
♠ A K 10 7 5 2
♥ A K J 2
♦ 4 2
♣ A

Q: 6 - You have opened the bidding and partner has responded. What should you do next?

South	West	North	East
1♠	pass	3♠	pass
4♣	pass	4♠	pass
?

A: 5♣. Having shown first round Club control with a 4♣ cue-bid you are now showing second-round control with a second cue-bid. Usually this is a King but it might be a singleton (as here).

You are virtually forcing partner to cue-bid Diamonds with second-round control. If partner has the ♦K (or a singleton) he will bid 5♦ and you can take a pot at a slam. If he signs off in 5♠ you will Pass, expecting to lose the ♦A K.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 7

Your Hand
♠ J 9 8 6
♥ Q 7
♦ K Q 6 4
♣ Q J 9

Q: 7 - You are responder. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	pass
3♠	pass	4♣	pass
4♠	pass	5♣	pass
?

A: 5♦. We have denied an Ace to cue-bid when we signed-off in 4♠ on the last round. Undeterred, partner is still pressing forward with a 5♣ cue-bid, showing second round control. Whatever his hand is we must co-operate by bidding 5♦ to show second round control.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 8

Your Hand
♠ A K J 2
♥ A Q 9 8 6
♦ 7
♣ A 5 3

Q: 8 - You are the opening bidder. Partner responds and your right hand opponent makes a jump overcall to cramp the bidding. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
1♥	pass	1♠	3♣
?

A: 4♣. In a curious way the 3♣ bid has been helpful. By bidding the opponents' suit we can show a raise in partner's suit together with a Club control.

Most bids in the opponents' suits show a cue-bid of some type or other although there may be other meanings when the bidding is below the 3NT level.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 9

Your Hand
♠
♥ A J 8 7 6 4
♦ A K Q 7 5
♣ Q 3

Q: 9 - You are the opening bidder. West overcalls pre-emptively and partner raises your suit. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
1♥	3♠	4♥	pass
?

A: 4♠. You are worth a slam try here but you might be off the ♣A K. Partner bid 4♥ very much under the gun and may not have that much.

4♠ is, of course, a cue-bid and you are desperate to discover if partner has Club control. If partner bids 5♣ you will bid (at least) 6♥.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 10

Your Hand
♠ A K J 2
♥ A 7 5
♦ 2
♣ A Q 7 6 4

Q: 10 - You are the opening bidder. You receive an overcall on your left, a negative Double from partner (promising the other major) and a pre-emptive raise on your right. What is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
1♣	1♥	dble	3♥
?

A: 4♥. Although no one has actually bid Spades partner's Double has promised four of them so this cue-bid of the opponents' suit agrees Spades by inference. It also shows at least the values for game in Spades and shows that a slam may be in the offing.

If partner subsides in 4♠ you will Pass.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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