Michaels Cue-bids by David Bird

A: 2♦. Your hand is perfect for a Michaels cue-bid overcall. On this hand, you would make such a bid whatever the vulnerability.

Your result so far:

A: 2♣. You are still OK to make a Michaels overcall. You're showing at least 5-5 in the majors and expect partner to respond either 2♥ or 2♠. If he does this, you will raise to the three-level in his chosen suit, to invite game.

You should not go to game directly because partner may have very little. He may not even have 3-card support in the suit that he has bid. Remember that you have forced him to say something, whatever his hand is.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦. No difference at all. You still want to show partner your length in both majors.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠. Your cue-bid of 2♠ shows hearts and one of the minors. Since you are forcing your partner to go to the three-level, the lower end of the strength for this bid will be higher than when you have cue-bid in a minor.

Your partner can respond 3♥ to play in that suit, a response which does not promise any values at all. Remember that you have forced him to bid at this level. If, instead, he wants to discover which minor suit you hold, he can ask with 2 NT. Here, you would respond 3♣.

Your result so far:

A: 2♥. You have good reason to want to tell partner about your good hearts. Your hand is not strong enough to force partner to the three-level, though. Rather than bid a Michaels 2♠, you should prefer a simple overcall of 2♥.

If you switched the hearts and diamonds, you might consider overcalling 2♦ on such a weakish hand. With, say, 13 points upwards, you would be able to overcall 2♠, happy to compete in either red suit, even when your hearts were weak.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. You have a great heart fit and enough power to insist on a game contract. So, you bid 4♥ instead of just 3♥.

Your result so far: