Question: East's 2D was a Michaels cue bid. How should West respond to the Dbl by
South - 2H to support five promised cards for a fit or longest suit (3C)? Also,
are 5+ cards ALWAYS promised in the other suits with a Michaels cue bid?
Mark:
I don't know if west understood the 2 D bid, which (correctly in most modern bidding systems) shows both majors. At this vulnerability it usually shows at least 5 in each major, but a very nice 5 card suit and a pretty nice 4 cards in the other is acceptable.
In long ago bygone days that 2 diamond cue bid used to show great strength with any distribution, too strong for merely a takeout double. If West understands the now standard meaning of 2 diamonds, the clear bid is 2 hearts after South doubles or passes. It says the same thing: "Partner, of your two suits, I prefer hearts over spades. This doesn't necessarily show 3 (or even 2) hearts. W was given a choice of only 2 suits. To bid 3 clubs, W should be very short in both majors and have about 7 nice clubs. Even if both majors are equal, say 2-2, W needs to pick one.
Now you can see why making the Michaels
bid with only 4 cards in one of the majors is risky, especially vulnerable. I
love to live dangerously, but that 2 diamond bid is borderline even for me. The
3 club bid by W forced E to retreat to 3 hearts. N-S could have started
doubling and it would have been a disaster for E-W. Even down 1, the best case
scenario is -200. Now E-W might escape for -100. N-S can make a few clubs even
with the foul 5-0 break, so e-W -100 could be above average. It's a hard hand
to predict. +90 at 1NT by South is probably the limit as it happens, at
least if E advertises good hearts. Any NT contract above 1 by North will be
doomed, because E has such an obvious heart lead.
Here's a possible auction:
N
E.
S.
W
1C or D.
1H.
Dbl (4 spades, OK hand). 2 hearts( simple raise, 3+)
P (nothing extra). P (ditto)
3 C if N opened 1C)
P
P if N
opened 1D.)
P
P
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