The trick-taking potential of any 5-5 (or better)
2-suiter increases DRAMATICALLY if Partner can support
EITHER or BOTH of our suits. In fact, we should bid
VERY aggressively with such a fit; if the contract
does NOT make it is most likely a good sacrifice.
The ability to show 2 suits quickly can be a
very useful tool in locating such fits.
----------- LOTUS ------------
The question arises, though, whether we should
bid these two suits NATURALLY, starting with the
HIGHer of the two FIVE card suits (according to the
HIGH FIVE Rule), or use the 2-suited overcall (be
it Michaels, an Unusual 2NT or a "Sandwich" 1NT in
some cases) to show them immediately.
Consider this hand:
|
After a 1D opening we have the choice between
1S, intending to rebid the Hearts LATER, and a
Michaels Overcall of 2D, showing the majors. Let
us analyze what may happen in both cases.
If we overcall 1S, we may or may not be able
to bid Hearts later--although this is MOST true
when the opponents are STRONG and we would likely
not WANT to bid Hearts at that level. But, assuming
we do NOT get another chance to bid, which major
would we want lead? Right, SPADES. If we make
a Michaels cuebid of 2D, showing BOTH majors, and
do not get another chance to bid, partner must GUESS
which major you'd like led. Hence, overcall 1S here.
Now let's reverse the majors and reconsider:
|
Here a 1S overcall would only confuse the issue;
we want a HEART led. Alright, how about a 1H
overcall, then? This would be awkward even if the
enemy does NOT jump to game, since a Spade rebid
by us would be a reverse, forcing Partner up another
level in order to show a preference for our first
bid suit, Hearts.
1 |
1 |
any |
any |
- |
| any |
2 |
any |
3 |
This may be too high! |
|
Hence, with the second hand, we MUST use the
2-suited overcall, a Michaels 2D. It follows, then,
that using a 2-suited overcall strongly suggests
that the LOWER ranked suit is the superior of the
two suits promised (since, if the HIGHER ranked suit
were stronger we might bid our suits NATURALLY,
HIGHest suit first). This tendency is called "LOTUS":
Lower Of Two Usually Stronger, and applies whenever
we use ANY 2-suited overcall.
--------- Questions ---------
1. Is LOTUS a convention?
2. Do we have to ALERT our 2-suited overcalls if we
play LOTUS?
--------- Michaels ---------
Any cuebid of OPENER'S suit in direct or balancing
(i.e. if Responder PASSES Opener's opening suit bid)
seat is a Michaels overcall, showing 8+ (10+ if
vulnerable) HCPs, a 5-5 (or better) 2-suiter,
including 5+ cards in any unbid MAJOR *if the opponents
have bid only ONE suit*.
1 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
Michaels, showing both majors. |
| 1 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
Michaels, showing Spades and a minor. |
| 1 |
Pass |
Pass |
2 |
Michaels, showing the majors. |
| 1 |
Pass |
1NT |
2 |
Michaels, showing Hearts and a minor. |
| 1 |
Pass |
2 |
3 |
Michaels, showing Spades and a minor. |
| 1 |
Pass |
1 |
2 |
Natural. Not Michaels. |
|
The last example, 1D-P-1H-2D is NOT Michaels
because Responder did not pass. 2D, then, is NATURAL
when BOTH opponents have bid a different suit--as a
2H (i.e. 1D-P-1H-2H) bid would be!
-------- Questions ----------
1. If you have a 5-5-3-0 hand, void in Opener's
Clubs, should you Double or make a Michaels
cuebid of 2C with your 5-5 in the majors?
| Hand #1 |
Q10xxx |
AKJxx |
xxx |
void |
|
| Hand #2 |
Q10xxx |
KJxxx |
KQx |
void |
|
2. Can I use Michaels with a 5-4 2-suiter? How
about a 4-5 2-suiter (i.e. with the 4-carder
being the higher ranked suit)?
3. After 1S-2S or 1H-2H does Partner know which
minor I have?
4. Does Michaels apply if they open a weak 2-bid?
Is 2D-3D Michaels? 2H-3H? 2S-3S?
------- Replying to a Michaels Cuebid --------
Without a promising hand, Advancer (i.e. Michaels
Overcaller's partner) will choose between the two
suits promised. Thanks to LOTUS, with an equal
holding in BOTH of Overcaller's suits, Advancer
will know to prefer the LOWER ranked suit.
|
After 1C-2C-P or 1D-2D-P bid 2H, not 2S,
since if EITHER of Partner's majors *is*
longer/stronger, it will be HEARTS.
If Partner has cuebid a MAJOR (i.e. 1H-2H or
1S-2S), Advancer can use 2NT to ask for the
hitherto unspecified minor.
| 1 |
2 |
Pass |
2NT |
"Your minor, pard?" |
| Pass |
3 |
-- |
-- |
Five or more Diamonds. |
|
In those rare instances where the Michaels
cuebid comes at the 3H or 3S level (e.g. 1S-P-2S-3S)
a CLUB bid by Advancer shows a preference for the
undisclosed MINOR. Cuebidder will correct to
Diamonds if that is Cuebidder's second suit.
| 1 |
Pass |
2 |
3 |
Michaels. Spades and a minor |
| Pass |
4 |
Pass |
4 |
Five or more Diamonds. |
|
Advancer's strongest action is always a cuebid
of the enemy suit, forcing game. This may come
immediately (e.g. 1H-2H-P-3H) or after requesting
clarification of the minor via 2NT. In the latter
case, Overcaller's MINOR is presumed to be trump.
| 1 |
2 |
Pass |
2NT |
"Your minor, pard?" |
| Pass |
3 |
Pass |
3 |
Game force. |
|
In the above example, then, Clubs will be
the presumed trump suit.
Any jump to the three level (e.g. 1H-2H-P-3S)
is invitational, on 10-14 points. This, however,
exposes one of the inadequacies of standard
Michaels. We can invite in either major over
a cuebid of a minor...
| 1 |
2 |
Pass |
?? |
3 or 3 invite game here. |
|
| 1 |
2 |
Pass |
?? |
3 or 3 invite game here. |
|
...and we can invite game in Spades over 1H-2H-P
by jumping to 3S. But how do we invite in HEARTS
after 1S-2S-P ? An immediate 3H bid over partner's
2S Michaels cuebid could be bid on ZERO HCPs with
3+ Hearts. Bidding 2NT, to ask for the minor, and
THEN 3H would not invite, since it might show a
WEAK hand with 2 Hearts that was hoping Overcaller
had the other minor (say, 5-2-5-1).
Standard praxis offers NO solution to the
problem of distinguishing a 0-9 point hand, with
NO interest in a Heart game, from a 10-14 point
hand that might like to INVITE to 4H over 1S-2S-P. :(
For a solution to this vexing problem--one
which requires that you discuss this dilemma at
length with your steady partner--read the article
on "Lover's Leap" from his humour article on
"The Three Gadgeteers" at Colin's "personal" web site:
http://www.escape.ca/~ksired/bridge.htm
...or the article on "Lebensohl" at Colin's
"tutors" web page at:
http://www.escape.ca/~btreble/leb.htm
------- Questions --------
1. After 1C-2C-P should I not JUMP to 3-of-a-major
anytime I have 4-card support, according to the
Law of Total Tricks (which states that in
competitive and pre-emptive auctions we should
be willing to bid one trick for every trump we
have) ?
2. If ADVANCER invites game opposite the Michaels
cuebid (e.g. 1D-2D-P-3S), what kind of strength
does OVERCALLER need to have to accept? Assume
that you play that Michaels cuebids show either
STRONG or WEAK hands only (as many still do) here.
------- The Unusual 2NT ---------
A jump to 2NT over an opening bid is "Unusual",
promising 5-5 or better in the two lower unbid suits.
Hence:
| 1 |
2NT |
-- |
-- |
5-5 in the red suits. |
| 1 |
Pass |
Pass |
2NT |
5-5 in the red suits. |
| 1 |
2NT |
-- |
-- |
5-5 in Clubs and Hearts. |
| 1 |
Pass |
Pass |
2NT |
5-5 in Clubs and Hearts. |
| 1 |
2NT |
-- |
-- |
5-5 in the minors. |
| 1 |
Pass |
Pass |
2NT |
5-5 in the minors. |
| 1 |
2NT |
-- |
-- |
5-5 in the minors. |
| 1 |
Pass |
Pass |
2NT |
5-5 in the minors. |
|
Again, because of LOTUS, the LOWER of these two
promised suits is likely the stronger.
----- Responses to the Unusual 2NT -----
For the most part, ADVANCER bids naturally,
choosing the suit and the level. ADVANCER's only
forcing reply is a cuebid of the enemy suit, which
is usually a move towards 3NT or, once that level
is breeched, slam.
-------- The Sandwich 1NT -----------
When BOTH opponents have bid a suit of their
own at the 1-level we have TWO ways to show the
unbid suits: via a takeout double or a No Trump
overcall. Given two ways to show the unbid suits,
we use the double to show a hand with better HCPs
than distribution: 10+ HCPs and 4-4 or 4-5 in
the unbid suits. A 2NT overcall, on the other
hand, shows better distribution than HCPs: 11+ HCPs
and 5-5 or better in the unbid suits.
The question that arises is whether a 1NT
bid shows a weak hand with 5-5 in the unbid suits
or whether it shows 15-18 HCPs in a flat hand.
The SAYC notes do not make this clear. However,
bidding 1NT with 15-18 points after one opponent
has shown 13+ and the other has shown 6+ points
is suicidal. Hence, let us treat the 1NT bid
in this instance as 5-5 in the unbid suits and
6-10 HCPs. This is called the "Sandwich 1NT"
overcall.
| 1 |
Pass |
1 |
1NT |
5-5 in the red suits, 6-10 HCPs. |
|
Again, the Sandwich 1NT is something that you
should clarify with your partner. When you bid a
Sandwich 1NT, you must ALERT it by hitting the
"ENTER + ALERT" key instead of the "ENTER" button.
Then you must explain it to both opponents as
"Sandwich - 5-5 in the unbids, 6-10 HCPs".
-------- Responses to the Sandwich 1NT -----------
ADVANCER's only forcing response to the Sandwich
1NT is a cuebid of one of the enemy suits.
---------- Questions --------------
1. Without any prior discussion, should I presume
that we ARE playing a Sandwich 1NT or that we
are NOT playing a Sandwich 1NT?
2. If I make a Sandwich or Unusual 2NT, doesn't that
often mean that if the hand belongs in 3NT it will
usually be played from the wrong side?
--------------- Quiz ----------------
1. RHO opens 1C. What would you bid with:
| HAND A: |
QJxxx |
KJ10xx |
AQx |
void |
| HAND B: |
AQJxx |
KJ10xx |
x |
Qx |
| HAND C: |
KJ10xx |
AQJxx |
xx |
x |
| HAND D: |
KQxxx |
AKQxx |
A |
Kx |
| HAND E: |
x |
KQJxx |
KQxxx |
xx |
| HAND F: |
xx |
KQxxx |
AKJxx |
x |
|
2. After 1S-2S-P comes to you, what do you bid with:
| HAND A: |
xxxxx |
xx |
xxx |
xxx |
| HAND B: |
xxxxxx |
Qxx |
xx |
xx |
| HAND C: |
xx |
K10xx |
Axxx |
Qxx |
|
3. After 1C-P-1S comes to you, what do you bid with:
| HAND A: |
xx |
AQxx |
AKJxx |
xx |
| HAND B: |
x |
K10xxx |
AJxxx |
xx |
| HAND C: |
void |
KJxxx |
AKxxxx |
xx |
|
 |
RAINBOW Series
|
The Rainbow Series, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 PST every weekday, is a lecture program on the SAYC system, from
Opening Bids all the way through to the conventional aspects of SAYC.
Unlike the FireSide and 5th Chair sessions mentioned above, the
Rainbow Series is a semi-private lesson program for our students.
Nevertheless, you are invited to stop by and "eavesdrop"
on the discussion from the Spectator's Loft.
If you have any questions arising from these notes,
or about the Rainbow Lesson Series, please do not hesitate
to email me at: cpw@escape.ca
|
|
|
| If your computer
has MIDI capacity, you have been listening to Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". |
