Cuebid
A cuebid is a bid of a suit already bid by an opponent. It can:
- show specific shape
- force with a strong hand when no other bid is forcing
- be stopper-asking in pursuit of NT
- occasionally be natural
- never mean the same as an alternatively available non-cuebid
Specific Shape
Michaels (overcalling opener)
| Opponent Bid | Overcall | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1minor | 2minor | 5+♥s & 5+♠s |
| 1♥ | 2♥ | 5+♠s & 5+ of an unspecified minor |
| 1♠ | 2♠ | 5+♥ & 5+ of an unspecified minor |
Michaels (overcalling 1 NT response)
Michaels applies in the usual way
| Opponent Bid | Partner | Opponent Response | Overcall | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1minor | - | 1NT | 2minor | 5+♥s & 5+♠s |
| 1♥ | - | 1NT | 2♥ | 5+♠s & 5+ of an unspecified minor |
| 1♠ | - | 1NT | 2♠ | 5+♥ & 5+ of an unspecified minor |
Michaels does not apply and should not be arbitraily tried in other vaguely similar looking situations. eg 1♦-1♠2♦ is not Michaels
In response to parner’s overcalled opening (Unassuming)
| Partner | Overcall | Response | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | 2♣ | 3♣ | 3+♥s, 10+ points |
| 1♣ | 1♠ | 2♠ | 4+♣s, 10+ points |
Forcing
In Response to Partner’s Takeout Double
the only way to force
| North | East | South | West | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1♣ | Double | - | 2♣ | good hand, forcing |
| 3♦ | Double | - | 4♦ | good hand, forcing |
In Response to Partner’s Overcall
the only way to force
| North | East | South | West | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1♣ | 1♥ | - | 2♣ | good hand, forcing |
Stopper Asking
In Response to Parner’s Second Bid (After an Initial Overcall) (Stopper Asking)
| North | East | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | 1♠ | 2♣ | - |
| 3♣ | - | 3♠1 |
1bid 3NT with ♠ stop
By Opener after response and overcall (Stopper Asking)
| North | East | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♣ | - | 1♠ | 2♥ |
| 3♥1 |
1bid 3NT with ♥ stop
Stopper Showing
Although it’s possible to find examples, where it might be useful for a bid to show a stopper, this usefulness is offset by the information it conveys to the opposition and the relatively high likleihood it will be misunderstood by partner. I therefore don’t propose a cuebid is ever used to show a stopper.
Natural
Delayed Cuebid
A cuebid can be considered natural if (very specifically) the bidder passes originally over an opponent’s bid of a suit, then bids that suit later, without partner having bid.
| North | East | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♣ | - | 1♠ | - |
| 2♠ | 3♣1 |
1natural
Fourth seat, opponents bid different suits, partner not bid
| North | East | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | - | 1♠ | 2♦1 |
1natural
A natural cuebid in this situation could occassionally be useful, however given the high likelihood and consequence of it being misundersood by partner, I suggest this cuebid is never used without very explicit agreement beforehand with partner.