This is a style of cue bidding where you cue bid first or secondround controls aces, kings, voids, singletons indiscriminately. If partner now cue bids, he is promising both of the top two honours and you can continue your cue bidding sequence in comfort. After souths bid of 4 north bids 4, an apparent signoff. Primary cues a primary cue bid shows first round control of the suit bid. Commonly used conventions american contract bridge league. The bridge world magazine, bridge books, bridge articles, learn bridge, play. In general, bidding the opponents suit is a useful bid. Once the trump suit has been established, a bid of another suit is a cue bid, showing first round control in that suit and suggests that youre inerested in a slam. With only 15 words allowed during an auction and just cards in each suit, bridge players have invented dozens of special bids, called conventions, to describe their strength and hand patterns. Hands with a void or with an unguarded suit are particularly suitable for cue bidding. There are also a few paragraphs early on that dont make sense, and will frustrate the reader. In the example bidding sequences, the cuebid is the.
Shape and strength showing cuebids michaels cue bid. Avoid cue bidding singletons or voids in a suit bid naturally by your partner. As a reminder, this website is set up to teach beginners how to get started and play bridge relatively simply, with the least amount of rules. After a michaels cuebid, unusual 2 nt, roman jump overcall, or any other. Main exercise 5q41 by richard pavlicek cuebids r us. And most useful, we use the cue bid of their suit as a space saving weapon in our bidding arsenal. After an intervening overcall, responders newsuit bid shows a long suit and decent values, but it is not forcing to game.
Topandbottom cue bids there are four ways to make a topandbottom cue bid. Everyone knows that controlshowing bids are the expert route to slam, but it is remarkable hard to find a comprehensive treatment of this vital area of the game. South has shown 1618 total points, while norths hand is largely unknown. Here are some examples where cuebidding is used to good effect. In the latter case a 2nt response asks the cue bidder to name the minor suit.
Unusual bidding conventions must be alerted, which means that if you make an unusual bid, your partner must say alert or pull the blue alert card out of the bidding box. This popular direct cue bid of an enemys opening bid of one of a suit promises both major suits when cue bidding 2 or 2, and the other major along with an unspecified minor when cue bidding 2 or 2. Most experts play that an immediate cue bid over a preempt, especially if the cue bid is higher than 3nt, shows a twosuited hand. Norths bid of 4 is a cuebid showing firstround control of clubs and an interest in slam. In another column, well discuss michaels cue bid and the unusual two no trump that allow you to bid two suits at once when youre bidding defensively. Western cue bids bridge articles bridge with larry cohen. The best feature of the cue bid is that it is absolutely forcing, so as south we will always have another opportunity to bid. It could be as few as 89 points if you have a strong suit. Bridge bid and made advanced convention cue bidding. A cuebid by opener over opponents intervening preemptive bid requesting partner to choice game between either bid suit. Opener signs off by accepting transfer or bids a new suit to force game.
If partner now cuebids, he is promising both of the top two honours and you can continue your cuebidding sequence in comfort. The bid of 4 of the agreed trump suit can be used as a roman keycard ask. Everyone knows that controlshowing bids are the expert route to slam, but it is remarkable hard to. A cue bid is appropriate when the bidding reveals slam potential and an ace ask via blackwood is unsuitable. Partner agrees to the suggestion by cue bidding also. If the partnership had previously agreed on a trump suit, the cue bid was an information giving and seeking slam try. Learn more about using cuebids to bid to the correct level, using them to bid no trump when you need to, bid slam when you need to, and describe 2suiters. Once you advance in bridge, it is expected that you may change the rules slightly and add more complexity to your bids. The only book devoted wholely and solely to two suited hands. Hands which need to discover whether partner holds a specific ace or a specific king are also ideal for cue bids. Cuebidding at bridge a modern approach by ken rexford list price. A slaminvestigating bid made during an auctions later rounds that shows control of a suit.
Eddie kantar is a grand master in the world bridge federation and a twotime world bridge champion. When your partners 1nt opening is overcalled at the twolevel, 1. Cub bids show specific cards, so they are more accurate than blackwood. Playing this convention west cue bids the openers suit to show a sound raise to 3 or better. Using the cuebid raise has three enormous advantages. In competition, all of responders bids revert to their standard meanings. What you must know about cuebids number 26 by marty bergen list price.
A new suit cue bid is a primary cue unless the ace or void of that suit has already been shown or denied. Using cuebids cuebids come in all shapes and sizes, denominations and bidding levels. It is typically reserved for hands with a 55 or longer pattern. A better book, which includes cue bids for the novice, but not the advanced, is the very well written, easily understood book is.
In the late 1970s a concept known as unusual over unusual was developed not sure by whom to cope with an opponents unusual 2 nt overcall. In their book modern bridge conventions, bill root and richard pavlicek list. The solution is to make a cuebid in the oppon suit. Most of the conventions are useful for strong hands when there is a chance of a slam contract. These descriptions are from the acbl bridge bulletin series called the bidding toolkit. The acbl textbooks commonly used conventions and more commonly used conventions contain detailed chapters on the. Michaels cue bid bridge convention bidding and responses. Cue bids of opponents suit cue bids austin area bridge. If responder chooses one suit and opener then bids the other suit, opener is showing interest in slam. All following bids by both players are natural, and when one of the defenders bids nt it promises a. This is a very simplified version to get you started. Cuebids appear in all denominations, and bidding levels, and must always be considered within the framework of the bidding in which it takes place. A copy of the book will be given to each participant. Hand c may not quite have 10 points, but those majors look fabulous, the spade honours sitting over the opposing spade bidder.
In standard bidding cue bidding the enemy suit shows a very strong hand, the same as for the artificial strong 2 clubs opening bid. Here 4 shows the ace or king or a singleton or void in diamonds and slam interest we should use the term cuebid only when bidding a suit which the opponents have bid. Lastly, when asking or answering questions about such bids, dont even bother with the term western cue just explain what your partnership agreement is either. Cuebids above or at game level the level at which any cuebid is made is a vital consideration. In contract bridge, a cue bid also, cuebid or cuebid is either a bid of the opponents suit, or slam seeking. Mar 04, 2016 learn how to use the cue bid to show support for partners suit. In contract bridge, a cue bid is either a bid of the opponents suit, or slam seeking.
All further cue bids are 1st round control unless the player has already denied 1st round control or our side has already shown 1st round. In contract bridge, a cue bid also, cuebid or cue bid is a term that applies to two types of bid a bid of a suit that has already been bid by opponents. Cuebids in a nutshell modern concepts for winning bridge. Unassuming cue bid partner, is your overcall weak or strong. Combined with blackwood or keycard blackwood, it makes an effective slam investigatory method. A cue bid over a higher level opening may be based on a twosuited hand, but is not a topandbottom cue bid. Defences against forcing club openings mathe, suction exclusion etc. Invisible cuebids in a nutshell in the late 1970s a concept known as unusual over unusual was developed not sure by whom to cope with an opponents unusual 2 nt overcall. Yet all we can seem to document is michaels or slam. Covers top and bottom cue bids, unusual nt and responses, a swag of twosuited defenses including brozel, dont, meckwell, helms 2. If you are interested in 3nt but lack a stopper, you need a way to ask partner if he has one.
This is referred to as a western cuebid aka california cuebid. Its a cue bid is not an explanation of course its a cue bid, but what it means is required for a proper explanation. Cue bidding the enemy suit is bidding the enemy suit at the next higher level. So playing the unassuming cue bid we can stop at the two level if partner has a minimal overcall. The cheapest cue bid may not be the best bid, as it may cause your next cue bid to be higher than if you reversed the order. Tips for intermediates bridge tips for intermediate players. After an intervening double, responders 2level bid of a new suit is weak 59 points.
Western cuebids when the enemy has bid 1 suit, its easy to bid 3nt with a stopper in the suit and a suitable hand. Our best course of action is always to show a good hand 1st and then place the contract 2nd. Commonly used conventions american contract bridge. Recently, we added an online shop to our wide array of services, with products for both bridge players and bridge club managers. Once you advance in bridge, it is expected that you may change the rules slightly and add more complexity to. Cue bids general in the early days of contract bridge, the cue bid was narrowly defined. All following bids by both players are natural, and when one of the defenders bids nt it promises a stopper in the enemy suit. Cue bids of opponents suit page 2 of 4 sample auction meaning when it applies response to cue bid support or general force 1. Lebensohl in a nutshell mary alice seville high desert regional may 2014 lebensohl is a complex convention used after an opponent overcalls your partners 1nt. An immediate cue bid a bid of the suit just opened by your opponent to your right, your rho has changed its meaning in recent times. He wrote complete defensive play, a book listed as a top ten alltime bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of bridge for dummies. The direct cue bid times have changed and in 2007 michaels cue bids have become as near universal as stayman or jacoby transfers. The deals in the book are bid using an acol system with fourcard majors and. Michaels is a cuebid that promises a twosuited hand, with at least five cards in.
Its an indication that you are strong and youd like your partner to continue describing his hand. It covers the most important aspects of cuebidding. Responder bids from 2 notrump through 3 hearts show transfer hands with invitational values. When partners suit is overcalled by an opponent, you can indicate a limit raise or better in partners suit by cuebidding the opponents suit. These cuebids come in many flavors, the main ones being. Cuebids in a nutshell is dedicated to advancing students and players who. When a player bids a suit which has originally been called by the opponents, that player has made. While reasonable, its specific application to one type of twosuited overcall was shortsighted. A cue bid over an artificial opening is a natural bid. With this actual east hand east would simply bid 2, and if he had the 15 pointer above he would bid 4. The opponents must know exactly what the bids mean, just like your partner. By agreement, partner is not obliged to cue bid if he feels his hand doesnt suit. It will take you on a journey through the most frequently used cuebids to the more obscure. A summary of 15 useful techniques for declarers, with numerous instructional.
Traditionally a cue bid is slam seeking, but in the early 21st century the usage appears to be giving way to control bid. The cuebid raise greatly interferes with opponents subsequent bidding efforts. Dee berry modern concepts for winning bridge this is dee berrys book for the advancing player. Here are some examples where cue bidding is used to good effect. South jumps to four spades and with your side silent north cue bids five clubs.
This was introduced in 1981 in modern bridge conventions, a book i coauthored with bill root. Cue bid definition of cue bid by the free dictionary. Tips for intermediates bridge tips for intermediate. With hand b you should bid 3 to the level of the fit, showing four hearts and 09 points. Timm the art of cue bidding is complex and there are some specific rules one should follow when cue bidding. Cuebids, fourthsuit forcing, grand slam force, help. Bridge bid and made advanced convention cue bidding for. It may well be that north wants to bid a slam, but has two fast losers in the spade suit. Partner can retreat to 2 with no game interest, or make another descriptive bid to look for game. Much of the auction, including the conventions, has been based on all about acol by ben cohen and rhoda lederer, which is an excellent book, highly recommended for any beginners to intermediate bridge players. A helpful easytounderstand explanation of an essential topic. The responder can then cue bid their own first round controls in order. Cuebids in a nutshell kay joyces version, using dee berrys cuebids in a nutshell.
When he does cue bid, his bid will be 1st round control. A cuebid used under these circumstances is also sometimes called a. This book is poorly written for the player who is trying to learn about cue bids. Cue bid unbid suits first suits which so far remain unbid by you and your partner plan your cue bids. Cuebids to show a raise in partners suit cuebids of the opponents suit also come up frequently, in auctions where our side has bid a suit and the opponents compete. Normally the auctions, 3 4 or 3 4 show fivefive or bertter in the majors hence the cue bidders partner usually bids his better major. This shows an unusual lead which warns partner the of a dangerous situation, such as early ruffing by declarer.