BRIDGE 3-8

When an opponent opens the bidding, and you have at least five cards in two suits, it would be great to tell partner about both of them immediately. This is usually possible with either a Michaels Cue-Bid or the Unusual No-Trump.

The inventor of the Michaels Cue-Bid had unimaginative parents, because his name was Michael Michaels. But he had an imaginative idea. If an opponent opens one of a minor, an immediate overcall of two of the same minor shows at least 5-5 in the majors. If the opening bid is in a major, two of that major indicates at least five cards in both the other major and either minor.

In this deal, North shows both majors, with something like 10-plus points. You find the right fit first, then hope to judge the level correctly. What should South bid over two clubs? His decision is based on fit and hand strength. Here, the fit is decent, because nine trumps are much better than eight, and two aces are wonderful. South must jump to at least three spades (and four spades isn’t crazy). To bid only two spades, which might be on a 2-1-5-5 hand, for example, is not nearly enough.

Here, North would control-bid four clubs (to show slam interest with a first-round club control), South would control-bid four diamonds, North would use Roman Key Card Blackwood (for choice), and sign off in six spades when he learns that the spade queen is missing.

South wins the diamond lead, cashes two top trumps (unlucky), then plays on hearts to discard his diamond loser.