Colorful Cue Bid

The colorful cue-bid is a defensive convention used to show hands containing 5-5 shape in the black or red suits. The following conventional cue-bids apply after the opponents have opened 1-of-a-suit:

Cuebid	Meaning
2	5-5 or better in the opposite colored-suits (diamonds and hearts)
2	5-5 or better in clubs and spades
2	5-5 or better in clubs and spades
2	5-5 or better in diamonds and hearts

Partner can now bid one of the two suits shown at any level, depending on how good his support for the suit is. Partner can also bid 2NT (artificial) or raise the cue-bid suit as a game or slam try, forcing for one round. For example:

(1)

2

Pass

3

3 shows game interest in diamonds or hearts. The colorful cue-bidder is expected to bid his cheapest suit at the cheapest level (in this case, 3) with a weak hand of around 0-10 points. All other bids show 10+ points and are game forcing.

When the opponents have bid two suits, a cue bid of opener's suit promises the other two suits, while a cue bid of responder's suit is natural, showing an extremely good suit and a decent hand.

Over an opening weak two bid, a cue bid promises two unspecified suits and a good hand, with at least five cards in each suit.

Although the colorful cue-bid is limited in that it cannot show two-suiters of different colors the way the Michaels cue-bid can, its virtue lies in its simplicity and ease of memorization.

The colorful cuebid was invented by American expert Dorothy Hayden Truscott.