Michaels works well in conjunction with the Unusual 2NT, which is another convention for two-suited overcalls. See also Leaping Michaels, and the conventional Defense to Michaels.
Meaning | |
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2 over | 5+ hearts and 5+ spades. |
2 over | 5+ hearts and 5+ spades. |
2 over | 5+ spades and an unspecified minor (5+ clubs OR diamonds) |
2 over | 5+ hearts and an unspecified minor (5+ clubs OR diamonds) |
As a simple example, consider the following auction:
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2 is Michaels, showing 5+ hearts and 5+ spades.
The Michaels cuebid is forcing. Partner is asked to bid one of the two suits advertised.
Meaning | |
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2 | Natural, showing a very good diamond suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder usually has only 0-2 diamonds. Tends to deny 3+ card support for either suit. Non-forcing. |
2 | A non-forcing sign-off. May have 0 points, since the Michaels overcall is a forcing bid. Note that with equal support for both majors (e.g. xxx xxx), the cheaper suit (hearts) should be bid. |
2 | A non-forcing sign-off. |
2NT | Natural and invites partner to bid 3NT IF the partnership has agreed to a specific point range for the Michaels overcall. |
3 | Artificial, and shows game or slam interest in hearts or spades. Forcing. |
3 | A very strong diamond suit (6+ cards). Forcing (and rare). |
3 | Preemptive, usually with 4 hearts in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing. |
3 | Preemptive, usually with 4 spades in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing. |
3NT | A natural sign-off. Shows a big balanced hand with no interest in major-suit game. This bid may occur IF the partnership has agreed to a specific point range for the Michaels overcall. Otherwise, it's quite rare since it's so unilateral. |
Meaning | |
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2 | A non-forcing sign-off. |
2 | A non-forcing sign-off. |
2NT | Natural and invites partner to bid 3NT IF the partnership has agreed to a specific point range for the Michaels overcall. |
3 | Natural, showing a very good club suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder usually has only 0-2 clubs. Non-forcing. |
3 | Artificial, and shows game or slam interest in hearts or spades. Forcing. |
3 | Preemptive, usually with 4 hearts in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing. |
3 | Preemptive, usually with 4 spades in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing. |
3NT | A natural sign-off. |
Meaning | |
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2 | A non-forcing sign-off. |
2NT | Asks the overcaller to bid his minor suit at the 3-level. 2NT may be bid on a variety of hands, but is most commonly used to try signing off in 3/. Holding xx xx Qxxx Jxxxx , bid 2NT to identify the minor suit fit. |
3 | Natural, showing a very good club suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ diamonds, not clubs. Non-forcing. |
3 | Natural, showing a very good diamond suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ clubs, not diamonds. Non-forcing. |
3 | Artificial, and shows game or slam interest in spades or a minor. Forcing. |
3 | Preemptive, usually with 4 spades in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing. |
3NT | A natural sign-off. |
Meaning | |
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2NT | Asks the overcaller to bid his minor suit at the 3-level. |
3 | Natural, showing a very good club suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ diamonds, not clubs. Non-forcing. |
3 | Natural, showing a very good diamond suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ clubs, not diamonds. Non-forcing. |
3 | A natural sign-off. |
3 | Artificial, and shows game or slam interest in hearts or a minor. Forcing. |
3NT | A natural sign-off. |
The ACBL's SAYC system stipulates that a cuebid of either suit is Michaels. Easy enough.
However, some experts treat a cue bid of opener's suit as Michaels, while a cue bid of responder's suit is NATURAL, showing an extremely good suit and a decent hand. The latter approach is espoused in Bill Root and Richard Pavlicek's fine book "Modern Bridge Conventions". For example:
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2 is Michaels, showing 5+ diamonds and 5+ hearts. Note that a takeout double would show lesser distribution, e.g. 4 diamonds and 4 hearts.
South |
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Playing the Root/Pavlicek style, 2 is NATURAL. It shows a very good spade suit of at least six cards, and sufficient values for a two-level overcall.
South |
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3 is Michaels, but since it is over a preempt it only promises a good hand with two suits other than diamonds. Partner is expected to bid 3 with heart tolerance. Hopefully the cue-bidder can clarify which two suits he holds at his next opportunity; if he has spades and clubs, for example, he can now bid 3.
Do not confuse this bid with a Western cue bid.
The Michaels convention is named for its inventor, Mike Michaels (1924-1966) of Miami Beach, FL. In their book Modern Bridge Conventions, Bill Root and Richard Pavlicek list Michaels as a "bridge writer, lecturer and prominent player." I also received a helpful email from his niece Cassie Stern: "He was an excellent bridge player who unfortunately died in 1966 at the early age of 42 of throat cancer. Charles Goren and he were partners and he ghost wrote for Charles Goren in the newspaper."
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