Dwingo

I am reproducing an Article written by L. Subramanian on Cue-Bids with the permission of the author. This will be an useful article for Beginners/ Intermediate players. CUE-BIDS By definition, a cuebid is a forcing bid in a suit in which the bidder cannot wish to play. Broadly it can be classified into the following two types: 1) Bids to show controls at a high level after a suit has been agreed directly or by inference and 2) Bids in the opponents’ suit at any level. Cuebids to show controls: The classical example is the bid of a new suit at the four level by the opener after a limit raise by the responder, as below:- Opener : Responder 1♥ : 3♥ 4♦ The responder can initiate a cuebid too, as below: Opener : Responder 1♣ : 1♥ 3♥ : 4♦ In both the above examples a slam invitation is implied. In modern treatment, a cuebid shows either the first or the second round control which can be either by length or by strength, i.e. singleton or king / void or ace. Control showing cuebids are common at the four level but it is possible to use them even at the three level, though very rarely. The reason why it is not very common is that a new suit bid at the three level is better played as a fragment bid indicating stopper and suggesting three no-trump as the final contract. For example, Opener : Responder 1♥ : 2 ♣ 3♣ : 3 ♠ The 3♠ bid is not a cuebid suggesting slam, but a stopper - showing fragment bid aiming for three no-trump if opener can stop diamonds. The spade holding could be QJX. Let us take a different sequence: Opener : Responder 1♦ : 2♥ 3♥ : 3♠ Here the 3♠ bid is a control showing cuebid as the partnership is unlikely to contract for 3 NT in preference to 4♥. As it is a strong sequence, the 3♠ should be treated as a cuebid showing slam interest. Cuebids in the opponents’ suit: In studying the meaning of various cuebids, the subject is considered from a) overcaller’s view point, b) from responder’s view point. a) Overcaller’s view point It used to be the practice to make a cuebid in the opponents’ suit to show a single suiter game-going hand, like for example ♠ AKQJ64 ♥ AQ3 ♦AK4 ♣2 or a two-suiter game going hand, like for example ♠ K6 ♥ AKJ94 ♦ AKQJ6 ♣ 3 after a natural 1♣ opening . As the modern bidders realised that the opportunity to make a cuebid in this form rarely occurred , they developed methods to show two-suited hands with average strength which are more common than the powerful hands described above. For example, ♠ KQ1042 ♥ A10632 ♦ 84 ♣ 4 RHO open 1♦. Cue bid 2♦. This is known as the Michael’s cuebid, indicating 6 – 11 HCP and 5-5 in the majors. If a major suit is opened by your RHO, a cuebid shows the other major and a minor with slightly higher values as the bidding may go to the three level. For example ♠ AJ1062 ♥ 4 ♦ KQ1092 ♣ K2. RHO opens 1♥. Cuebid 2♥ to show spades and a minor. If the overcaller’s partner wants to know the minor, he bids 2NT. However, there are some who play the top and bottom cuebid where the two suits are pin-pointed. For example, a cuebid of 2♣ after RHO opens 1♣ shows spades and diamonds. Similarly, a cuebid of 2♦ after RHO opens 1♦ shows spades and clubs. A cuebid of 2♥ after a 1♥ opening shows spades and clubs, and a cuebid of 2♠ after a 1♠ shows hearts and clubs. Example:♠ AJ1062 ♥ K4 ♦ 5 ♣ AQ1062. RHO opens 1♦. Cuebid 2♦ to show spades and clubs. b) Responder’s view point i) Responder of the opener: When RHO butts-in after partner’s opening bid, a cuebid of the intervened suit shows a minimum of three–card support for partner with invitational strength. Example: ♠ KJ2 ♥ 84 ♦ KJ84 ♣ K642. Partner opens 1♠. RHO Overcalls 2♥. Cue bid 3♥. This is known as limit raise or better. ii) Responder of the overcaller: Your LHO opens one of a suit. Partner overcalls. RHO passes. Cue bid of LHO’s suit shows limit raise or better, as before. Special cuebids: There are certain other special cuebids like a) RHO opens one of a suit. You have an absolutely solid suit and some additional values but no check in the opened suit. What do you do? Experts suggest a stopper asking jump cuebid as solution to this problem. Example: ♠ A5 ♥ 8 ♦AKQ10543 ♣ KJ3. RHO opens 1♥. Cuebid 3♥. b) RHO opens one of a suit. You have a strong 5-4-3-1 semi three suiter or strong 4-4-4-1 hand . What do you do? Experts suggest a take-out double and follow with a strength showing cuebid. Example: ♠ AK95 ♥ 8 ♦AKQ5 ♣ AQ103. RHO opens 1♥. Make a take out double and follow with a cuebid of 2♥. c) Partner opens one of a suit. RHO makes a simple overcall in a suit at the one or two level. You have a opening hand but no stopper in the intervened suit . What do you do? Experts suggest a negative double and follow with a stopper asking cuebid. Example: ♠ AK95 ♥ J2 ♦ 1053 ♣ KQ103. Partner opens 1♥. RHO overcalls 2♦ . Make a negative double and follow with cuebid 3♦, if partner rebids 3♣. If partner rebids 2♠, you will raise him to game. d) You open 1 NT (15-17) . Partner responds 3♠ , indicating 10 + HCP and a good six-card suit . As opener you have good support for partner (honor third or better)and preferably with ruffing value and with excellent controls . What do you do? Example: ♠ K952 ♥ A2 ♦ AKJ5 ♣ Q103. To partner’s 3♠ response to your 1 NT , make an advance cuebid of 4♦ to suggest trump support and a good hand with controls. You will not be introducing your suit at this level and so partner will construe it as a cuebid though trump is not actually agreed. It is important to note here that you deny club control by your 4♦ cuebid as you are expected to make the cheapest cuebid. e) Indirect cuebid :This is a sort of a counter by the opening side against conventional two –suiter bids made by the defending side with the cuebid of the implied suits being used to show stoppers , unbid suits etc. i) Partner RHO You 1 NT 2♣* 2♥/2♠ *Landy Here 2♥ shows heart stopper and invitational values. Likewise 2♠ shows spade stopper and invitational values. Example: ♠ AQ5 ♥ J2 ♦ 10953 ♣ KJ103. Partner opens 1 NT(15-17). RHO overcalls 2♣ ,Landy . Bid 2♠ to show spade stopper and 8-9 HCP. ii) Partner RHO You 1♣* 1 NT** 2♣/ 2♦ *Precision ** Minors Here 2♣ shows five –card heart suit and 5-7HCP. Likewise 2♦ shows five – card spade suit and 5 – 7 HCP. Example: ♠ 95 ♥ KJ1082 ♦ K53 ♣ 642. Partner opens 1♣ (Precision). RHO overcalls 1 NT(Minors) . Bid their implied suit of clubs with a bid 2♣ to show 5-7 HCP and five hearts. If your hand had been ♠ KJ1082 ♥ 95 ♦ K53 ♣ 642. you would bid 2♦ to show 5-7 HCP and five spades . f) Partner opens one of a suit .RHO overcalls at the one level . You have an opening hand yourself and stopper in the intervened suit .What do you do? Marty Bergen suggests that you make a stopper showing jump cuebid to show such a hand , asking partner to bid 3 NT which may play better from the other side. Example: ♠ A95 ♥ K92 ♦ K105 ♣ K643. Partner opens 1♦ . RHO overcalls 1♠ . Bid 3♠ . If partner has the following hand: ♠ Q6 ♥ A63 ♦ AQ632 ♣ J52 and bids 3 NT , you can appreciate the usefulness of the jump cuebid. g) No –trump cuebid !! : This is an extreme case of cuebid suggested by Reese & Flint as long as thirty years ago . Supposing RHO overcalls 1 NT against your partner’s one of the minor and you have 6-5 in the majors with game interest , what do you do? The solution according to them is to bid 2 NT!! to describe such a hand. Example: ♠ KJ9543 ♥ A9532 ♦ 5 ♣ 6. Partner opens 1♦ . RHO overcalls 1 NT . Bid 2 NT!! . If partner has a suitable hand he can bid game in the major in which he has good support for you .

4H: I will bite the bullet and bid 4H. 3NT and 4H, both are risky. 4H seems less riskier than 3NT

Double - I don't have a convenient bid. Will start with a Double and see what happens.

2S . If the DK was SK, I would have bid 3S. The S suit is not good enough for a 3S rebid.

3D. I don't like the SK opposite my partner's singleton Spade. Though my pd prommises 15+, I am not encouraged with my holding. If he bids further ( 3S or 4C ), I will accept game in 3NT or 5D.

Double: With this kind of bidding, I anticipate bad heart breaks and 5H is not going to be easy. Let me go positive.

3C - Who has all the majors? It is more likely that my pd has 4 card Heart. If Opps finds a Spade fit, I have good defense. My first duty is to push the level higher.

I was browsing Ben's blog, where he isattempting to use th enew templates. Can the font size of the cards AKQJ1098765432 be increased? It is a bit of strain on the eye at present Godwin

I expect editing online to be easier and convenient than doing it on FD. Hence there will be value to that proposition. Godwin

Looks neat. Great job. Is there a way to print the whole bidding system with one Print command, than printing each page individually? Godwin

OK, from the other side of the table. You passed initially, now you hear pd overcall 3NT over 3S. Do yo move forward, If Yes, how? [hv=d=n&v=n&n=s5ha3dq98743ckj93&s=sq102hkqj74dkj10ca8]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sq102hkqj74dkj10ca10]133|100|Scoring: IMP Partner Deals and passes. RHO opens 3S. Your call now.[/hv]

I was wondering, if Fast Arrival is applicable for Opener. I always thought it was applicable only for Responder. If 4th suit is GF, what is the hurry in bidding 3NT. After all Responder has not yet set the Strain. He is an unlimited hand and he will need the space to fix the Strain and find out about more about your hand. Lets say Responder is dealt a monster of a hand - ♠AK ♥AKQJ1098 ♦XX ♣XX, what do you expect him to do after 3NT? He will need the space for him to set ♥ as trump with the 3♥ bid after 2NT and you can cue the ♦K - 4♦ and he can take control after that. Godwin

On a similar bidding sequence, 2NT-3D-3H-4D, ( 5 hearts & 4 Diamonds, slammish ) how do you agree of a Diamond fit and no Heart fit? Godwin

When I reply to post, I am able to see Suit symbols in the heading Code Buttons, but unable to see suit symbols in regular posts. Whats is CSS? Am I to download something?

I had to format my hard dirive and start from scratch. Win 98. Now I don't see the suit symbols in BBO Forum posts, like ♥ . INstead I see a line. Can someone help in overcoming this problem? Thanks in advance Godwin

I was under the impression that the balancing bid over a weak 2 would be 18-20, similar to the a balancing jump to 2NT over a 1 bid showing 18-20 points. Your righty could be passing with 10 to 12 hcps and you can go for a Tel. Number if they Double you. It looks too risky to bid 2NT. Is 12-16 in this position the Expert treatment over a weak 2?

Balanced raise on certain sequences 1♣ - 1M 3♦ can be played as Balanced 18-19 raise with 4 card support . This frees up 1♣ - 1M 4M to be played as a more distributional 4 card raise with slightly lesser HCP's. 1♦ - 1♠ 3♥ can be played similarly. You don't have this luxury with sequences starting with 1♦ - 1♥

3♦ is not a Game Forcing bid. So we have no option but to bid 3♣. 1♦ : 1♥ 3♣: 3NT 4♦ : 4♠ 4NT and so on

Sri Lanka has 50% chance of lifting the Cup, now that they are going to unleash Malinga, Vaas & Murali on the Aussies. Go Sri Lanka Go!!!!!!!!! Godwin

If 2♥ is 4th suit Game Force, then 2♠ would be good enough setting ♠'s as trump. If you are feeling lucky today and fancy your chances for pd to hold 2 Aces and ♣Q, you may want to set ♣ as trmp by bidding 3♣, so that enroute to 7NT, you can check on ♣Q.

I prefer 3♥ to the 3NT with 1 stopper, which will get knocked out on the lead. I would strive to right side the 3NT and if I am in a mood, I might dish out 3♣, hoping that partner would also strive to play in 3NT with ♥Qxx and not raise you to 4♣. If he bids a major, you can always get back to 3NT. If he bids 4♣, you get back to 4♦. If he bids 3♦, you try once more with 3♥ ( partially check).

How about A & K of trumps and then run the ♥'s discarding ♦'s. Hoping trumps 3-2 and the Opps use trump Q to ruff your 4th ♥. You lose 1♦, 1♠ & a ♥.

Play influenced by the overcall. Play ♦A. Cash ♥A. Play ♣Q discarding a ♦. Basically you need ♥K stiff to succeed.

I would like to see the line of play on a 4 - 1 trump break. I couldn't crack it.