To Michaels or not to Michaels

[Kalvan14]

I am not convinced 2H is safer at all than 2♠. I would certainly prefer 2♠ in a 6-2 fit over 3♣ in a 5-3 fit on heart forces. Also, Michaels is much easier to double.

 

I may be wrong but to me it seems that suit quality is even more important for 2-suited preempts than for single suited preempts. Also, if I get doubled in 2♠ I at least have some extra shape as surprise, so that it could still be a mistake by them.

 

Anyway, there is big money in this deal when we can successfully bid 4♠ over 4♥. It seems to me 2♠ gives partner the best chance to do so when it is right.

 

Arend

All good points. And the 6th spade is a big plus. Michaels are a relic of a time when bridge was less competitive than nowadays.

[coyot]

In the Michaels camp. We play this as spades + any, weak or strong. 2♠ would be criminal if partner has 5 clubs to Jack and 0-2 spades. The sixth spade is good to compensate for lack of middle values in the otherwise promised 5-5.

 

Sure, if we have no good fit, I've just warned the opponents about the bad splits... but:

 

If we have spade 9-10fit, a quick 4♠ from partner will leave the opps in the dark. They might have 10 diamonds and be afraid to bid them. (Yes, happenned to me recently as a victim - I could not determine which minor the Michaels overcalled had and missed a cold slam, fearing my Kx was under tenace).

 

If we have clubs, we might find a good sacrifice on cross-ruffs.

[coyot]

I am not convinced 2H is safer at all than 2♠. I would certainly prefer 2♠ in a 6-2 fit over 3♣ in a 5-3 fit on heart forces. Also, Michaels is much easier to double.

 

Doubled michaels is the best thing that can happen to you, especially if partner is able to jump-raise your known suit, leaving opps in the dark about the other suit.

 

Plus, partner with 2 spades and 3 clubs could bid 2♠, or not? Why go to 3rd level with 8 trumps if we can stay on 2nd level on 7? Especially following the no-double no-trouble principle.

 

Also, if I get doubled in 2♠ I at least have some extra shape as surprise, so that it could still be a mistake by them.

 

Agree with that - having a two suiter opps don't know about might help me make 2♠ doubled.

 

Anyway, there is big money in this deal when we can successfully bid 4♠ over 4♥. It seems to me 2♠ gives partner the best chance to do so when it is right.

 

I don't think this big money is endangered by Michaels. The 5-5 shape gives better playing strength than any 6331. If you want to bid 4♠ over 4♥, you expect partner to have 4 spades, don't you? And don't you think that he would bid 4♠ against 5-5 as well? (Because he either supports your second suit or can contribute two ruffs of it).

 

The only advantage of 2♠ would be keeping the 5card in clubs hidden from the opponents, but, then, preempting on a bare 6th queen in red is no big deal...

[Blofeld]

I am not convinced 2H is safer at all than 2♠. I would certainly prefer 2♠ in a 6-2 fit over 3♣ in a 5-3 fit on heart forces. Also, Michaels is much easier to double.

 

Doubled michaels is the best thing that can happen to you, especially if partner is able to jump-raise your known suit, leaving opps in the dark about the other suit.

It may work well if partner does jump-raise, but is unlikely to be great otherwise (and the fact that they double decreases the chance that there will be a jump-raise). And critically, if this is a misfit deal then they're almost certain to be able to penalise after michael's, and less so after 2♠.

 

Plus, partner with 2 spades and 3 clubs could bid 2♠, or not? Why go to 3rd level with 8 trumps if we can stay on 2nd level on 7? Especially following the no-double no-trouble principle.

What if partner also has 4 or 5 diamonds? She's not likely to prefer the 7-card spade fit when there may be a 9+ minor fit, and is almost certainly an 8-card fit. Plus, a 6 card minor tends to be more likely in the michael's hand than a 6-card major.