balancing by Mike Lawrence

[straube]

Read through Lawrence's book on balancing which recommends cue-bidding with a very offensive (likely single-suited) hand. The cue bid is almost GF.

 

E.g. 1C P P 2C is not majors but perhaps a very strong spade hand.

 

In his structure, dbl and bid a suit might show a hand with more defense or strains and a jump overcall would show a good offensive hand (but not as good as the cue bid)

 

So I'm wondering, is this still a pretty common treatment or do most people use cue bids for Michaels?

[mgoetze]

1. I've never heard of this treatment.

 

2. I would be willing to consider it.

 

3. Undiscussed, I would assume Michaels.

[straube]

I'm starting to think his use of the cue bid is a holdover from the days when the cue bid showed a big hand. Seems like in the balancing (4th) seat we have already have more tools to show 1-suited hands than we do in direct seat. We can jump overcall with an intermediate hand for instance....as well as make a simple overcall and double. So why give yet one more additional tool for these sorts of hands...and at the expense of being able to show 2-suited hands?

 

I always thought of Lawrence as the authority on Balancing. Are their other books out there on the subject?

[gnasher]

This book was written thirty years ago, so it's no surprise that it's out of date. Even Stayman has changed enormously since 1980.

[OleBerg]

My partner and I have the meta-agreement never to start with a double, when we have a single-suited strong hand. We solve this in various ways in various places. In fourth hand we include these hands in Michaels.

 

I woulnd't expect a pick-up expert partner to be in on this.

[Phil]

Read through Lawrence's book on balancing which recommends cue-bidding with a very offensive (likely single-suited) hand. The cue bid is almost GF.

 

E.g. 1C P P 2C is not majors but perhaps a very strong spade hand.

 

In his structure, dbl and bid a suit might show a hand with more defense or strains and a jump overcall would show a good offensive hand (but not as good as the cue bid)

 

So I'm wondering, is this still a pretty common treatment or do most people use cue bids for Michaels?

 

We've discussed this elsewhere. No one plays this that I am aware of, and he doesn't discuss follow-ups. Don't play it!

[dake50]

As Phil, be clear on follow-ups.

What Mich-Q would rebid? Few! Rest are Q-bid strong.

What Unu-2NT rebids? Rest are Q-bid strong.

Theorists have defined these auctions for nigh these 30 years as ML suggested.

They are rare -- so unheard.