ASTRO CUEBID

Mr. Paul Allinger, Mr. Roger Stern, and Mr. Larry Rossler devised the Astro Convention which shows a two-suited holding by bidding a Minor suit after an opponent has opened the auction with 1 No Trump. The Astro Cuebid is also an invention of these bridge players to indicate a two-suited holding after an opponent opens the auction on the one level with a suit bid.

If the player with the two-suited hand overcalls immediately with a cuebid of the suit bid by the opener, he is showing a long Minor suit with at least a 5-card suit and a shorter Major suit, also generally a 5-card suit. In the following first example this cuebid of 1 Diamond shows Clubs and Hearts as the two-suited holding unless one of these suits has been previously bid, in which case the next-higher suit must be assumed. In the second example this cuebid of 1 Spades shows Clubs and Hearts.

North

 East South West
1 2

North

 East South West
1 2

With either of the two cuebids by East in the above two examples, East could have the following holding.

53
AKJ6
7
AQ10873
When the opening is 1, the Astro Cuebid of 2 shows / promises both Red Suits, Diamonds and Hearts, as in the following illustration. And if the opening bid is 1, then the Astro Cuebid of 2 shows / promises both Black Suits, Clubs and Spades.

North

 East South West
1 2
4
K10753
Q109854
7

Therefore, the schematic of the concept is as follows, providing the intended suit has not been bid:

Opening Cuebid Meaning
1 2 Promises a two-suited holding in Diamonds and Hearts.
1 2 Promises a two-suited holding in Clubs and Hearts.
1 2 Promises a two-suited holding in Clubs and Spades.
1 2 Promises a two-suited holding in Clubs and Hearts.

The values required for this cuebid depend entirely on vulnerability, distribution, and the location of the values. By favorable vulnerability, the general consensus is that the holding should contain at least 7-10 points with values located in the two intended suits. By non-favorable vulnerability, the general consensus is that the holding should contain at least 12 points with values located in the two intended suits.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

Claus and Raymond

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