This conventional method was devised and developed by Mr. Michael Michaels of Miami Beach, Florida. The concept incorporates the use of a cuebid in the suit of the opponent, who has opened the auction, to show a two-suited hand. It is employed most often in the direct seat after a suit opening by an opponent. Less frenquently is the concept employed in the Fourth Seat after two passes, although this can be the partnership agreement. The idea is to show a two-suited holding, which is too weak for a Takeout Double. The point count range can differ among partnerships since some partnerships limit the high card point between 7-10 points while other partnerships have adopted the 6-11 point range.

Over a Minor suit the point count should be between 5 high card points and 11 high card points by favorable vulnerability. By unfavorable vulnerability, the minimum high card points should be somewhat higher and stronger in honors. Length of the suits should be, by favorable vulnerability, at least 5-4. Some partnerships have adopted this concept also for 4-6 distribution, whereby the 6-card suit is a Minor suit when a Minor suit is indicated. By unfavorable vulnerability, length should be a minimum distribution of 5-5 and the strength greater. It is important to realize that two-suited holdings are powerful and provide additional tricks through ruffing. As mentioned, the accepted point count should be between 5 high card points and 11 high card points, although the strength is again a matter of the partnership agreement.

A Cuebid of a Minor suit signifies the two Major Suits:

Example 1: Dealer: East Vulnerability: None

East	South
A9 A76 Q83 K8765	K10843 KQJ108 6 94
1	2	Michaels Cuebid

South informs North, his partner, that he has both Major suits.

Example 2: Dealer: East Vulnerability: None

East	South
A9 A76 Q8732 K87	K10843 KJ1082 65 9
1	2	Michaels Cuebid

South informs North, his partner, that he has both Major suits.

1.	If the left hand opponent bids an immediate cuebid of the Minor suit of the opener, then the left hand opponent has at least 5-4 by favorable vulnerability or at least 5-5 by unfavorable vulnerability distribution in both Majors, and also the suggested 5 to 11 plus high card points. Do not cuebid with less than the required strength.
2.	The high card points become relatively unimportant owing to the distribution of the hand.
3.	The eventual contract will be achieved through length, not strength.
4.	The partner of the left hand opponent knows the distribution and suits of his partner, but not yet the strength, because the left hand opponent may be intending further action depending on strength.
5.	Important: even if partner has nothing, the bidding auction has been disrupted.
6.	West may, if he has no immediate fit, have a difficult time finding one because of the consumed bidding space.

Michaels Cuebid allows also for this case. Follow the logic of the examples below and it will become second-nature.

Example 3: Dealer: East Vulnerability: None

East	South
AQJ98 Q7 Q87 K83	7 AJ1062 KJ1095 54
1	2	Michaels Cuebid

South informs partner that he has the other Major suit and an unspecified Minor suit.

If North wants to discover the unspecified Minor suit, then the bidding is:

East	South	West	North
1	2	Pass	2 NT		Asking for unspecified Minor suit

Substitute 1 - 2 , and the situation remains the same.

East	South	West	North
73 AQJ76 Q87 KQ8	AK1082 9 K10965 54		J65 K1084 A43 976
1	2	Pass	2

With the bid of 2 Spades, North is informing partner that he has 0-9 points and at least a 3-card support. In this manner, North can inform his partner also of his strength.

Example 5: Dealer: East Vulnerability: None

East	South	West	North
AQJ98 Q7 Q87 K83	7 AJ1062 KJ1095 54		64 K854 A432 A76
1	2	Pass	4

With the jump bid to 4 Hearts, North is informing partner that he has at least 10+ points and 3-card support. Again, North has the opportunity to inform his partner of his strength.

The examples are as follows:

East		South		Meaning
2				Weak Two-Bid
		3		Michaels Cuebid

The same holds true if the Weak Two-Bid is 2 Hearts or 2 Diamonds.

East		South		Meaning
3				Preempt
		4		Michaels Cuebid

Be prepared for a 4 No Trump bid by partner !!
Partner may be asking: Which Minor?
Or partner may be asking for Aces !!
Partnership Agreement stands.

The same holds true if the Preemptive bid is 3 Hearts or 3 Diamonds or 3 Clubs.

The Michaels Cuebid can also be applied in the pass-out seat or Balancing Seat in the same manner with the same definition. Michaels Cuebid does not have to be a direct overcall.

By a preemptive bid of 4 (Spades/Hearts/Diamonds), it may prove to be unwise to instigate a Michaels Cuebid on the five level, unless the player has himself such a freakish two-suited distribution with void(s) and additional strength. The cuebidder must be prepared to play in slam.

Normally, by a Strong 2-Club Opening, the Michaels Cuebid is not used. However, if you wish to add this understanding to your Partnership Agreement, there is no rule which states that you must exclude this feature.

Use this convention with wisdom and a good partnership agreement. Each partner should understand completely which two suits are stipulated. An attempt at game can be undertaken, when both the distribution and strength strongly indicate game. Please remember that the partner is forced to respond, even with zero points.

The first feature of Michaels Cuebid, which must be observed, is the fact that if your side has already bid, then Michaels Cuebid does not apply. Take the following example:

South	West	North
1	1	2

Does the cuebid of North signify a Michaels Cuebid and that his holding is 5 Hearts and 5 Diamonds, the two unbid suits. The answer is that it is not. The Michaels Cuebid does not apply if your side has already opened the bidding auction. Any other similar auction is treated in the same manner.

Vulnerable:		Both
Dealer:		North

	1082 1082 10952 654
QJ J964 QJ87 AQ9		A54 AQ 63 KJ10832
	K9763 K753 AK4 7

North	East	South	West
Pass	1	2	Double
1. Pass	Pass	Any Major	Double
2. Any Major	Double

Since one of the requirements of the Michaels Cuebid is that a 5-5 distribution should be the normal holding when vulnerable, South assumes that with his stronger strength that showing both Majors would be the better bid than simply 1 Spade or a Takeout Double. It is important to remember that this above-described deal actually took place and is used only as an illustration.

West, also holding opening point count opposite his partner, who opened the auction, knows that their combined strength is sufficient for a game contract. However, West does not feel secure bidding No Trump owing to his weakness in the Spade suit. Without the intervening bid, West would simply have responded 1 Diamond, up the ladder. But after the Michaels Cuebid by South, West suddenly had another option and that is to double for penalty. The general and accepted guideline is that once a Michaels Cuebid is doubled, then it is for penalty, even at the two level. This guideline must be part of the partnership agreement, however, since the general guideline is that a double for penalty normally occurs on the three level or higher.

West, as in the above example, doubles to inform his partner, East, to 1. double the Escape bid by North if he can, and 2. to Pass the Escape bid by North otherwise back to West. This partnership agreement is the most important thing to remember if the double is to become applicable on the two level for penalty.

The reason, mainly, for the penalty double is that East/West could possibly make game for a total of 600 (plus) points, but if North/South can be set by 3 tricks, doubled and vulnerable, the result would equal 800 points, a result that would be much better than making game.

In the above example, one possibility for North is to pass and allow South to bid his better suit. This (informative) pass, by partnership agreement, must be understood by both partners as having equal or nearly equal support for both indicated Major suits, as in the above example. This pass does not show no interest and/or no preference, but forces the other partner to choose his better and/or stronger suit. The partner may not pass, unless rescued or hindered by the opponents through the act of additional bidding.

The second possibility for North is to bid a suit.

In the case that North passes, then East passes the call back to West, who will double any suit bid by South. South if forced to bid his better Major suit and West doubles for penalty any suit South names, according to the partnership agreement. The example above shows both possibilities.

Since Michaels Cuebid is so closely related to the Unusual No Trump convention, this same principle of Doubling for Penalty is applied using the same guidelines as described above. It is, however, most important to remember that any double by partner of an interfering Michaels Cuebid and/or Unusual No Trump bid is a suggestion only. It is not a must that partner double for penalty since bidding and making game could realize a better score. The partner must use his judgment and experience. If the final contract is by the opponents in a doubled partscore contract, it is also recommended that the lead be trump, so as to diminish the ruffing power of the declarer.

Leaping Michaels

Super Michaels

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