Two Suited overcalls

If the opponents open the bidding, it can be difficult to compete effectively when you hold length in two suits. And yet these hands have tremendous potential if partner holds a fit for one (or both) of your suits.

What we shall look at here is a way of putting to use bids which are rarely needed in a natural sense, and utilising them to describe at once a hand with two 5 card suits where you would like to compete.

When the opponents have opened the bidding, an overcall of 2NT traditionally used to show a balanced hand of 20-22 points, just like an opening bid of 2NT. Unfortunately, when one of the opponents holds opening strength, the chances of you having a strong hand like this are slim. In fact, the opportunity to make this 2NT overcall (showing a balanced 20-22 points) comes up so infrequently that it makes sense to use the bid in a conventional way. Similarly, an overcall in the opponent’s suit (e.g. 1 - 2 ) was used to show a hand with enough strength to insist on game (a “rock crusher”) Such hands are extremely rare, and can usually be bid by starting with a takeout double.

So we are going to use these bids of a cue-bid of the opener’s suit and a 2NT overcall as our conventional bids to show a two-suited handThere are three variations on this theme

1. The unusual 2 No-trump (UNT)

2. Michaels Cue bids

3. Modified Ghestem (CRO)

The overcall in opponent’s suit is called either a Michaels cue bid or part ofCRO

These bids are alertable, and you should advise opponents that partner’s response need not be a four card suit These bids can beuseful as obstructive weapons, as they take away bidding space from the opponents. It is often easy for partner to compete, as he only needs a fit in one of the suits for his hand to be useful.

The bids usually show about 8-15 points (the same sort of strength as a normal overcall) and two decent suits.Since both of these bids are forcing (partner should not pass either the 2NT overcall or the cue-bid) they can be used on strong or weak two-suited hands. If the overcaller holds a strong hand, he may show it by bidding on after his partner has responded.

The problem with either Michaels Cue Bids or the Unusual No-trump is that although it shows two suits, it may not be obvious which two suit’s the bidder holds, since there are many variations. The 2NT overcall often shows the lowest two suits available,and whereas Michaels cue bids in a major invariably show the other major and a lower ranked suit, what about a cue bid in a minor? If you are going to play these agree with partner first which suits are designated

CRO fixes that problem and is a popular choice of tournament players, because it designates which two suits are held. The scheme: A cue bid of opponents suit at the two level shows 2 suits of the same COLOUR. 2NT shows 2 suits of the same RANK. Three Clubs shows 2 “ODD” suits

Opponent opens

You bid

shows

1

2

s & s

COLOUR

1

2NT

s & s

RANK

1

3

s & s

ODD

1

2

s & s

COLOUR

1

2NT

s & s

RANK

1

3

s & s

ODD

1

2

s & s

COLOUR

1

2NT

s & s

RANK

1

3

s & s

ODD

1

2

s & s

COLOUR

1

2NT

s & s

RANK

1

3

s & s

ODD

 

You can if you wish avoid the 3 bid by just overcalling with the major suit of the pair. Remember that with CRO you may be forcing partner to bid at the 3 level, and making choices, however few cards she holds in your designated suits. Partner responds if the opponent passes, by giving preference, or jumping in the better suit. If your opponent bids then the responder can pass if very weak.

You can use this with weak hands to find a sacrifice, as well as strong hands