35. Advanced Two-Suited Bids

There are many systems of two-suited competitive bids. We learned about Unusual 2N and Michaels Cue Bid already. There are also the myriad two-suited bids for interfering with a 1NT opener. The defense to any such bid is explained in the General Defense To Two-Suited Bids.

Some two-suited bids show only one of the two suits at first and promise the existence of another, so the defense has slightly different approaches for those.

Here are other two-suited overcalls. There are still more approaches out there.

Sandwich 1N

After (1x) - P - (1y), a double is for takeout and shows the other two suits; the suits are at least 5-4 and you have an opening hand.

The Sandwich 1N convention is a bid of 1N rather than double, showing the other two suits but less than an opening hand:

(1x) - P - (1y) - 1N!(other two suits, fewer than 12 HCP)

Additional Michaels 2N Replies

After you make a Michaels Cue Bid, say (1♥) 2♥ (P), 2N by your partner asks for your minor suit. By partner agreement, you can have additional responses:

  • Bidding your minor shows no extras

  • Bidding 3♥ shows your minor is clubs, with a good hand.

  • Bidding 3♠ shows your minor is diamonds, with a good hand.

This may prove useful even if partner intends to agree with your major but has a strong hand.

Extended Michaels

Extended Michaels changes the meaning of the Michaels cue bid over a minor, promising spades and another suit (which could be hearts, but no longer is definitely hearts).

Note that 2♣ over the opponents 1♣ is not alerted (in general, cue bids are not alerted) but must be alerted if their 1♣ was announced as “could be short” and your cue bid is not natural. I recommend always playing the cue bid as Michaels. You can bid 3♣ if you really mean clubs.

As before, 2N asks for the other suit. However, it is also possible to bid the cheapest of the possible other suits as “pass or correct”. Therefore, 2N can be reserved to show constructive values, or to start game tries, using “pass or correct” with weak hands.

Here’s an example. (1♦) 2♦ shows spades and either hearts or clubs. So:

  • (1♦) 2♦ - 2♥ I do not like spades. I have 3 hearts. If hearts isn’t your other suit, bid your minor.

  • (1♦) 2♦ - 2N!(Asks for the other suit, constructive)

Asking for the other suit with 2N and then going back to spades is a game try:

  • (1♣) 2♣ - 2N - 3♦ - 3♠ is a game try in spades.

“Super” pass and correct bids can be made if a fit is certain and the hand is weak, as preemptive:

  • (1♣) 2♣ - 3♦!(support for diamonds and hearts, weak)

Using Extended Michaels and U2NT together, we cover all the bases:

RHO     You       Bid
1♣      ♦&♥     2N (two lowest unbid)
1♣      ♦&♠     2♣ (spades and another)
1♣      ♥&♠     2♣ (spades and another)

1♦      ♣&♥     2N (two lowest unbid)
1♦      ♣&♠     2♦ (spades and another)
1♦      ♥&♠     2♦ (spades and another)

1♥      ♣&♦     2N (two lowest unbid)
1♥      ♣&♠     2♥ (spades and another)
1♥      ♦&♠     2♥ (spades and another)

1♠      ♣&♦     2N (two lowest unbid)
1♠      ♣&♥     2♠ (hearts and another)
1♠      ♦&♥     2♠ (hearts and another)

Top and Bottom Cue Bid

Top and Bottom is another replacement for Michael’s Cue Bid. The cue bid shows the highest and lowest unbid suits. For example, 1♥ - (2♥) shows spades and clubs. Knowing both suits right away can be helpful, but you can’t use it as often.

However, most users of Top and Bottom use it as part of a constellation of conventions following Hardy:

  • Using the cue bid when the lower suit is at least 5+ cards, and the upper suit 4+ cards, or equal length but substantially weaker. Otherwise one overcalls the upper suit of 5+ cards.

  • Adding “Bottom and Bottom”: (1♦) - 3♣! shows 5+ clubs, 4+ hearts, and (1♣) - 2♦! shows 5+ diamonds and 4+ hearts. Hardy later changed his approach so that (1♣) - 2♥! shows this hand. Others suggest 2N!.

  • Adding Equal Level Conversion takeout doubles. If one doubles and then rebids at the same level as the response, it does not show extras. This allows takeout doubles that are 4-5 in the top unbid suits.

After a Top and Bottom Cue Bid, if advancer bids his own suit it is a self-sufficient suit with a desire to play there. If after advancer bids, bidding or raising the upper suit shows a strong hand.