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“Michaels Issues” solved by James.

                      

How do you play Michaels Cue Bids? There are more theories than there are bridge players about which suits it is best to show with the available bids and how strong the hand might be. I believe that where possible it is best to show specific suits though after “one of a major” from the opposition, a direct cue-bid probably needs to show 5 of the other major and five of an undisclosed minor.

How strong? “10+ hcp, mainly in your two suits” seems a reasonable yardstick. If you “Michaels” on less and end up as a defender (a likely scenario if you have less hcp than cards in your two suits), you have just told the declarer how to play the board. There is also the issue of a misfit and a huge penalty if you have bad suits and no fit.

So, the East hand on Board 21 looked a good candidate for a 2 call after North had opened 1. Only North-South were vulnerable. These were the East-West cards:

 

 

East was minimum for 2 but after a pass from South, West would have the confidence to jump to 4. It would be amazing if partner had clubs as their minor but the likelihood was that partner’s minor was diamonds. West would have a reasonable double fit for both East’s suits.

What now?

There, paths diverged. Some North players bid on without any noise from their partner to 5 while other East-West’s were left in 4. Both contracts attracted doubles at some tables. It’s time to look at all four hands:

 The outcome

Of the 5 pairs in 5, two made their contract. Solid defence should not allow that to happen. After A lead, East continues the suit. North ruffs and can play one high trump but has to do something with their small clubs. A low club sees the king appear from East. The defence need to take their diamond trick or else the J could be set up for a diamond discard. Declarer can ruff a second diamond and draw the last trump. Their losing club can be ruffed in dummy for one down.

North’s good shape and good heart suit encouraged them to the 5 level but only one of the 4 declarers in 4 made their contract. That was James Yang. This was the bidding at James’ table:

West          North         East            South

                   1              1              Pass

2             4              4              All Pass

North led a heart and continued the suit. James ruffed, cashed the A and then finessed the J successfully. Believing North’s Q to be singleton, he played a diamond to the 9, followed by A and then played a club to the king (North just had to hold the ace.) K scored to be followed by the high 5^th diamond. South ruffed with dummy winning with 10. James cashed the K and had 9 of the first 10 tricks. The defence still had the A and J to come but James  had two small trumps and had to score one of them.

A nicely played hand. All those in 5 would have felt vindicated by their sacrifice (even more so when they made 11 tricks!) though those who did concede 3 tricks scored poorly with so many failing in 4 let alone the tables where 5 made.

The two North-Souths who were allowed to play in 4 must have wondered what all the fuss was about!

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

 

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