6.2 Defense to Michaels

When we open one of a minor and the next opponent cue bids to show both majors, we need to be able to do the following things:

  1. compete in partner’s minor
  2. invite to game with support for partner’s suit, showing stoppers for noturmp purposes
  3. bid the other minor
  4. double them for penalties
TheyWeTheyWe  
  1♣ 2♣ ? 2♣ shows the majors
Dbl Desire to defend at least one major
2♦ Natural, and forcing one round
2♥ Limit raise or better with heart stopper
2♠ Limit raise or better with spade stopper
2NT Both majors stopped, invitational — rare bid, because you will usually do better to double, maybe ♠Kx ♥Q10x ♦Kxxx ♣Kxxx?
3♣ Competitive
3♦ Splinter in support of clubs? Seems silly, but consider ♠Axx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣KQxxxx
3♥ Splinter in support of clubs
3♠ Splinter in support of clubs
3NT Same as 2NT, but enough for game
4♣ Preemptive
4♦ - 4♠ Unused
4NT RKCB for clubs
5♣ Preemptive raise to game, does not create a force over 5M

When you bid 2♥ to show a heart stopper, it does not deny a spade stopper. If you have both, show hearts, and partner can bid 2♠ to ask for a stopper there. If you show a heart stopper with both suits stopped, you are likely to have a very good hand since you could have bid 2NT or 3NT.

TheyWeTheyWe  
  1♦ 2♦ ? 2♦ shows the majors
Dbl Desire to defend at least one major
2♥ Limit raise or better with heart stopper
2♠ Limit raise or better with spade stopper
2NT Both majors stopped, invitational
3♣ Natural and forcing for one round
3♦ Competitive
3♥ Splinter in support of diamonds
3♠ Splinter in support of diamonds
3NT Same as 2NT, but enough for game
4♣ Splinter in support of diamonds
4♦ Preemptive
4♥ - 4♠ Unused
4NT RKCB for diamonds
5♣ Unused
5♦ Preemptive raise to game, does not create a force over 5M

When we open 1 of a major, and the opponent cue bids to show the other major and a minor, the situation changes because of our potential major suit fit and because one of their suits is not known, so:

TheyWeTheyWe  
  1♥ 2♥ ? 2♥ shows spades and a minor
Dbl Desire to defend
2♠ Limit raise or better in hearts
2NT Natural, invitational
3♣ Natural and forcing for one round
3♦ Natural and forcing for one round
3♥ Competititve
3♠ Splinter in support of hearts
3NT Natural, 13 - 15
4♣ Splinter in support of hearts
4♦ Splinter in support of hearts
4♥ Preemptive raise to game, does not create a force over 4♠ or 5m
4♠ Unused
4NT RKCB for hearts
TheyWeTheyWe  
  1♠ 2♠ ? 2♠ shows hearts and a minor
Dbl Desire to defend
2NT Natural, invitational
3♣ Natural and forcing for one round
3♦ Natural and forcing for one round
3♥ Limit raise or better in spades
3♠ Competitive
3NT Natural, 13 - 15
4♣ Splinter in support of spades
4♦ Splinter in support of spades
4♥ Splinter in support of spades
4♠ Preemptive raise to game, does not create a force at the five-level
4NT RKCB for spades
6.1 Unusual Versus UnusualPrevious Next6.3 Negative Doubles