THE CUE BID

By Larry Matheny

History of the Cue Bid

In the early days of bridge the direct cue bid of an opponent’s opening bid was used as a strong takeout device. This showed the equivalent of a Strong Two-Bid and was forcing to game. Another early application was for a cue-bid in the middle of an auction to promise first round control. However, since such opportunities occur so infrequently, these interpretations have been expanded considerably. Here are the most common uses of cue bids in today’s bridge world.

Shape and Strength Showing Cue-Bids

Michael’s Cue Bid

This popular direct cue bid of an enemy’s opening bid of one of a suit promises both major suits when cue bidding 2 or 2, and the other major along with an unspecified minor when cue bidding 2 or 2. In the latter case a 2NT response asks the cue bidder to name the minor suit. You can see this is a cousin to the Unusual NT bid. Example:

AQJ105 KJ1094 53 3

OPP YOU

1 2

Western Cue Bid

This is the use of a low-level cue bid in the enemy suit, after partner has bid, to ask for a stopper.

K5 J8 A83 AK10943

PARD OPP YOU OPP

1 2 3 P

3 P 3

This requests partner to bid notrump if he can stop the enemy suit. This is an extremely valuable tool that you need to have available. This seems simple enough but at the risk of complicating it, if the opponents have bid two suits, the cue bid SHOWS a stopper. Here is that example:

AK1095 KQ10 J3 QJ9

PARD OPP YOU OPP

1 1 1 2

3 P 3

Cue Bid Limit Raise

This is a way of indicating support for opener’s suit after an enemy suit overcall. A cue bid of the enemy suit shows the equivalent of a Limit Raise (or better) in opener’s suit. This allows Weak Jump Raises to be used.

Q95 KQ62 J3 A1093

PARD OPP YOU OPP

1 2 3

This cue bid shows a limit+ raise of hearts. Your partner will assume you have only a limit raise and if he shows a minimum hand by bidding only 3, you will pass. If opener has the values to bid game after an invitational raise, he will do so now.

Natural Bid

This use of an overcall in the enemy suit is natural.

Q95 AKJ1092 83 A10

OPP PARD OPP YOU

1 P 1 2

Your bid shows a good heart suit. Doubling instead would be for takeout for the other two suits. Make sure you discuss this one with your partner.

Cue Bid Stayman

This is a way to use the Stayman convention after partner has made a 1NT overcall. A cue bid in the enemy suit asks partner to bid a four-card major suit. It may also be used when partner's 1NT opening has been overcalled.

Q985 A92 83 AQ108

OPP PARD OPP YOU

1 1NT P 2

As is often the case, there are several methods that may be used here. Some people play “system on” and use 2 for Stayman. Obviously this is another one to review with your partner.

Jump Cue Bid Mixed Raise

This is a method of responding to partner’s overcall that utilizes a jump cue bid in the enemy suit to show a Mixed Raise of partner’s suit. A mixed raise shows around 7-9 support points along with four-card support and contains both constructive and pre-emptive values. The fourth card in the trump suit is what makes this different from the simple raise.

A85 AJ93 83 8754

OPP PARD OPP YOU

1 1 P 3

There are several other cue bidding conventions that are used but the ones I’ve described are the most common. Now I want to take you to the world of cue bidding when investigating slams.

Cue Bidding Controls for Slams

Sometimes the auction to reach slam is as simple as 1NT-6NT. However, other times when the bidding indicates you and your partner have the combined strength to reach a slam, you need to check on controls. Your goal is to have at least second round control of each suit and not be off two cashing tricks. The Blackwood convention is great for discovering how many aces your partner holds but it doesn’t tell you which aces. Take a look at this hand:

South: AK10862 83 K10 AKQ

SOUTH NORTH

1 2NT (forcing spade raise)

4NT 5

??

What should South bid? You have discovered you’re not off two aces but which of these hands does North hold:

A. QJ75 AK2 QJ98 J10

B. QJ75 QJ2 AQJ J102

With hand A, declarer is cold for slam but with hand B, the opponents can cash two heart tricks. It’s clear that Blackwood wasn’t the solution to the problem.

First a definition: The standard method of bidding slam controls is for a player to always show a first-round control (ace or void) first. Only after one lap of the suits has been completed can a second-round control (king or singleton) be shown.

Over partner’s forcing raise, South should bid 4. This shows first round control and an interest in slam. With hand A North will bid 4 showing the ace of hearts and denying the ace of diamonds. South can then bid the small heart slam. Holding hand B, North will bid 4. South can then jump to 5 asking North to bid the slam when holding a first or second round control in the unbid suit. For this hand, this will result in a quick pass from North.

Here’s another example:

AJ1093 KQ76 K3 Q9

K7 AJ985 Q109 AKJ

NORTH SOUTH

1 2 (game forcing)

3 4

4 5

5 6

South responds 2 forcing to game in the 2/1 system and North sets the trump suit with his 3 raise. Holding 18 high card points including the valuable king in opener’s first suit, South is anxious to reach slam. But he knows it is possible to be off the top two diamond honors so he starts on a cue-bidding mission. He cue bids his ace of clubs and is disappointed his partner does not show the ace of diamonds. However, North does show slam interest by cue bidding past game so South next shows the king of clubs. This gets a diamond cue bid showing the king (he already denied the ace) and South bids the slam.

This method of cue bidding first round controls followed by second round has been used for many years. However, it is only fair to also discuss the popular Italian style of cue bidding. Another definition: Italian Cue Bids are an approach to the bidding of slam controls that treats first and second round controls equally. If a player fails to show a control (by bypassing a suit) that means that he has neither a first-round nor a second-round control in that suit.

The advantage of Italian Cue Bids is that an uncontrolled suit is found very quickly and the bidding can stop at the four-level. Just as importantly, if there is no suit uncontrolled, this is discovered prior to 4NT being passed. Now Roman Keycard Blackwood can be used to check that there is not more than one key card missing.

Let’s take a look at this method:

KJ9 KQ7 103 AK987

A108 AJ985 2 QJ62

SOUTH NORTH

1 2 (game forcing)

3 3 (sets trump suit)

3 4

4 4NT

5 6

After North sets the trump suit with his 3 the cue bidding begins. Notice that without the diamond cue bid, the auction would probably stop at game. Also notice that with two small diamonds, North could not use Blackwood due to the fear of two losing cards in that suit.

I realize cue bidding can be difficult but the important thing is to understand what a powerful weapon it is.