Utilizing the "Michaels Cue Bid".
Bridge Column for November 21, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
North-South vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: Void             
                              H: A Q 7 5 4   
                              D: K 8 6       
                              C: A K 10 7 6 
            West                             East
            S: A K Q 9 7 2                   S: J 10 8 3     
            H: 3 2                           H: K J 10     
            D: Q 5                           D: J 4               
            C: 9 3 2                         C: Q 8 5 4     
                              South                         
                              S: 6 5 4 
                              H: 9 8 6      
                              D: A 10 9 7 3 2 
                              C: J        
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                    1S      2S       Dbl     3H 
                   Pass     4H       Dbl    Pass
                   Pass    Pass
     Thanks to Mary Chilcote of Bratenahl for this hand from a
recent regional tournament at Daytona Beach, FL.  Chilcote held
the North cards during a session of board-a-match team
competition.  Her partner, holding the South cards, was Dennis
McGarry of Stuart, FL (formerly from Cleveland).  Their teammates
were Larry Griffey and Spike Lay of Daytona Beach, FL.  
     West opened the bidding with one spade.  Chilcote made a
"Michael's Cue Bid" of two spades, showing hearts and an
unspecified minor.  East doubled.  Normally, a double of this
type of conventional bid shows the ability to make a penalty
double of one of the two suits that are designated by the cue
bid.  East might have been indicating this type of hand, or he
might have been indicating that he had spades.
     McGarry didn't ask what the double meant, he simply bid
three hearts.  I am guessing, but I think that he decided that
his partner's minor suit was clubs and that he would be able to
trump clubs and set up the North hand.  Chilcote, holding a
marvelous hand, bid on to the heart game and West, once again,
doubled.  In spite of West's original intent, his hand is not
really rich enough in defensive values to justify a double in the
direct seat.  He should pass and allow the opening bidder to make
the final decision.
     West opened the ace of spades and McGarry trumped.  Next
came the ace of clubs and a club trumped in the closed hand.  A
diamond to the king provided the entry for another small club,
trumped in the closed hand.  A heart to the ace placed the lead
back in dummy.  McGarry called for the king of clubs, pitching a
spade from hand.  This was the end position when West trumped the
king of clubs.
                              North
                              S:                  
                              H: Q 7 5     
                              D: 8 6       
                              C: 10     
            West                             East
            S: K Q 9 7 2                     S: J 10 8       
            H:                               H: K J        
            D: Q                             D: J                 
            C:                               C:             
                              South                         
                              S: 6     
                              H:            
                              D: A 10 9 7 3   
                              C:
     West is on lead and nothing is going to help.  The defense
has one trick, and will score two more hearts, but nothing else. 
Making four, doubled was worth +790, which won this hand and was
one of many fine plays enroute to finishing first in the event.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.