Both sides vulnerable. East deals. North S: A 10 H: 10 6 3 D: 9 7 5 3 C: J 7 6 3 West East S: 6 5 S: 7 4 3 2 H: Q J H: 4 D: K Q 6 2 D: A 10 8 4 C: A K 8 5 4 C: Q 10 9 2 South S: K Q J 9 8 H: A K 9 8 7 5 2 D: J C: Void The Bidding: East South West North Pass 1H 2C Pass Pass 2S Pass 3H Pass 4C Pass 4S Pass 6H (All Pass) Opening lead: KC There will be many who would advocate a two club opening bid with the South cards. I do not agree. With only fourteen high card points, there are plenty of points in the other hands to keep the bidding open. Additionally, it is very difficult to describe a two suiter when you have opened at the two level. After the one heart opening, West makes a normal overcall and North passes. East may think of raising clubs but both sides are vulnerable and he can always bid later if he gets the chance. South now bids two spades. Is this a reverse bid? The answer is: Yes and No. To really be a "reverse" South would have to bypass one no trump and bid a suit that is at a higher level than the first bid. The only thing here is that the suit is above the initial suit, hearts. So this is absolutely forcing and should show a very good hand. North shows a preference for hearts and South now shows slam interest by bidding four clubs. When a partnership has agreed on a suit, a cue bid asks for additional information from the other side of the table. If North held the ace of diaomds he would bid four diamonds. If North had no aces or voids he would just sign off at four hearts. Even though it seems strange, North must participate and show the ace of spades. South has all the information he needs and just bids six hearts. It is not a 100% slam. Hearts have to break - but the odds favor a 2-1 division. All is as it should be and twelve tricks are easy. This is a difficult slam to bid - without North's excellent four spade cue bid the final contract would be four hearts making six. Work on these cue bidding situations with your partner to help improve your game.