Michaels Cue-Bid — BidMaestro

What it shows

The player holds at least five-five in two suits and roughly 8 or more points (about 10 when vulnerable), with no upper limit. The cue-bid can be made directly or in the balancing seat, and the two suits depend on what was opened:

Over a minor, e.g. (1♣) 2♣: Both majors.
Over a major, e.g. (1♠) 2♠: The other major and an unnamed minor.

How partner answers

Advancer chooses the contract, normally in one of partner’s two suits rather than advancer’s own suit. The strength is found out on the next round.

After Michaels over a minor: Both majors are known, so advancer bids the better major.
After Michaels over a major: With support for partner’s known major, raise it. With no fit there, bid 2NT to ask for the minor: partner names it (3♣ or 3♦).

When they bid Michaels over partner’s opening

The cue then belongs to your side. Partner has opened, the next hand has shown two suits, and you hold support:

Cue the major they showed: A limit raise or better of partner’s suit, an invitation, not just competing.
Jump-cue the major they showed: A splinter: a slam try for partner’s suit with shortage in the suit cued.

Over a weak-two opening such as 2♠, a bid of 3♠ is not Michaels. There is no room left for a two-suiter, so BidMaestro reads it as a Western cue-bid asking partner to bid notrump with a stopper. Michaels is a tool for cue-bidding a one-level opening.

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