Will the third show up soon?

They say that things go in threes. Well, so far I have only seen two deals along the lines of today’s. The other will be in tomorrow’s column.

First, look at the South hand. Your right-hand opponent deals and opens one spade. What would you do?

What are your choices? You might pass, overcall two clubs or two hearts, or make a two-spade Michaels Cue-Bid to show at least 5-5 in hearts and either minor.

If you are going to bid, the Michaels Cue has the advantage of describing your hand more accurately than a suit overcall. But that hand is far too weak to commit to the three-level. Just pass!

At Bridge Base Online, 12 players faced this situation. Pass, two clubs and two hearts each got two votes, and six used Michaels. At the time, North-South were in trouble, going down in everything, and East-West could not even make a game!

At one table, there was a really unusual auction. South made that dreadful Michaels Cue-Bid, and North, not fancying three clubs or three hearts in a 5-2 fit, passed, risking a 5-0 fit! One thinks that East should have doubled, but he passed. South could have escaped for down four(!) but slipped a trick. However, minus 250 was worth a surprising 30% of the matchpoints.

What would have happened if South had passed? West would have responded one no-trump, East would have rebid two diamonds, West would have continued with two spades, and East might well have passed. Again, the final contract would have been two spades!