| 1) |
Pass. This could be anything, it is usually weak but it could well be a hand worth a penalty double (but cannot double as that is for take-out). |
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| 2) |
A simple overcall. Typically a good five of six card suit. As you are at the two/three level this need to be at least opening strength. |
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| 3) |
A jump overcall. This should be a six+ card suit. It is strong but not forcing. |
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Note that a jump is not pre-emptive but strong – there is no such thing as a pre-empt over a pre-empt. |
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| 4) |
Double. This is a take-out double and shows shortage in the suit bid. It generally shows 4 cards in the other major (over 2♥/♠) but not necessarily if very strong. |
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| 5) |
A cue bid of 3/♦/♥/♠ over a 2/♦/♥/♠ opening asks partner to bid 3NT with a stop. The hand usually has a long running minor. |
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| 6) |
2NT. This is natural, around 15-18 with decent stop(s) in the suit bid. It may or may not contain 4 cards in the other major (if a 2♥/♠ opening). |
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| 7) |
3NT. About 20+ with good stops, it may be somewhat less with a long minor. |
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| 8) |
4NT. This is not Blackwood. It is a strong two-suited hand in the lowest two unbid suits (so in fact the same suits as the UNT but very strong). |
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| 9) |
Leaping Michaels is a jump overcall to four of a minor after a weak 2♥/♠ opening. |
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Leaping Michaels |
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The leap shows five cards in the unbid major plus five or six cards in the minor bid. Leaping Michaels is not a pre-empt but a strong playing trick hand.
For example, with ♠4 ♥AKJ54 ♦A ♣KQJ987 jump to 4♣ over a 2♠ opening. The bid is not strictly forcing but there usually is game (or slam) in one of the suits. |
