The Michaels cuebid is a conventional bid[1] used in the card game contract bridge. First devised by Mike Michaels of Miami Beach, it is an overcaller's cuebid in opponent's opening suit and is normally[2] used to show a two-suited hand with at least five cards in each suit and eight or more points.
After the opponents have opened at the one-level, the overcaller bids the same suit at the two-level; the two normal cases are:
Partnerships who have incorporated Michaels cuebid amongst their agreements, usually also play the unusual notrump convention.
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Point count requirements vary, but it is commonly agreed that a Michaels cuebid is constructive and should be made on hands that hold the prospect of winning the auction. One easy method of specifying point count is:
Several modifications and extensions exist, such as the Modified Michaels cuebid, Leaping Michaels and Super Michaels.
A frequently used modification among tournament players is "mini-maxi" Michaels, where it is used on weak hands (e.g. 10 or less HCP's) or strong hands (e.g. 16+ HCP's) but intermediate hands are bid naturally. This is stated to increase bidding accuracy but reduces the number of constructive hands where Michaels can be used. Weak hands can then use Michaels with the intention of a possible sacrifice.
In the Netherlands, a particular modification is growing in popularity: over opponent's opening a cuebid shows a major and a minor unbid suit. The 2NT overcall is then used to show both majors (after a minor suit opening) or both minors (after a major suit opening). This approach allows all three two suiters in the three unbid suits to be indicated. Disadvantage compared to standard Michaels is that after an opposing minor suit opening one can not introduce a two suiter in the majors at two-level. Also, the cuebid invariably leaves one of both suits unspecified.
A variant often referred to as upper cuebid is popular in Germany. In this treatment a cuebid shows the highest unbid suit and another unspecified suit. Together with the unusual notrump convention to indicate the lowest of the two unbid suits, this approach allows all two suiters in the three unbid suits to be indicated. Disadvantage compared to Michaels is that after an opposing minor suit opening one can not in one single bid describe a two suiter in the majors.
Also, Michaels cuebid variants exist that remove any ambiguity on what is the second suit. An example is the hi-hi cuebid that over opponent's opening invariably shows the highest unbid suits. Together with the unusual notrump convention to indicate the lowest of the two unbid suits, this hi-hi cuebid allows two out of the three possible two suiters in the unbid suits to be specified in one single bid. A drawback of this method is that the hi-hi cuebid does not cater for two-suiters in the highest and lowest unbid suits.
The opening side may defend against a Michaels cuebid or any other conventional two-suited overcall with the Unusual vs. Unusual convention. This defense assigns conventional meanings to a double and to cuebids of the suits shown by the two-suited overcall.
Ghestem is more precise in terms of uniquely defining the specific suits denoted. Another drawback compared to Ghestem is that following an opposing minor suit opening, the Michaels cuebid used in combination with the unusual notrump convention does not cater for a two-suiter in spades and the other minor. Hands like these can only be indicated by overcalling 1♠ and, if possible, later introducing the minor suit.