An Unusual Remedy

Many players in our local bridge club -- and all tournament players nowadays -- play the Unusual Notrump and Michaels Cue conventions. It's high time we talked about what to do when the opponents make these bids against us.

First, a quick review. Our side has opened the bidding and overcaller has shown a two-suited hand, typically with five cards in each suit.

• The Unusual Notrump is a jump overcall in notrump that shows the lower two unbid suits (or the minor suits, depending on partnership agreement). For example, 1 ♠ - 2 NT shows clubs and diamonds. 1 ♦-2 NT probably shows clubs and hearts, though some partnerships use this for minors. (You can ask for an explanation when it is your turn to bid, or after the auction has ended).
• A Michaels Cue shows both majors over a minor suit opening; after a major suit opening, a Michaels Cue shows the other major and one of the minor suits. For example, 1 ♦- 2 ♦ shows both majors. 1 ♥ - 2 ♥ shows spades and a minor suit.

These auctions have taken some valuable bidding space away from us. What does a double mean now? What does a single raise mean? What about a jump raise, or a bid in one of the opponents' suits? If you've never discussed these with your partner it is very likely that the two of you won't be on the same page; disaster looms.

THE REMEDY: The standard defense against these bids is called "Unusual Versus Unusual". There are several variations of this convention. I recommend the following, which mostly reflects modern expert consensus.Consider an auction where the opponents make a two-suited overcall; for example, 1 ♠ - 2 NT. Since their bid shows two specific suits, keep in mind that you have two cue-bids available, as well as a bid in the fourth suit. Your options (other than Pass) are as follows:

• Double. Penalty-oriented, this denies a fit with partner's suit and promises a decent hand (nearly opening values, or more) that plans to penalize the opponents in at least one of their suits.
• Raise. A simple raise of partner's suit is competitive, not invitational, and not forcing. It shows perhaps 7-10 points and good support. Note that if partner opened a minor suit you should probably have a five-card fit in case partner opened a three-card suit. A jump raise is preemptive with a weak hand (less than 7 points) and at least five-card support.
• Fourth suit. Natural and not forcing. This denies a fit for partner's suit, and promises a decent suit (almost always six or more cards) and 7-10 points.
• Cheapest Cue. At least a game-invitational raise of partner's suit, forcing for one round; you might prefer to call it "limit raise or better". By cheapest cue, we mean the cheapest available bid in one of the opponent's suits. In our 1 ♠ - 2 NT example, clubs is the cheapest cue-bid in their suits so 3 ♣ shows at least four-card spade support and at least a good ten points. If you have game-going values, don't worry; you'll get another turn to bid.
• Second-Cheapest Cue. Shows the unbid suit, forcing for one round, and usually denies a fit for partner's suit. This promises a good six-card suit with at least game interest, at least a good ten points with no wasted values in the opponents' suits. In our 1 ♠ - 2 NT example, 3 ♦ shows a good six-card heart suit with some interest in game. If you have game-going values, don't worry; you'll have another turn to bid.
• Notrump bids at the two and three level are natural and non-forcing and promise appropriate values with solid stoppers in the opponents suits. 4NT and 5NT retain their usual conventional meanings.

If only one suit is known, such as in 1 ♥ - 2 ♥, a cue-bid in the known suit (spades here) shows at least a game-invitational raise of partner's suit. Other suit bids are natural and non-forcing.

And yes, there's more but that takes care of the basics. Because there are several published variations in how to use the two available cue-bids, you and your partner should discuss the details before playing Unusual Versus Unusual.

Note that all of these bids must be Alerted (other than pass or notrump) because they have specific conventional meaning in this context.  Finally, don't forget to add "Unusual Vs Unusual" to the bottom right of your convention card in the section for Other Conventional Calls.

-- Ray
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