Leaping Michaels
The concept is attributed to Mr. Mark Feldman, a
bidding theorist responsible for inventing numerous conventions in popular
use, but this is unsubstantiated. This is a method whereby the player makes
a jump to four of a Minor suit over an opposing Major suit Weak Two bid, and
sometimes preempts on the three level, to show a two-suiter, generally a 5-5
distribution, in the suit bid and the unbid Major suit and/or one still unknown
and unspecified Major suit, depending on whether the Weak Two bid and/or Preempt
is a Minor or Major suit. However, if the two suits are different in length,
then the assumed longer suit is the Minor suit as in a 5-6 distribution. The
so-called leap is not forcing so one would expect opening bid strength, but
rather distributional features. Not to be confused with Super
Michaels. As a defense against a preempt on the three level, the following
example is offered from the Bermuda Bowl 2000 tournament.
East, Mr. Wilkosz, opens the auction with:
3 Clubs. Mrs. Sandy Low overcalls with: 4 Diamonds explained
as showing at least a 5-card Diamond suit and an unspecified Major suit, also
of 5-card length. Leaping Michaels. West passes and North raises to
6 Diamonds. The result was down one, but review showed that had Mr. Sandy
Low played for the singleton King of Diamonds, she would have taken all thirteen
tricks.
