Unusual vs Unusual

One of your toughest competitive bidding problems comes when the opponents make a two-suited overcall. Unusual 2NT overcalls and Michaels cuebids can work like preempts because they use up bidding space you may need to find your contract. They can also cause problems because there's no "Standard American" way for responder to show many types of hands.

The old-fashioned approach to dealing with these overcalls was to use cuebids of the opponent's suits to show stoppers or controls. After 1 by partner, 2NT by RHO (clubs and diamonds), your 3 cuebid would show a diamond stopper and ask partner to bid 3NT with a club stopper. Much more valuable, though, are systems that describe your holdings in suits the overcaller doesn't have.

Today, many partnerships play the Unusual vs. Unusual convention, which uses the cuebids to show length in your two potential trump suits. The name refers to the "unusual" meaning of responder's cuebids after an opponent's unusual 2NT overcall, but the treatment can be used over some Michaels cuebids, too. Actually, this convention isn't so unusual. You'll see it listed in the lower right-hand corner of many pairs' convention cards, and you may even have it on yours. But because there are different ways to play Unusual vs. Unusual, just adding it to your card doesn't constitute a clear agreement. You and your partner need to discuss which form of the convention you'll use and agree on the exact meanings of responder's bids.

One form of Unusual vs. Unusual uses the lower-ranking cuebid to promise support for partner's suit and the higher-ranking cuebid to show length in the unbid suit.

A slightly different treatment -- and the one that's probably most popular among expert players -- follows the same principle, but ties the cuebids to the rank of the suits. This easy-to-remember system, often called "Lower-Lower", works like this: "Lower-Lower" responses over the opponents' Unusual 2NT When an opponent overcalls 2NT, you assume that the two suits he showed are "theirs" and the other two suits (the suit partner opened and the unbid suit) are "yours". As responder, you have two cuebids available in their suits to describe your length in your suits. The meanings of your cuebids are:

• Cuebid of the overcaller's LOWER-ranking suit (1-2NT-3) = Length in our lower-ranking suit. In this auction, the 3 cuebid would show heart support and at least invitational strength.

• Cuebid of the overcaller's HIGHER-ranking suit (1-2NT-3) = Length in our higher-ranking suit. In this auction, the higher-ranking suit is the "unbid" suit, so your cuebid shows 5+ spades and game values.

Using this system, if partner opens a major and the opponent overcalls 2NT, your 3 cuebid always shows hearts; a 3 cuebid always shows spades. The length and strength you need for these cuebids depend on whether you're raising partner or showing the unbid suit.

• The cuebid in support of partner's suit (1-2NT-3 or 1-2NT-3) shows limit-raise or better strength and enough length to make his suit trumps (3+-cards).
• The cuebid for the unbid suit (1H-2NT-3 or 1-2NT-3) promises game-forcing strength and enough length to suggest that suit as trumps (5+ cards).

Cuebids operate the same way when partner opens a minor. After 1 by partner, 2NT by LHO (diamonds and hearts),

• 3 (the lower cuebid) shows club support;
• 3 (the higher cuebid) shows spades.

The only variation occurs when partner opens a minor and the opponent's 2NT overcall shows both minors. In this rare case, use 3 and 3 as cuebids to describe 4+-card length in the majors.

After 1 by partner, 2NT on your right (clubs and diamonds)

• 3 cuebid shows hearts,
• 3 shows spades. (Since the opponent has 5 diamonds, you won't want to use 3 as a natural raise.)

Other responses

Because these cuebids handle several types of hands, they allow you to better define your other bids. After an opening bid by partner and a 2NT overcall, the meanings of your other responses are:

• Double = 9-10+ pts. with length in one or both of the opponent's suits. Partner should usually pass to give you the option of doubling for penalty.

• Simple raise of partner's suit (1-2NT-3) = Trump support and about 7-10 playing pts.

• Raise to game in partner's suit (1-2NT-4) = Long trumps and good playing strength, with less than limit-raise high-card values.

• Freebid of the fourth suit (1-2NT-3) = 6+-card suit and about 7-10 pts. This is constructive but non-forcing, showing a hand like a Weak Two-Bid.

• Jump cuebid (1-2NT-4/4) = Splinter, showing a singleton and slam-try in partner's suit.

• 3NT = To play, showing game values and stoppers in both of overcaller's suits.

Try the Unusual vs. Unusual system with the following hands:

Partner RHO You 1 2NT? (Unusual clubs and diamonds)

1) A873 J1093 10732 2

Bid 3. This is competitive only; even though you're bidding at the 3-level, you are not showing a limit raise. Partner will know you may be stretching to show support.

2) J864 3 AJ92 KJ103

Double. You're planning to double whatever suit the opponents run out to.

3) AQ85 KJ97 106 543

Bid 3, the lower-ranking cuebid, to show a limit raise or better in hearts. If partner has the strength to accept a limit raise, he'll jump to 4 or cuebid. If he bids only 3, you'll pass.

4) AQ1053 94 AJ K942

Bid 3, the higher-ranking cuebid, to show spades and a forcing-to-game hand. If partner has spade support, he'll bid 3, 4 or cuebid. If not, he may have to "retreat" to 3 with only a 5-card suit. Over his 3, you'll bid 3NT and let him decide.

5) KQ10854 64 K3 765

Bid 3. This is non-forcing and shows a 6+-card suit. Partner can pass with a minimum or bid game with extra values or good spade support.

6) AJ10 K10743 5 A753

Bid 4. You could also bid 3 (showing a limit-raise or better), then follow with a cuebid to show the forcing raise. The immediate splinter bid, though, is more descriptive and will help partner better evaluate his hand for a possible slam.

Another variation

• Cuebid of the overcaller's LOWER-ranking suit (1-2NT-3) = Length in our lower-ranking suit. In this auction, the 3 cuebid would show heart support and at least invitational strength.
• Cuebid of the overcaller's HIGHER-ranking suit (1-2NT-3) = Length in our higher-ranking suit. In this auction, the higher-ranking suit is the "unbid" suit, so your cuebid shows 5+ spades and game values
• Double = 9-10+ pts. with length in one or both of the opponent's suits or a game forcing raise with only 3 card support. Partner should usually pass to give you the option of doubling for penalty,at which time you double or bid game in partner`s suit.
• Simple raise of partner's suit (1-2NT-3) = Trump support and about 7-10 playing pts.
• Raise to game in partner's suit(1-2NT-4) = Long trumps and good playing strength, with less than limit-raise high-card values.
• Freebid of the fourth suit (1-2NT-3) = 6+-card suit and about 7-10 pts. This is constructive but non-forcing, showing a hand like a Weak Two-Bid.
• Jump cuebid (1-2NT-4/4) = Splinter, showing a singleton and slam-try in partner's suit.
• 3NT = shows a balanced hand with 4 card support for partner.

If you want to play in 3NT you must double first then either double what the opponents run to or then bid 3NT.