Hand Question 20
Unassuming cue bid
Hi Bernard, we play 5 cd majors with weak NT so I opened the bidding with 1 club (better minor)as E. S bid 1D and W bid 1H. I wanted to show a bit of excitement so bid 2D (probably should have bid 1S). Partner went 2H thinking that my bid was an unassuming cue bid showing strength and support for hearts. I passed. Disaster but my question is whether my partner was right to interpret my 2D bd as an unassuming cue bid? I thought it applied only when partner opens and there is an overcall by the next player.
Bernard's Answer
When there is a major involved, then on the first round, we use the cuebid to show support. Later on you would use it to ask for a stopper. So as you rightly said, you would start by rebidding 1S, then if partner did not support and bid, say 2C, you would follow up with 2D - which would be asking for a diamond stopper. Here, of course, partner supports and you find your spade contract. Interestingly, your partner's 2H rebid over your 2D, is not quite right - he has 10pts and a reasonable hand (he has shown just 6) so I would have rebid 2NT with his hand, expecting that we would finish in hearts. You would have raised to 3NT and then I would think! However, 3NT is not as good as 4S.