Michaels Cuebid over a minor opening shows hearts and spades. Unusual Notrump over a minor opening shows hearts and the other minor. Now XM (Xtended Michaels) can show spades and the other minor, providing a simple method of showing any two suits (excluding opener's suit).
In the 2008 World Championship Senior Teams, the USA lost to Japan by two IMPs. [See the January 2009 ACBL Bulletin.] If the Americans had been playing XM on the following hand, there may have been a different winner:
S = JXXXX
H=QXX
D=NONE
C=AKJTX
Right hand opponent opened 1D. America lost 9 IMPs when this hand made a takeout double, and the opponents played in 2NT. Partner never considered leading clubs from the following hand:
S = A
H = XXXXX
D = XXXX
C = QXX
Playing XM, a 2D cuebid would show spades and an unbid suit. What may have happened after that would only be good for the Americans.
1D - 2D* = XM = spades and another suit (not opener's suit)
Many players now play Michaels over majors:
1H - 2H* = spades and another suit (not opener's suit)
Yes, these two auctions have the same meaning. The same familiar methods may be used for XM, and little discussion is required to add this convention.
2N asks for the second suit in both auctions. A worthwhile improvement is possible by also using pass-or-correct responses to an XM cuebid (see below).
Pass-or-Correct continuations
over XM are simple and effective for locating the second suit
at a low level:
(1C)-2C-(P)-2D=Pass or correct to 2H.
(1C)-2C-(P)-2H=Pass or correct to 2S.
Similar Pass-or-Correct auctions also apply at the 3 and 4-level, or after (1D)-2D-(P).
Preemptive action can be taken when there is a known fit. These bids show tricks but not many high-card-points:
(1C)-2C-(P)-3D=Pass or correct
to 3H
(1C)-2C-(P)-3H=Pass or correct to 3S
(1C)-2C-(P)-3S=Preemptive [Bid 2N with spade game try.]
(1C)-2C-(P)-2N asks for the second suit, and is at least mildly constructive. [This includes (1C)-2C-(P)-2N-(P)-3D-(P)-3S defined as a game try in spades.]
3N is for play, even if the bidding is at the 3-level [e.g. (2D)-3D-(P)-3N.]
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The responses above
are simple and playable, but bidding strategies should be discussed
in the use of these cuebids. One strategy in the use of basic
Michaels Cuebids is to use them for either weak or strong hands,
but not use them for intermediate hands. If this is the strategy
favored by a partnership in the present use of Michaels, then
that strategy might well be employed for Extended Michaels Cuebids.
However, passing on intermediate hands does reduce opportunities
to compete for partscores or preempt the opponents. An alternative
strategy is to bid more often, passing only the weaker hands to
conceal the distribution from the opponents. XM cuebids are twice
as frequent as basic Michaels Cuebids, and more bidding is more
fun!
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Pass-or-Correct continuations
over XM are simple and effective for locating the second suit
at a low level: (1C)-2C-(P)-2D=Pass or correct to 2H.
(1C)-2C-(P)-2H=Pass or correct to 2S.
Similar Pass-or-Correct auctions also apply at the 3 and 4-level, or after (1D)-2D-(P).
Preemptive action can be taken when there is a known fit. These bids show tricks but not many high-card-points:
(1C)-2C-(P)-3D=Pass or correct
to 3H
(1C)-2C-(P)-3H=Pass or correct to 3S
(1C)-2C-(P)-3S=Preemptive [Bid 2N with spade game try.]
(1C)-2C-(P)-2N asks for the second suit, and is at least mildly constructive. [This includes (1C)-2C-(P)-2N-(P)-3D-(P)-3S defined as a game try in spades.]
3N is for play, even if the bidding is at the 3-level [e.g. (2D)-3D-(P)-3N.]
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The responses above are simple and playable, but bidding strategies should be discussed in the use of these cue bids. One strategy in the use of basic Michaels Cuebids is to use them for either weak or strong hands, but not use them for intermediate hands. If this is the strategy favored by a partnership in the present use of Michaels, then that strategy might well be employed for Extended Michaels Cuebids. However, passing on intermediate hands does reduce opportunities to compete for partscores or preempt the opponents. An alternative strategy is to bid more often, passing only the weaker hands to conceal the distribution from the opponents. XM cuebids are twice as frequent as basic Michaels Cuebids, and more bidding is more fun!