[paulg]

If you play Leaping Michaels, what slam-interest continuations do you play?

[mfa1010]

We play:
Lowest suit/NT = Good raise in the major
Next-to-lowest suit/NT = Good raise in the minor
Other = Natural

For instance:
(2♥)-4♦: 4♥ is with spades, 4NT is with diamonds, 5♣ natural.

To a good raise we respond with "maybe-blackwood":
(2♥)-4♣-(pass)-4♥, (pass): (4♥ is with clubs, 4♦ would have been with spades)
4♠ = 1st step = Any minimum
4NT = 0/3 key cards for clubs
5♣ = 1/4 key cards for clubs
5♦ = 2, no Q
5♥ = 2 + Q

After a minimum response, first vacant step is a RKC.

Perhaps something better is out there, so shoot

[FrancesHinden]

After 2M - (4m) we play

-lower of the other two suits = agrees partner's major, slam interest
- higher of the other two suits, if available = agrees partner's minor, slam interest
- 4NT = keycard in partner's major OR agrees partner's minor, if the higher cue didn't exist
- 5 om = to play

i.e. 2S - 4C - P - 4D agrees spades, 4H agrees clubs, 4NT RKCB hearts
2S - 4D - P - 4S agrees hearts, 4NT agrees diamonds, 5C nat
etc

Similar after non-leaping Michaels, except that 3D (4C) P 4D = what is your major, 4M = natural

[paulg]

Thanks to Michael and Frances for sharing.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Let's take the (2H) weak 2 open:

Normally, one might play it as follows:
( 2H ) - 4C! -( p )- ??

4D! = agree ♠ , slammish ( 4H! next = RKC )
4H! = agree ♣ , slammish ( 4NT next = RKC )
4S = to play
5C = to play

Likewise:
( 2H ) - 4D! -(p)- ??

4H! = agree ♠ , slammish ( 4NT next = RKC )
4S = to play
4NT! = agree ♦, slammish ( but no RKC available )
5D = to play

But after thinking about it, perhaps Advancer could use RKC "showing" to agree the minor :
( 2H ) - 4D! -(p)- ??

4NT! = 0/3 ( 3 improbable )
5C! = 1/4 ( 4 next to impossible )
5D! = 2 - ♦ Q
5H! = 2 + ♦ Q

Partner ( Overcaller ) then makes the final decision based on Advancer's reply.

[32519]

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Board 14 Sweden versus Poland: Michaels versus Leaping Michaels?
Balicki sitting North chose Michaels (3♥) over Leaping Michaels (4♦) when Nystrom sitting West opened 2♥ in third seat. With such a powerful 2-suiter, what would be the reasoning for bidding Michaels and not Leaping Michaels?

[han]

Maybe his agreements are different than yours.

[MrAce]

paulg, on 2011-June-06, 11:07, said:

Thanks to Michael and Frances for sharing.

I ♥ group therapies

[32519]

The ♠ slam is on here but only if played by South (South needs to protect both of his kings). So how would the bidding go with the options already posted in this thread?

Option 1: mfa1010 (A slight modification here to the sequence suggested sees the ♠ slam home).

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The contract is played from the “right side” protecting South's kings, so this is a winner.

Option 2: Frances Hinden

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What now? North doesn’t know if the Keycard is the ♣A or the ♥A. The best North can do is signoff in 5♠ which makes on a ♣ lead. The ♠ slam from North is doomed.

Option 3: TWO4BRIDGE
This runs into the same problems as option 2.

[Vampyr]

32519, on 2012-August-21, 05:12, said:

Balicki sitting North chose Michaels (3♥) over Leaping Michaels (4♦) when Nystrom sitting West opened 2♥ in third seat. With such a powerful 2-suiter, what would be the reasoning for bidding Michaels and not Leaping Michaels?

I don't think that it is common to be playing both conventions in the same situations.

[lalldonn]

Vampyr, on 2012-August-21, 14:54, said:

I don't think that it is common to be playing both conventions in the same situations.

I do. But you might be right that it's not common, I'm not sure.

[Vampyr]

lalldonn, on 2012-August-21, 15:41, said:

I do. But you might be right that it's not common, I'm not sure.

I'm not sure either. In any case, I would be very interested in hearing about a scheme that puts both conventions to good use. Would anyone be kind enough to post one?

[32519]

Vampyr, on 2012-August-21, 15:50, said:

I'm not sure either. In any case, I would be very interested in hearing about a scheme that puts both conventions to good use. Would anyone be kind enough to post one?

This is purely a random thought, shooting from the hip -
1. Use Michaels with a strong 2-suiter (16+ HCP) showing slam interest. It gives you a bit more wriggle room.
2. Use Leaping Michaels with an intermediate 2-suiter, topping out at 15 HCP. The Leaping Michaels bidder in this situation doesn't have any interest in moving past game. Partner will take control of the bidding with any slam interest.

[lowerline]

paulg, on 2011-June-05, 14:18, said:

If you play Leaping Michaels, what slam-interest continuations do you play?

(3m) 4♣ (other minor + unknown major) then 4♦ asks major; 4nt slamtry minor
(3m) 4♦ (both majors) then 4nt slamtry ♥; cuebid slamtry ♠
(3M) 4♣ (clubs + other major) then cuebid slamtry ♣; 4nt slamtry major
(3M) 4♦ (diamonds + other major) then cuebid slamtry ♦; 4nt slamtry major

So the slamtry bids are always the cuebid and 4nt, the lowest of these for the lowest of our suits...

Steven

[Vampyr]

lowerline, on 2012-August-22, 03:11, said:

(3m) 4♣ (other minor + unknown major) then 4♦ asks major; 4nt slamtry minor
(3m) 4♦ (both majors) then 4nt slamtry ♥; cuebid slamtry ♠
(3M) 4♣ (clubs + other major) then cuebid slamtry ♣; 4nt slamtry major
(3M) 4♦ (diamonds + other major) then cuebid slamtry ♦; 4nt slamtry major

This is non-leaping Michaels, of course, though the continuations would necessarily be very similar.