Cuebid Raises - Facts

When your Partner opened 1♥ or 1♠ and your RH Opponent makes an Overcall, you can show trump support with 10+ points, by raising RH Opponent's suit.
As a consquence all direct suit raise Responses show weak hands of 6-10 pts.

The various Responses are shown below.

  1. 1♥ - (2♣) - 3♣ = Cuebid raise : 10+ HCP and 3+ trumps (10 pts and 8 Losers)

  2. 1♥ - (2♣) - 2♥ = 6-10 HCP and 3 trumps (10 pts and ≥ 9 Losers)

  3. 1♥ - (2♣) - 3♥ = 6-10 HCP and 4+ trumps (no singleton or void, usually 8 losers)
    1♥ - (2♣) - 3♥ = or
    1♥ - (2♣) - 3♥ = 2-5 HCP and 4+ trumps, singleton or void

  4. 1♥ - (2♣) - 4♥ = 6-10 HCP and 4+ trumps, singleton or void

  5. 1♥ - (2♣) - 4♣ = Splinter raise : 11+ HCP and 4+ trumps, singleton or void in the suit bid

  6. 1♥ - (2♣) -  ?  = All new suit bids and NT responses retain their normal value

Opener's replies to Partner's Cuebid raise.
After a Cuebid raise Opener replies as if Responder has made a limit raise bid (of 10-12 points).
For example :

  1. 1♥ - (2♣) - 3♣ - 3♥ = Minimum Opening 12-13 points
    Responder will bid on with 13+ points

  2. 1♥ - (2♣) - 3♣ - 4♥ = Minimum Opening 14-15 points
    Responder will bid on with 16+ points

  3. 1♥ - (2♣) - 3♣ - 3NT (RKCB) = Strong Opening 16+ points

Cuebid raises as response to Partner's Overcall
In this scenario the Cuebid raise retains its normal meaning : 10+ HCP with 3+ card trump support.
Responses are :

  1. (1♦) - 1♠ - (2♦) - 3♦ = 10+ HCP, 3+ spades (10 pts and 8 losers)

  2. (1♦) - 1♠ - (2♦) - 2♠ = 6-10 HCP , 3 spades (10 pts and ≥ 9 losers)

  3. (1♦) - 1♠ - (2♦) - 3♠ = 6-10 HCP , 4+ spades 8 losers, no singleton or voidS

  4. (1♦) - 1♠ - (2♦) - 4♠ = 6-10 HCP , 4+ spades, singleton or void
© 2016 Michael Furstner