After an opponent opens the bidding it’s a good idea to be able to show a two-suited hand.

Opponent’s opening bid	Our bid	Meaning
1♣	2♣	5+ Hearts and 5+ Spades
1♦	2♦	5+ Hearts and 5+ Spades
1♥	2♥	5+ Spades and 5+ minor
1♠	2♠	5+ Hearts and 5+ minor

Or, if you prefer it in words:
A cue-bid of the opponent’s minor shows BOTH MAJORS.
A cue-bid of the opponent’s major shows the other major and either minor.

Most Americans use Michaels’ cuebids (in other parts of the world there are variations, but usually the cue-bid shows a 2-suiter of some sort).

The big questions for Michaels cuebids are:

1. What strength?
2. What suit quality?
3. What are the follow-ups?

Usually, a Michaels’ bid is made with a preemptive (weakish) hand, such as:

Over the opponent’s 1-of-a-minor opening, I would bid 2-of their-minor with this hand (planning to accept whatever decision partner makes).

However, I could also make a Michaels’ bid with a super hand such as:

This time my plan is to put partner in game when he chooses a major.

There is a school of thought that a Michaels’ bid should be avoided with a medium hand such as:

The thinking is that when partner chooses a major, you won’t know whether or not a game is in the picture. For that reason, many players choose to define Michaels as “weak/preemptive or very strong – not in-between.” There are pros and cons to this philosophy; suffice to say that you should discuss with your partner whether or not he adheres to this practice.

This depends a bit on your general preemptive philosophy. If you are an aggressive preemptor, your suit quality will obviously have the possibility to be worse than a sound preemptor’s. I suggest that the vulnerability is the most important factor. Vulnerable against not, it wouldn’t occur to me to commit a Michaels bid over 1♣ with, say:

At favorable vulnerability, I wouldn’t mind a Michaels’ bid with those poorish suits. When Vulnerable, I like to have much better suits ‒ better meat at the top. In all cases, 5-5 is the minimum distribution (although a former partner of mine would sometimes have 5-4… and I think I even recall 4-4).

After 1♣-2♣ or 1♦-2♦, the partner simply picks his best (longest) major and bids to the appropriate level. With equal length in the majors, choose the better one. If the partner of the Michaels’ bidder thinks there is a game, he can just jump there (sophisticated methods involve using 2NT as an ask). If the partner of the Michaels’ bidder is not interested in game, he should use the LAW of Total Tricks. Bid to the 3-level with 4-cards in a major (not an invitation), the 4-level with 5 cards.

After 1♥-2♥ or 1♠-2♠, the partner uses the same guidelines as above if he is “supporting” the major. If he has no interest in partner’s major, he can bid No-Trump (on the appropriate level, again using the guidelines above) to ask partner to name his minor. Use care as responder; if you have only two in partner’s major, and only two in one of the minors, don’t get carried away (your partner’s minor will usually match your 2-card minor – that is the story of life, as well as the bridge probabilities).

Just as with any convention, you need to make sure if it is on:

1. By a Passed Hand (I recommend YES).
2. In balancing seat (I recommend YES).
3. After opponents bid 1any-Pass-1NT (I recommend YES).
4. After the opponents bid and raise; for example: 1♥-Pass-2♥ (I recommend you discuss this).
5. After Weak 2-bids; for example: 2♥-3♥ (I recommend you discuss this).

Also, what if the opponents double your Michaels’ bid? What does partner’s pass mean? His redouble? His preference?

For example: 1♦-2♦-Double-Pass. Does the Pass mean he wants to play in Diamonds? Does he want you to pick the major? All of this requires discussion.

Responses to a 2♣ cue-bid (Hearts and Spades)

Response	Meaning
2♦	Natural, showing a very good Diamond suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels’ cue-bidder usually has only 0-2 Diamonds. Tends to deny 3+ card support for either suit. Non-forcing.
2♥	A non-forcing sign-off. May have 0 points, since the Michaels’ overcall is a forcing bid. Note that with equal support for both majors (e.g. ♠xxx ♥xxx), the cheaper suit (Hearts) should be bid.
2♠	A non-forcing sign-off.
2NT	Natural and invites partner to bid 3NT IF the partnership has agreed to a specific point range for the Michaels’ overcall.
3♣	Artificial and shows game or slam interest in Hearts or Spades. Forcing.
3♦	A very strong Diamond suit (6+ cards). Forcing (and rare).
3♥	Preemptive, usually with four Hearts in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing.
3♠	Preemptive, usually with four Spades in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing.
3NT	A natural sign-off. Shows a big balanced hand with no interest in major-suit game. This bid may occur IF the partnership has agreed to a specific point range for the Michaels’ overcall. Otherwise, it’s quite rare since it’s so unilateral.

Responses to a 2♦ Cue-bid (Hearts and Spades)

Response	Meaning
2♥	A non-forcing sign-off.
2♠	A non-forcing sign-off.
2NT	Natural and invites partner to bid 3NT IF the partnership has agreed to a specific point range for the Michaels’ overcall.
3♣	Natural, showing a very good Club suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels’ cue-bidder usually has only 0-2 Clubs. Non-forcing.
3♦	Artificial and shows game or slam interest in Hearts or Spades. Forcing.
3♥	Preemptive, usually with four Hearts in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing.
3♠	Preemptive, usually with four Spades in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing.
3NT	A natural sign-off.

Responses to a 2♥ cue-bid (Spades and a minor)

Response	Meaning
2♠	A non-forcing sign-off.
2NT	Asks the overcaller to bid his minor suit at the 3-level. 2NT may be bid on a variety of hands, but is most commonly used to try signing off in 3♣/♦. Holding ♠xx ♥xx ♦Qxxx ♣Jxxxx, bid 2NT to identify the minor suit fit.
3♣	Natural, showing a very good Club suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels’ cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ Diamonds, not Clubs. Non-forcing.
3♦	Natural, showing a very good Diamond suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ clubs, not Diamonds. Non-forcing.
3♥	Artificial, and shows game or slam interest in Spades or a minor. Forcing.
3♠	Preemptive, usually with 4 Spades in accordance with the Law of Total Tricks. Non-forcing.
3NT	A natural sign-off.

Responses to a 2♠ cue-bid (Hearts and a minor)

Response	Meaning
2NT	Asks the overcaller to bid his minor suit at the 3-level.
3♣	Natural, showing a very good Club suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels’ cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ Diamonds, not Clubs. Non-forcing.
3♦	Natural, showing a very good Diamond suit (usually 6+) since the Michaels cue-bidder will usually hold 5+ clubs, not Diamonds. Non-forcing.
3♥	A natural sign-off.
3♠	Artificial, and shows game or slam interest in Hearts or a minor. Forcing.
3NT	A natural sign-off.