[gordontd]

barmar, on Sep 18 2009, 09:34 PM, said:

Michaels is majors when the opening is a minor. Or is the name Michaels used for something else where you play?

The name Michaels is used for any two-suiter in much of Europe.

[Trinidad]

gordontd, on Sep 19 2009, 11:49 AM, said:

barmar, on Sep 18 2009, 09:34 PM, said:

Michaels is majors when the opening is a minor.  Or is the name Michaels used for something else where you play?

The name Michaels is used for any two-suiter in much of Europe.

I wouldn't go that far that Michaels shows "any twosuiter", but in some European countries there is a great deal of confusion about Michaels.

Some people play it the way it is played in the USA:
1m-2m: Both M's
1M-2M: Other M and an unknown m

Others play a top and bottom cue bid:
1m-2m: other m + ♠
1M-2M: other M +♣

And other play "highest two unbid":
1m-2m: Both M's
1M-2M: Other M + ♦

All these players might refer to their convention as "Michaels".

I remember that shortly after I moved from the USA to The Netherlands, I heard two pairs arguing at the table next to ours about misinformation. The auction was 1M-2M and 2M was explained as "Michaels". Everyone agreed that it promised the other major, but one pair was sure that clubs was the second suit and the other was sure that it had to be diamonds. I was just shaking my head, since I was sure that it promised "a minor", but not which one.
When we were done playing, I made a casual remark to our opponents that I wondered how these two pairs could both have it wrong. The response: "What do you mean? NS are right."

Moral of the story: If in Europe someone bids "Michaels", ask which suits it shows.

Rik

[pooltuna]

Fluffy, on Sep 17 2009, 05:41 PM, said:

---

Dealer west.

1♣-2♣!-ps-2♠
ps-3♠-ps-4♣
ps-4♠-ps-ps
X -ps-ps-ps


First time we played after the summer, and I didn't remember if 2♣ was majors or michaels. But given that LHO had shown 3+ (best minor). I decided it has to be michaels and alerted like it.

Partner raised, and I bid 4♣ just in case (not sure if this is ethical, feel free to coment). Partner wasn't on the joke and bid 4♠ anyway knowing what was coming.

When LHO led ♣A and RHO assisted I was a bit in flames, why nobody alerted 1♣?. I got no clear anser untill the board was finished, opponent said:

-I open 1♣ because that's my best minor I don't want partner to lead a diamond.

best minor is 100% standard here. No alert= best minor.


I felt like I made a decision based on the wrong information that opponents play best minor, wich they actually do not. But obviously I am also to blame for not knowing my system right. Didnt even bother appealing this at the local, but would appealing had any merit?.

Appeal without merit