[jdulmage]

There were a few auctions I saw during a recent local tournament, both ended in miscommunication between the partnership (not us thank god). I wanted to know some input on these auctions.

If the bidding goes 1♥-(3♥) overcalled. Let's say you don't play leaping michaels or anything - is this western cue?

Same if it goes 2♥-(3♥) overcalled - would that be michaels or western cue?

Thanks!

[luis]

Over 1h a jump cue usually asks for stopper to play 3NT, the 3h bidder has a solid suit.
The polish variation uses 3h to show a stopper and asks pd to bid 3NT with a solid suit :-)

Over 2h, a bid of 3h usually shows spades and a minor if you are not playing leaping michaels if you do then again is asking for a stopper.

[whereagles]

1H (3H): what Luis said.

2H (3H): you can play it in 5 ways:

1. Michaels
2. Asking for stopper, similar to 1H (3H)
3. Two-suiter in minors 55 or 54 (either way)
4. Very strong take-out
5. Something else

Almost everyone uses one of the meanings above. It is my personal experience that #3 is the best. This is because a two-suiter spades-minor can be bid via leaping michaels. A long solid minor just doesn't come up often enough, so you might as well use 2H (3H) for minors. This is a hand that does come up every now and then and that is VERY difficult to bid otherwise, especially if you hold 2+ in opener's suit, e.g.

x
xxx
AKQx
KQxxx

better to bid 2H (3H) than to overcall 3C or (uuugh..!) double.

But then again, what matters is what you agree with pard.