Andrew:

The U.C.B

Last week we learnt that you should bid to the “total trump level” in response to partner’s overcall – however weak your hand. But what do you do when you have a good hand with a fit – bear in mind that a response of, say, 3 ♥to a 1 ♥ overcall would not show a good hand, rather four card ♥ support?

The answer is that you should bid the opponent’s suit. This is termed an “Unassuming Cue Bid” (UCB) and shows 10+ points and 3+ card support for the overcall.

East Deals
Both Vul

♠	K J 8
♥	7 5
♦	8 6 5 3 2
♣	A Q 6

♠	7 5 4 3
♥	8 4
♦	Q 10
♣	10 8 7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	6
♥	A Q J 10 9
♦	K J 9
♣	K J 4 2

♠	A Q 10 9 2
♥	K 6 3 2
♦	A 7 4
♣	9

West	North	East	South
		1 ♥	1 ♠
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	4 ♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

After North had made a UCB, South was able to jump to 4 ♠ - his singleton ♣ and well-placed ♥ K gave him grounds for optimism. West led ♥ 8, East won ♥ A and switched sensibly to ♠ 6, trying to cut down dummy’s trumping potential.

Declarer won dummy’s ♠ 8, crossed to ♥ K, then, preparatory to his plan of trumping ♥s and ♣s, cashed ♦ A before a defender could discard his ♦s. He trumped ♥ 3, cashed ♣ A, trumped ♣ 6, trumped ♥ 6, trumped ♣ Q and still had to score ♠ AQ, bringing his trick total to 10.

ANDREW’S TIP: With 10+ points and 3+ card support for partner’s overcall, bid the opponent’s suit – an Unassuming Cue Bid.

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Andrew:

The U.C.B