The Aces on Bridge: Sunday, 3 May 2026
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Dear Mr. Rigal:
When does a cue bid imply support for partner? When is it asking for a stopper? When is it showing a stopper?
Family Tree, Willoughby, Ohio
In general, if partner has opened or overcalled in a suit, bidding the opponents’ suit shows a good raise. If partner has responded to your opening bid, cue-bidding as a rebid is consistent with an amorphous good hand. If, instead, you bid the opponents’ suit at the three-level in a constructive auction, that generally asks for a stopper for no-trump, but if the opponents have bid two suits, the cue bid shows a stopper. Control cue bids are a different breed. Bidding an opponent’s suit at the four-level typically shows a control in search of a slam.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
If the opponents open three clubs and raise to five, what does a double by fourth hand mean?
Good Hand, Wichita Falls, Texas
When the opponents have bid and raised, double is usually for takeout, but at such a high level, this double just shows values. Partner will often pass the double unless he has some shape and a long suit to bid, but only with hope of making his contract. It is not advisable to remove the double with the intent of sacrificing.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
How often should I lead a major against three no-trump when no suits have been bid?
Blind Auction, Little Rock, Ark.
When in doubt, a major should be preferred to a minor since when the opponents open and raise no-trump, dummy is unlikely to have length in a major, having not used Stayman or a transfer. However, I would still tend to make a natural lead or attack in a five-card minor if I have one. Note that if responder bids Stayman followed by three no-trump over opener’s two diamonds (denying a major), you might hit dummy’s length even though opener has denied a major.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
What is the right way to handle this hand: ♠ K-5-3, ♥ A-Q-10-6-3, ♦ Q-7-2, ♣ 8-3, after partner has opened two no-trump, showing 20-22 high-card points?
Slam Zone, North Bay, Ontario
I would transfer to hearts, planning to jump to four no-trump if partner simply completes the transfer. This is not Blackwood, but a quantitative invitation to slam. Partner will bid on if he holds a maximum, or if he has a heart fit and some shape. If partner instead breaks the transfer, promising a fit, I will start cue-bidding in search of a slam, whereafter four no-trump will be a key-card ask.
If I wanted to ask for key cards for hearts, I would start with a Texas transfer of four diamonds, followed by four no-trump after partner completes the transfer.
Dear Mr. Rigal:
If you open one of a major and partner raises to three, what does it mean if you bid four clubs or four diamonds?
Slam Try, Elkhart, Ind.
A cue bid is a fairly common agreement, showing a control. However, other pairs use new suits to show shortness and three no-trump as a balanced slam try. I prefer suit bids to be natural, showing length but asking for help for slam in that suit.
Barry Rigal
Barry Rigal is an English-born bridge player, author, commentator, and journalist who has won major national titles in both the UK and the United States and served as a VuGraph commentator for decades at European and World championships. He has written and edited numerous bridge books and articles and has been President of the International Bridge Press Association, contributing widely to the game’s literature and education.
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