ACBL27 – Bidding: Western Cue Bid Ward Trumbull
May 22, 2012
Page 1 of 3
Put on your cowboy/cowgirl boots and ten-gallon-hat cause I’m going to tell you the story of the Western Cue Bid.
WHAT IS IT?
It is an asking bid (to partner) to try to reach a notrump
contract, preferably in three notrump.
WHEN DO YOU USE IT?
It’s applicable when the opponents have bid a suit, and you
want a notrump contract if your team has stoppers in the
opponent’s suit. Usually the goal is game at three notrump.
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
After you establish in the bidding that:
1. Your team doesn’t appear to have an 8+ card major fit
2A. Your team has enough HCP for 2/3 notrump, and
3A. You have one stopper in the opponent’s suit.
OR
2B. You have enough tricks in a long/strong suit for a
notrump game
3B. IF partner has just one stopper in their suit.
2A/3A - See example 1 on page 2.
2B/3B - See example 2 on page 3.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
You bid the opponent’s suit.
If partner has a stopper, he/she should bid notrump,
2 or 3 notrump based on the known team HCP.
If not, partner must find an alternate bid.
ACBL27 – Bidding: Western Cue Bid May 22, 2012
Page 2 of 3
EXAMPLE 1
Partner Holds Your Hold
------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Spades Q x x Spades A x x
Hearts x x Hearts A J x x
Diams A x Diams K Q x x
Clubs A Q x x x Clubs x x
The bidding goes
Partner’s Partner’s
Partner LHO You RHO
---------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
1 club pass 1 heart 1 spade
2 clubs pass * 2 spades pass
2 notrump ** pass 3 notrump pass
pass pass
* Western Cue Bid - Ace of spades is one stopper.
** Queen of spades is second stopper.
ACBL27 – Bidding: Western Cue Bid May 22, 2012
Page 3 of 3
EXAMPLE 2
Partner Holds You Hold
------------------------------- --------------------------------
Spades A x x x Spades Q x x
Hearts K x Hearts x
Diams K Q J x x Diams x x
Clubs x x Clubs A K Q x x x x
The bidding goes
Partner’s Partner’s
Partner LHO You RHO
---------- -------------- ----------------- ----------------
1 diam 1 heart 2 clubs 2 hearts
3 diams pass * 3 hearts pass
3 notrump ** pass pass pass
* Western Cue Bid – Implies one heart stopper.
** King of hearts is only hearts stopper.
NOTE: Three notrump should make if: