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Years ago in SAB (Standard American Bidding) this was a monster hand: a forcing bid (Green Light) with 19 or more points and support for the unbid suits. A sort of giant Take Out Double. But SAB is in a state of constant change. What was standard five or ten years ago is not standard today.  And what is not standard today might be standard in a couple of years. Since this type of  situation (a big hand after an opening bid) was very rare, some people sought to find a better use for the Direct Cue Bid.  And Michael did it.

MICHAEL’ S CUE BID
When using Michael’s Cue Bid, the bid of the opponent’s suit does not indicate a strong hand, but a very weak highly distributional hand. There must be at least ten cards in the unbid suits. And it should be 5/5. If cue bidding a Minor Michael’s shows 5/5 in the Majors. If cue bidding a Major, Michael’s shows the other Major and a Minor.

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EXAMPLE 1.  You have a weak hand (under 10 points) and 5/5 in the Majors. Your hand could also be 6/5 or 6/6 or 7/5 or 6.Your Left Hand Oppont (LHO) opens the bidding with  1 .
 
 
 
 
 

EXAMPLE 2.  Also a weak hand with the above distribution but with a five card (or more) Spade suit and at least a five card Minor. Your LHO opens 1 .
 
 
 
 
 

EXAMPLE 3.  Michael’s Cue Bid can be used after both opponents bid. In this case you have at least five Hearts and 5 Diamonds

EXAMPLE 1.  You show a hand with at least 5/5 in the Minors and less than 10 points.
 
 
 
 
 
 

EXAMPLE 2. Since some people open a short Club suit, the Unusual No Trump over a Club still shows 5/5 in the Minors.
 
 
 
 
 

EXAMPLE 3.  If you are a passed hand then there is no need to jump to show the Unusual NoTrump. Just bid No Trump at the lowest  possible level. In this example the 1 No Trump overcall shows 5/5 in the Minors.