Cue Bid Raise

A Cue Bid Raise shows a raise of partner's suit when direct raise bids are used to show something other than the specs for a normal raise. This convention is for a single raise. See Cue Bid Limit Raise for a jump raise.

Examples:

In SAYC, after (1)-1-(1), a raise to
- 2 is a standard 5-10 HCP raise.
- 3 is a Limit Raise.
- 2 is a general forcing bid.

In the Cue Bid Raise Convention,
- 2 shows 5-7 HCPs and 3-card support
- 2 shows 8-10 HCPs and 3-card support.
- 3 shows 5-9 HCPs and 4-card support
- 3 shows 10+ HCPs and 4-card support.
    (See Cue Bid Limit Raise.)

This gives partner a more precise count on your hand.

More On SAYC Cue Bid

In SAYC, a cue bid is simply a forcing bid which can be used with any good hand for which no better bid is available. It may or may not be a raise. This is clarified by subsequent bidding.

For example in his book, Overcalls, page 145, Mike Lawrence shows J963 AK85 T942 7 and bidding of 1-1-2, and says to cue bid 2, despite having only 8 HCPs.

On the bidding, and assuming nobody has lied, advancer can hardly have an 11+ HCP hand, so the cue bid cannot normally be a general strength-showing bid, but must be a strong raise based primarily on shape and support.