What is a Cue Bid Raise?
When the opponents overcall, a direct jump raise is weak. To show a strong hand with support for partner, you must cue bid the opponent's suit.
A Cue Bid Raise is an artificial bid made in a competitive auction. When partner opens the bidding and the opponent overcalls, bidding the opponent's suit (e.g., 1♠ – 2♥ – 3♥) is a cue bid. It guarantees 3+ card support for partner's suit and an invitational or better hand (10+ points).
Why the Cue Bid Raise works
In modern bridge, direct jump raises in competition are played as weak and preemptive. If partner opens 1♠, the next player bids 2♥, and you jump to 3♠, you are showing 4-card support but fewer than 10 points. You are simply trying to block the opponents from finding their fit.
But what do you do if you actually have a good hand with 11 points and Spade support? You cannot bid 3♠. Instead, you bid the opponent's suit: 3♥. This forces partner to describe their hand further, knowing you have a genuine game invitation.
A worked example: Showing a strong raise
Partner opens 1♠. East overcalls 2♣.
Your Hand (South):
♠ K J 8 4
♥ A 9 3
♦ Q 10 5 2
♣ 7 4
(10 HCP, 4 Spades)
The Auction:
- North (Partner): 1♠
- East (Opponent): 2♣
- South (You): 3♣ (Cue Bid Raise)
Caption: You hold 10 points and 4-card Spade support. You bid 3♣ (the opponent's suit) to show a limit raise. If partner has a minimum (12-13), they will sign off in 3♠. If partner has extras (14+), they will bid 4♠.
Four common mistakes
- Jumping to the 3-level in partner's suit with 11 points (a direct jump is a weak preempt!).
- Cue bidding without 3+ card support for partner's suit.
- Partner passing the cue bid (it is strictly forcing for at least one round).
- Cue bidding when a Negative Double would be more appropriate for showing unbid suits.
When the rule does not apply
If you do not have support for partner's suit, bidding the opponent's suit is usually a "Western Cue Bid," asking partner to bid No-Trump if they have a stopper in the enemy suit.
Key takeaways
- Cue bid the opponent's suit to show 10+ points and support for partner.
- Frees up direct jump raises to be used as weak preempts.
- Forcing for one round.
- Asks partner to bid game with extras or sign off with a minimum.