In the game of bridge, Leaping Michaels is a conventional overcall in 4 or 4 made in defense to opposing 2-level or 3-level preemptive openings. A variant of the Michaels cuebid, Leaping Michaels shows a strong two-suited hand (5-5 or longer) that is less suitable for a takeout double and is game forcing. Described as an overcall by some [1] of a weak two-bid of a major, others[2] [3] expand its application to all weak preempts at the 2 or 3-level in both the majors and minors.
Holding such two-suited hands and using Leaping Michaels, opponent's opening preempts between 2 and 3 inclusive are overcalled in accordance with the following table:
| width=15% rowspan=2 | Opener's preempt | width=85% colspan=2 | Overcaller's use of Leaping Michaels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bid | Meaning: overcaller is two-suited in... | ||
| 2 or 3 | 4 | Clubs and an undisclosed major | |
| 2 or 3 | 4 | Majors | |
| 2 or 3 | 4 | Clubs and spades | |
| 2 or 3 | 4 | Diamonds and spades | |
| 2 or 3 | 4 | Clubs and hearts | |
| 2 or 3 | 4 | Diamonds and hearts | |
| 3 | 4 | Majors | |
| 3 | 4 | Diamonds and an undisclosed major |
After (3) - 4, a bid of 4 asks for the major. The bids 4 and 4 are to play.
Following (3) - 4 the bid of 4 is played as pass-or-correct.
Some partnerships prefer to interchange the meanings of the 4 and 4 bids following a 3 preempt so that 4 denotes diamonds and an undisclosed major. This has the advantage that the 4 becomes available to ask for the major suit. The 4/4 responses can then be played as natural (to play).
Leaping Michaels can be utilised after natural two-level preempts, but also after conventional preempts such as Muiderberg. Even after a Multi 2 diamonds preempt, Leaping Michaels can be utilised to good effect:
(2) - 4 : Clubs and an undisclosed major (4 asks for the major)
(2) - 4 : Diamonds and an undisclosed major (4 is pass-or-correct)
. Amalya Kearse . Bridge Conventions Complete . Devyn Press Inc . Louisville, KY . Revised and expanded . 1990 . 0-910791-76-7.