BTU vs Unusual
When opponents have bid two suits, optimists take the opportunity of gaining two cuebids! When opponents have shown two anchor suits, it’s time for Unusual vs Unusual.
The third cuebid
This is one key difference between BTU vs Unusual and literature. The BTU variation uses the lowest three bids from the following list:
- The cuebids, the bids that name an adverse suit
- 2NT or 4NT
Let me provide some examples for clarity.
| Auction | BTU v U bids |
|---|---|
| 1♦-(2♦ = ♠ + ♥)- | 2♥, 2♠, 2NT |
| 1♠-(2NT = ♦ + ♣)- | 3♣, 3♦, 4♣ |
| 1♠-(3♣ = ♥ + ♦)- | 3♦, 3♥, 4♣ |
| 2♥-(4♦ = ♠ + ♦)- | 4♠, 4NT, 5♦ |
| (1♦)-(1♠)- | 2♦, 2♠, 2NT |
| (1♦)-1♥-(X = ♠) | 1♠, 2♦, 2♠ |
The BTU v U bids are abbreviated as Q1, Q2, Q3 to facilitate discussion. If the cuebid is 4NT or above, I recommend that it start another slam try convention (e.g. RKCB, Turbo) as per partnership discussion.
We have one anchor suit
Rubens advances tell us that a fit requires less space. Therefore, Q1 maps to the new suit, and Q2 is the forcing raise.
- Q1 = 5+ new suit
- Q2 = forcing raise
- Q3 = new suit + mediocre forcing raise
We have 0 or 2 anchor suits
Unlike the intuitive lower-lower approach, BTU v U maps Q1 to the higher-ranking suit.
- Q1 = 5+ higher-ranking suit
- Q2 = 5+ lower-ranking suit
- Q3 = 5+ lower-ranking suit, 4+ higher-ranking suit