In the game of bridge

Contract bridge

Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...

, Leaping Michaels is a conventional overcall

Overcall

In contract bridge, an overcall is a bid made after an opening bid has been made by an opponent; the term refers only to the first such bid. A direct overcall is a bid made directly over the opening bid by right-hand opponent; an overcall in the 'last seat' is referred to as a balancing...

 in 4 or 4 made in defense to opposing 2-level or 3-level preemptive

Preempt

Preempt is a bid in contract bridge whose primary objectives are to thwart opponents ability to bid to their best contract, with some safety, and to fully describe one's hand to one's partner in a single bid. A preemptive bid is usually made by jumping, i.e. skipping one or more bidding levels...

 openings. Leaping Michaels shows a strong two-suited hand

Two suiter

In contract bridge, a two suiter is a hand containing cards mostly from two of the four suits. Traditionally a hand is considered a two suiter if it contains at least ten cards in two suits, with the two suits not differing in length by more than one card. Depending on suit quality and partnership...

 (5-5 or longer) that is less suitable for a takeout double

Takeout double

In the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon...

 and is game forcing

Forcing

Forcing may refer to:*Forcing , a technique for obtaining proofs in set theory*Forcing *Radiative forcing, the difference between the incoming radiation energy and the outgoing radiation energy in a given climate system...

. Described as an overcall by some of a weak two-bid of a major, others 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:

Opener's preempt	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

Pass-or-correct bid

In the card game bridge a pass-or-correct bid , is a non-forcing bid that asks partner to pass or bid differently based on her/his holding...

.

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

Weak two bid

The Weak two bid is a common treatment used in the game of contract bridge, where a jump bid of two of a suit signifies a weak hand with a long suit. It is a form of preemptive bid...

, but also after conventional preempts such as Muiderberg

Muiderberg convention

The Muiderberg convention in the card game bridge is also known as the Dutch Two opening. It is a two-level preemptive opening based on a two-suiter with precisely a five-card major and a minor suit...

. Even after a Multi 2 diamonds

Multi 2 diamonds

Multi or Multi 2 diamonds is contract bridge convention whereby the opening bid of 2 shows multiple types of hands, which always includes a weak two bid in either major suit, while the additional meaning may be a strong balanced hand , or a 20-22 three suiter...

 preempt, Leaping Michaels can be utilised to good effect:
– 4 : Clubs and an undisclosed major (4 asks for the major) – 4 : Diamonds and an undisclosed major (4 is pass-or-correct

Pass-or-correct bid

In the card game bridge a pass-or-correct bid , is a non-forcing bid that asks partner to pass or bid differently based on her/his holding...

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