[blml] The term "cue"

[Ed Reppert]

On Jun 4, 2006, at 5:48 PM, Karel wrote:

> 1D   2D
> 3C   4C
> 4H   5D
>
> On this sequence 3C has in principle denied a heart stopper so the
> subsequent cue bid "should" be based on shortage.  4H is not a  
> splinter.  It
> shows a control.  So I suppose what I am asking
>  .. are the terms control and cue bid the same (ie) ace, king, void or
> singleton.  If not then it means the answer "yes" to "is 4H a cue" was
> incorrect.

The Bridge World suggests that the term "cue bid" should be limited  
to a bid in a contested auction of a suit bid or shown by the  
opposing side, and that a bid that indicates a control in a specific  
suit should be called a "control bid". Given these definitions, the  
answer to the question was indeed incorrect - but the Encyclopedia of  
Bridge (6th edition, 2001) defines "cue bid" as "a forcing bid in a  
suit in which the bidder cannot wish to play". By *that* definition,  
the answer was correct. Personally, I prefer The Bridge World's  
definitions, but the Encyclopedia's definition has been around about  
as long as bridge, so far as I know, and so The Bridge World is, IMO,  
fighting an uphill battle, at best. IAC, I do not believe that a TD  
should rule that the answer given to the question asked is incorrect  
- though he might rule that it is incomplete, given that one is  
supposed to explain what a call *means*, not what it's called (c.f.  
Law 75C, Law 40B, and SO regulations regarding explanations). :-)