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] [2] of a weak two-bid of a major, others[3] [4] 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.
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: