The concept is attributed to Mr. Mark David Feldman, a bidding player and bridge theorist. He was born in the year 1951 and is of New York City, New York, United States. He is also the originator of a defense methiod to a strong Club opening, devised in the year 1971 at the age of twenty years old known as SCREW.
This defense method later became more popularly known as CRASH. In the year 1975 he developed the treatment of a jump fo four of a Minor suit over an opposing Major suit Weak Two bid to show the bid Minor suit and the other Major suit.
This is a method whereby the player makes a jump to four of a Minor suit over an opposing Major suit Weak Two bid, and sometimes preempts on the three level, to show a two-suiter, generally a 5-5 distribution, in the suit bid and the unbid Major suit and/or one still unknown and unspecified Major suit, depending on whether the Weak Two bid and/or Preempt is a Minor or Major suit.
However, if the two suits are different in length, then the assumed longer suit is the Minor suit as in a 5-6 distribution. The so-called leap is not forcing so one would expect opening bid strength, but rather distributional features. Not to be confused with Super Michaels. As a defense against a preempt on the three level, the following example is offered from the Bermuda Bowl 2000 tournament.
|
| North |
| M. Low |
 |
KQ1096 |
 |
542 |
 |
Q1086 |
 |
A |
|
|
| West |
| Klukowski |
|
7532 |
|
QJ83 |
|
K |
|
10643 |
|
|
| East |
| Wilkosz |
|
J4 |
|
6 |
|
975 |
|
KQJ9872 |
|
|
| South |
| Sandy Low |
|
A8 |
|
AK1097 |
|
AJ432 |
|
5 |
|
|
East, Mr. Wilkosz, opens the auction with: 3 Clubs. Mrs. Sandy Low overcalls with: 4 Diamonds explained as showing at least a 5-card Diamond suit and an unspecified Major suit, also of 5-card length. Leaping Michaels. West passes and North raises to 6 Diamonds. The result was down one, but review showed that had Mrs. Sandy Low played for the singleton King of Diamonds, she would have taken all thirteen tricks.
Overcall Method Summary
The following is an outline of the possible overcalls and the definitions assigned to each overcall.
| Opener |
|
Overcaller |
|
Meaning |
| 2 |
|
4 |
|
Leaping Michaels: promises Spades and Hearts. |
| 2 |
|
4 |
|
Leaping Michaels: promises Spades and Diamonds. |
| 2 |
|
4 |
|
Leaping Michaels: promises Clubs and Hearts (the other Major suit) |
| 3 |
|
4 |
|
Leaping Michaels: promises Spades and Hearts. |
| 3 |
|
4 |
|
Leaping Michaels: promises Spades and Hearts. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Cuebids which are not Leaping Michaels: |
| 1 |
|
3 |
|
Western Cuebid, asking partner to bid 3 No Trump with a Heart stopper (Note: the bid is not Leaping Michaels at the 3 level). |
| 2 |
|
3 |
|
Western Cuebid, asking partner to bid 3 No Trump with a Heart stopper (Note: the bid is not Leaping Michaels at the 3 level). |
| 2 |
|
3 |
|
This overcall is a takeout of the Major suits. The overcall is not a game-forcing action and does not promise a two-suited holding. |
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.