Standard American Yellow

Standard American Yellow Card Convention - Full SAYC

General Description of System

Bidding System: Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC)

Leads: 4th highest, top of sequence (leads are variable by agreement)

Signals: Attitude

Discards: Attitude

Strength of 1NT openers: 15-17

2♣ Response to 1NT opener is: Stayman (Normally with a 4 card major)

Full Description of System

Opening bid                                                  

1♣: 12-21 HCP, 3+♣, see notes 1-2.1NT response: 6-10, NF

1♦: 12-21 HCP, 3+♦, see notes 1-2. 2NT response - see note 5

1♥: 12-21 HCP, 5+♥, see notes 1-2, Responses: 2 over 1: 11+.FG

1♠: 12-21 HCP, 5+♠, see notes 1-2

1NT: 15-17 HCP. Responses: Stayman, Jacoby (red suit) transfer

2♣: 22+ HCP,  Strong, artificial, see note 3

2♦:  5-11 HCP, 6 cards. Responses: 2NT is game interest. Opener bids

2♥:  5-11 HCP, 6 cards. Responses: a feature or 3NT if maximum.

2♠:  5-11 HCP, 6 cards. Responses: Change of suit forcing.

2NT: 20-21 HCP, Balance. Responses: Stayman, other bids natural.

3NT: 25-27 HCP, Balance. Responses: Stayman, other bids natural.

3 bids: 6-10 HCP, 7 cards, Pre-emptive

4 bids: 6-10 HCP, 7 cards, Pre-emptive

Overcalls

Simple Natural, wide-ranging. 8-16. Change of suit by responder non-forcing

Jump Weak - 6 card suit at 2 levels. Usually 7 at 3 level.

Cue Bid Michaels (see note 6) - but natural if ops have bid 2 suits

1NT Direct 15-18, responses: Stayman, natural as per 1NT opening

1NT Protective 10-15, responses: Stayman, natural as per 1NT opening

2NT Direct Unusual if a jump - see Note 6. Responses are limit bids.

2NT Protective See above

Defensive Bids

Opponents open: Defensive methods:

Strong 1♣ Natural

Weak 1NT Double = Penalties, Overcalls are natural

Strong 1NT As above

Weak 2 Double = take-out - Cue = Michaels

Weak 3 Double = take-out - Cue = Michaels

4 of Minor Double = take-out - Cue = Michaels

4 of Major Double = penalty

Multi 2♦ Natural

Action Opponents Intervene With

Simple Overcall: Doubles are: Take-out over bids up to 2♠, promises 4 cards in any unbid major

Bids are: New suit forcing. 2 of a major is 5+cards and 11+ pts.

Jump Overcall: Doubles are: Take-out over bids up to 2♠, promises 4 cards in any unbid major

Bids are: New suit forcing

Double: Redouble is: 10+

New suit is: Forcing at 1 level - not at 2 level

Jump in new suit: Pre-emptive - to play

Jump raise is: Pre-emptive

2NT is: Good raise

Special Uses of Doubles:

Doubles of opening NT bids or NT overcalls are for penalties, following which all subsequent doubles are for penalties. Otherwise, all doubles of suit contracts up to and including 2♠ are for take-out. E.g. 1♠ Dbl 2♠ Dbl - both doubles are for take-out

Doubles of artificial bids show the suit bid

Redoubles are SOS up to 3♠ except when an artificial bid has been doubled.

Slam Conventions

Convention Meanings of Responses Action over interference

Blackwood 5♣ = 0/4, 5♦ = 1, 5♥ = 2, 5♠ = 3 aces D0P1

Gerber – see note 7 4♦ = 0/4, 4♥ = 1, 4♠ = 2, 4NT = 3 aces D0P1

5NT Grand Slam Force

Other Conventions

FSF (Fourth Suit Forcing) – but after 1♣ (No) 1♦ (No) 1♥ (No), 1♠ is natural and 2♠ is “Fourth suit”

UCBs (Unassuming Cue Bids) – opposite partner’s overcall, a cue bid shows a good raise

Opening Leads

Normal leads against suit contracts: 2nd and 4th highest

AK  AKx  KQ10  KQx  KJ10

K109  QJ10  QJx  J10x  10xx

109x  987x  10xxx  Hxxxx  Hxxxxx

Hxxx  Hxx xx xxx xxxx

Normal leads against NT contracts: 2nd and 4th highest

AKx(x)  AJ10x  KQ10  KQx  KJ10

K109  QJ10  QJx  J10x  10xx

10xxx  109x  987x  Hxx  Hxxxxx

Hxxxx Hxxx  xx xxx xxxx

Signals and Discards

Describe primary method. State alternatives in brackets

Signals on Partner's lead: Attitude: high = encouraging, low = discouraging

Signals on Declarer's lead: Attitude

Discards: Attitude

Exceptions to above: Count

Supplementary Details

Note 1

Balanced Hands not 15-17:

With 4-4 in the minors, open 1♦. With 3-3 in the minors, open 1♣. 1♦ is only three cards if shape is 4432.

Unbalanced Hands:

Always open the longest suit

With two five-card-or-longer suits, always open the higher

Note 2

After a one-level response, 1NT = 13/16, 2NT = 19/21

Note 3

2♣ - 2♦ response is a relay but other bids are positive and specific (2NT=8points balanced)

2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT is 22-24

After 2♣ - 2♦, bidding is forcing to 3 of opener's major or 4 of opener's minor.

Note 4

Transfer breaks are only by jumping in the agreed suit

1NT (No) 2♠ = Jacoby Transfer to 3♣

This will be passed or converted to 3♦ (to be passed),

1NT (No) 2NT = Invitational to 3NT

1NT (No) 3♣ or 3♦ are invitational to 3NT with a 6+card suit

1NT (No) 3♥ or 3♠ are 6+ card suit with slam interest

After 1NT (Dbl), Stayman and transfers apply

After 1NT is overcalled, Stayman and transfers do not apply, but a cue bid is strong and Staymanic.

Note 5

2NT response to 1♥ or 1♠ opening bid is Game Forcing, agreeing trumps, with slam interest

Opener bids 3 of a non-trump suit to show a singleton or void, or else shows point count by…

jump to 4 of trump suit to show max 14, 3NT 15-17, 3 of trump suit 18+.

This convention does not apply after interference by opponents

2NT response to 1♣ or 1♦ opening bid is 13-15 and forcing; 3NT response is 16-17

Note 6

Michaels Cue Bid / Unusual 2NT

1♣ - 2♣ or 1♦ - 2♦ shows at least 5-5 in the majors, 8+ points

1♥ - 2♥ or 1♠ - 2♠ shows at least 5-5 in the other major and one minor, 10+ points

1 any 2NT shows at least 5-5 in the two lowest unbid suits

Values range from enough for a minimum overcall up to a very strong hand

Note 7

Gerber is used only directly when partner has opened or rebid 1NT or 2NT. 5♣ asks for kings

ACBL SAYC System Booklet

Full SAYC Convention Card by Michel Heger