Open No Trump

SAYC

× Introduction:

  1. Introduction
  2. Evaluate an Opening Hand
  3. Bidding Process / Hierarchy Chart
  4. Bidding Strategy

  SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card)
  Statistics

× Opening Bids

       Opening Bid Options
Open 1 Level
   Open 1 ♠
   Open 1 ♥
       Open 1 NT
           Open Better Minor
           Open 1 ♦
           Open 1 ♣
Weak Opening Bids
•         2 ♦ 2 ♥ 2 ♠ (6-card suit)
• 3 ♣ 3 ♦ 3 ♥ 3 ♠ (7-card suit)
•                 4 ♥ 4 ♠ (8-card suit)
Strong Opening Bids
      • Open 2 ♣
      • Open 2 NT
      • Open 3 NT
Opening vs Table Position

× Bid 2: Respond to Suit Openings

   Guidelines for Responses
         1-over-1 Restriction
         Distribution Points
   Respond to 1 ♠
   Respond to 1 ♥
         (Jacoby 2 NT )
   Respond to 1 ♦
   Respond to 1 ♣
Bid 3: Opener's Next Bid
   Responder Supports the Bid Suit
       (Response to Jacoby 2 NT )
   Responder Proposes a New Suit
Respond to Weak Openings
  • Respond to 2 ♠ 2 ♥ 2 ♦
  • Respond to 3 ♠ 3 ♥ 3 ♦ 3 ♣
  • Respond to 4 ♠ 4 ♥
Respond to Strong Openings
  • Respond to 2 ♣ using:
      • 2-Diamond Waiting
      • 3-Point Step
      • 2-Diamond Bust
  • Respond to Strong 2

× Respond to NT Openings

Respond to 1 NT
    Transfers (1NT)
       Stayman (1NT)
          No 4-card Major (1NT)
Respond to 2 NT
    Transfers (2NT)
       Stayman (2NT)
          4-card Major (2NT)
Respond to 3 NT
    Transfers (3NT)
       Stayman (3NT)
          No 4-card Major (3NT)

× Other Bids:

• Slam (Blackwood & Gerber)
• Overcalls
• Doubles
• Balancing

× Practice Bidding:

   • Open 1 Level
   • Responses to 1 Suit Openings
   • Open 1 NT & 14 Responses
   • Open 1 NT & 16 Responses
   • Responses to 2 Club Opening
   • Overcalls
Practice Websites:
   • SAYC Bidding Practice
   • Trickster

× Taking Tricks:

• Leads on Defense
• Leads on Offense
• Finessing a Tenace

× Keeping Score:

1. Contract Points Scoring
2. Match Points Scoring

× Downloads:

• SAYC Summary
• Open 1-Level
• Responses to 1-Suit Opening Bids
• 1 NT Openings & Responses
• Responses to Weak Openings
• Responses to 2 Club Openings

1) No 5+card major
      • When holding a 5+card major, open that 5+card major instead of NT.
      • This practice clarifies the nature of the NT opening hand, and makes it easier to identify an 8+card fit in a major suit.
      • SAYC allows a NT opening with a 5-card major, but I suggest not opening a NT when holding a 5+card major.

2) Must be Balanced
• no voids, no singletons, and 1 or 0 doubleton
• distributions of balanced hands are described by the general notation:
       4-3-3-3
       4-4-3-2
       5-3-3-2 (major suit cannot be 5-cards)

3) Specific Point Count Ranges
Each No Trump opening bid must be in one of three specific honor card point ranges
   • 15 to 17 HCPs - Open 1 NT
   • 20 to 21 HCPs - Open 2 NT
   • 25 to 27 HCPs - Open 3 NT

Opening NT	Opener's Point Count (HCPs only) and Bid

	0 to 11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27
	Pass	Minimum Hand			Medium Hand			Strong Hand				Maximum Hand

Opener's Shape (BALANCED hand)	PASS	1 ♣ or 1 ♦			1 NT			1♣ or 1♦		2 NT		2 ♣			3 NT

Opening Bids of 1 NT or 2 NT or 3 NT