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

Examples of Responses to 2 ♣ Opening

Deal 1

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

4 ♠ 3+spades (3-7 pts)

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 NT No 5+card (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

2 NT NO support (3-7 pts)

3 NT (23 + 3 pts)

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 ♥ 5+hearts (3-10 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

2 NT NO support (3-7 pts)

3 NT (23 + 3 pts)

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 ♥ 5+hearts (3-10 pts)

Deal 2

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 NT NO 5+suit (22-24 pts)

3 NT No 4+major (5+22pts)

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 NT No 5+suit (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

3 ♠ 5+spades (11+ pts)

4 ♣ Gerber (23 + 11 pts)

4 ♦ → Opener 5 ♣

5 ♥ → Opener 6 ♠

2 NT only 10+ pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (3-10 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 NT NO 5+suit (22-24 pts)

2 ♦ Xfr (5+hearts)

2 ♥

PASS

2 ♦ only 0-3 pts

2 ♦ < 3 pts

Deal 3

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 NT No 5+card (8-10 pts)

4 ♣ Gerber (24+8 pts)

4 ♥ → Opener 5 ♣

5 ♦ → Opener 6 ♠

2 ♠ only 7-9 pts

2 NT No 5+suit (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♠ 5+spades (25-27 pts)

4 ♠ (0-4 pts)

PASS

2 ♦ only 0-3 pts

2 ♦ < 3 pts

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♠ 5+spades (25-27 pts)

3 NT (5-7 pts)

4 ♠

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

3 ♣ 5+clubs (3-10 pts)

Deal 4

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

3 ♣ 5+clubs (8-10 pts)

4 NT Blackwood

5 ♦ (one Ace)

6 ♣ Small Slam

2 ♠ only 7-9 pts

3 ♣ 5+clubs (8-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 NT No 5+suit (22-24 pts)

3 ♥ Xfr (0-7 pts)

3 ♠ or 4 ♠

4 ♠ or PASS

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (6+3 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 NT NO 5+suit (22-24 pts)

PASS

2 ♦ only 0-3 pts

2 ♦ < 3 pts

Deal 5

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

2 NT No support (3-7 pts)

3 NT

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

3 ♣ 5+clubs (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

4 ♠ 3+spades (3-7 pts)

PASS

2 ♦ only 0-3 pts

2 NT No 5+suit (3-10 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

3 ♦ 5+diams (8-10 pts)

3 ♠ 4+spades (22-24 pts)

4 ♠ 3-spades (22+9 pts)

PASS

2 ♠ only 7-9 pts

3 ♦ 5+diams (3-10 pts)

Deal 6

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♦ 5+diams (22-24 pts)

3 ♥ 5+hearts (3-7 pts)

4 ♥ (23+3 pts)

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 ♥ 5+hearts (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♦ 5+diams (22-24 pts)

PASS (3+22 pts)

PASS

2 ♦ (0-3 pts)

2 NT NO 5+suit (3-10 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

3 ♠ 5+spades (11-15 pts)

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

4 ♠

6 ♠ Small Slam (22+11 pts)

2 NT only 10+ pts

3 ♠ 5+spades (11-18 pts)

Deal 7

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

4 ♠ 3+spades (3-7 pts)

2 ♠ (7-9 pts)

3 ♦ 5+diams (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♥ 5+hearts (8-10 8 pts)

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

3 ♥ 5+hearts (8-10 8 pts)

4 ♥

2 ♠ (7-9 pts)

2 ♥ 5+hearts (3-10 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (22-24 pts)

2 NT No support (3-7 pts)

3 NT

2 ♥ (4-6 pts)

3 ♣ 5+clubs (3-10 pts)

Deal 8

Pair 1 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♦ 5+diams (22-24 pts)

3 ♠ 5+spades (3-7 pts)

3 NT (23+3 pts)

2 ♠ only 7-9 pts

2 ♠ 5+spades (3-10 pts)

Pair 2 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♦ 5+diams (22-24 pts)

3 NT 3+suit (3-7 pts)

PASS

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 NT NO 5+suit (3-10 pts)

Pair 3 - Opening Bid: 2 ♣

2 ♦ < 8 pts

3 ♦ 5+diams (22-24 pts)

3 NT 3+suit (3-7 pts)

PASS

2 ♥ only 4-6 pts

2 NT NO 5+suit (3-10 pts)