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
Respond 3 NT with No 4-card Major

Responses to  3 NT  Opening with No 4+card Major

When the partner does not have a 4+card major, the partner can be balanced or can have a long minor suit. The partnership must resort to contract in No Trump or in a minor suit.
Partner's Requirements
• Suit Length: The partner does NOT have a 4+card major.
• Point Count: The partner must have at least 5 points. With 4 points or less, the partner must PASS.

Table for No 4+card Major Responses to  3 NT  Opening

Partner's Initial
Response to 3 NT Opening		 Partner's Point Count (HCPs only)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Game Major Game Minor
Path 3
NO
4+card Major		 Balanced PASS
play
3 NT		 PASS   play 3 NT
6+ clubs  5 ♣ 
6+ diamonds  5 ♦ 
2/24/2024 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Minimum PARTNERSHIP Point Count    (assume Opener holds 25 HCPs)

Step 1: Opener bids  3 NT .

Step 2: Partner's initial response depends upon the partner's HCPs and suit length:
    • 0 to 4 pts - PASS - This bid indicates no 4+card major, and less than 5 HCPs. The opener might have to play a 2 NT contract.
    • 5 to 8 pts - Bid  3 NT  - This indicates 5 to 8 points and no 4+card major. There are enough points for a game in No Trump, but not enough for a game in a minor suit, even with a long minor suit. The opener will likely PASS, and play a 3 NT contract. A long minor suit might help in No Trump.
    • 9 to 12 pts - There are enough points for a game in No Trump, and enough for a game in a minor. The partner's bid depends upon suit length:
         • Balanced - Bid  3 NT . The opener will likely PASS, and play a 3 NT contract.
         • 6+Clubs - Bid  3 ♠ . This artificial bid is a transfer request to clubs. There are enough points for a game in clubs, so let the opener decide what contract the partnership should play.
         • 6+Diamonds - Bid  4 ♣ . This artificial bid is a transfer request to diamonds. There are enough points for a game in diamonds, so let the opener decide what contract the partnership should play.

Step 3
    • If the partner bids 3 NT, The opener will likely PASS.
    • If the partner requests a transfer to clubs or diamonds, the opener knows there are at least 6-cards in the desired minor suit and enough points for a game in that minor suit. The opener can accept the request for transfer and bid  5 ♣  or  5 ♦ . Or the opener can decline the request and bid  3 NT . Taking 11 tricks in No Trump will score higher than taking 11 tricks in a minor. The long minor suit might be most helpful in taking extra tricks in a No Trump contract.

2/24/2024
Reed's Bridge Site © 2024         (Updated 11/20/2024)