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

3-Point Step Response Convention

The 3-Point Step response is a series of artificial bids in response to the a  2♣  opening. It is NOT a part of SAYC, but is commonly used by social bridge players. It is a single-step response system that is quick and easy.
The partner's bid tells the opener how many points the partner holds. Each bid corresponds to a range of points in 3-point increments. The bids have no bearing on the partner's suits or suit lengths. Even with zero points, the partner must respond - the partner cannot pass. It is possible that the partner will mention the contract suit first thereby placing the stronger opening hand in the dummy.

Partner's Response to  2♣  Opening
(3-Point Step Convention)
Partner's HCPs and Bid
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Partner's ARTIFICIAL bid:   2 ♦   2 ♥   2 ♠   2 NT   3 ♣ 
12/25/2023 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Minimum PARTNERSHIP points   (assume opener holds 22 points)

After the partner responds, the only information the opener learns is the approximate combined partnership point range. The opener's next bid is based upon the opener's card sense and playing experience.
0 to 3 pts:       2 ♦ 
4 to 6 pts:       2 ♥ 
7 to 9 pts:       2 ♠ 
10 to 12 pts:   2 NT 
13+ pts:          3 ♣ 

1/10/2024

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