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

Responses to an Opening Bid of  1 ♠ 

• The partnership's priority is to play a MAJOR suit contract first, then play a NO TRUMP contract second, and as a last resort, to play a MINOR suit contract.
• Determine the suit to play, then determine the contract level to play.
The opener's bid of  1 ♠  indicates:
• 12 to 21 HCPs
• 5+card spade suit
• spade suit is longer than or equal to the length of the heart suit
The responder's bid is based upon:
Points in the responder's hand (the location of the points does not matter)
Suit Length of each suit
For bid selection purposes:
• responder must have 6+ pts in order to make a positive bid
• responder assumes the opener has only 12 HCPs
The priorities of responses to an opening in a major suit are different than responding to an opening in a minor suit. Follow the indicated priorities when responding to an opening bid of  1 ♠ .

Summary Response Table

Responses to 1 Spade Opening Bid
Priority Suit Length Responder's Points and Bid
0 to 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Pass Weak (1 over 1) Moderate Game Level Major & NT Jump-Shift Slam
#1 Support
 Spades 
3-spades  PASS   2 ♠   3 ♠   4 ♠   3 NT   4 ♣ Gerber 
Explore Slam
4+spades  2 NT (Jacoby)
5+spades *  4 ♠  *   4 ♠  * 
#2 Propose
 Hearts 
4+hearts  1 NT   2 ♥   2 ♥   3 ♥ 
#3 Propose
 Better Minor 
4+cards
Better Minor
 1 NT   2♣  or  2♦   2♣  or  2♦   3♣  or  3♦ 
5/30/2024 12 to 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
Minimum PARTNERSHIP Points     (assume opener has 12 HCPs)
* Special Condition

If the responder's hand has:
   • 0 to 5 pts - bid PASS - there are not enough points to respond.
   • 6 to 20 pts (in order of priorities):
      
Responder has a 3+card spade suit. ×
Ignore the other 3 suits. The responder has found the suit to play. The responder does not know what the opener has or does not have in addition to 5+spades. Do not be tempted by better looking suits. The opener may not be able to support other suits. Act on what is known, not on what is hoped for.

By rebidding spades, the responder is SUPPORTING the spades. The opener knows the responder has at least 3-spades and the partnership will play a spades contract. The level of the responder's next bid indicates the point count range of its hand, which will be used by the opener to find the appropriate contract level to play.

Support raises are not subject to the 1-over-1 restriction. If the responder has:
     6-9 pts:  Bid  2 ♠  - a single raise indicating the point count range. There are not enough combined partnership points for a game.
     10-12 pts:  Bid  3 ♠  - a double raise indicating the point count range. There are not quite enough combined partnership points for a game.
     13-16 pts:  Bid  4 ♠  - a triple raise to game. There are enough partnership points for a game in spades. The opener will consider this bid as a close-out bid, and will likely pass.
     17-20 pts:  Bid  3 NT  - jump-shift raise indicates the responder's spade support and point count range. This commits the partnership to a game level contract, and maybe more. This bid gives the opener the options to play the game level contract in No Trump, play the game level contract in 4-Spades, or explore a slam contract.
Hier Resp 1S support

      
Responder has a 3+card spade suit. Ignore the other 3 suits - the partnership has found a suit to play. Next, find the appropriate contract level. ×
The #1 priority is to support the opener's spades. Support raises are not subject to the 1-over-1 restriction. If the responder has:
     6-9 pts:  responder has 2 options:
        • Bid  2 ♠  - a single raise indicating the point count range. There are not enough combined partnership points for a game.
        • Bid  4 ♠ *  - a special situation where there is a 5+card spade suit with a singleton Ace in another suit. The opener will consider this bid as a close-out bid, and will pass. The partnership with a 10+card spade fit will likely succeed in making the game contract.
     10-12 pts:  responder has 2 options:
        • Bid  3 ♠  - a double raise indicating the point count range. There are not quite enough combined partnership points for a game.
        • Bid  4 ♠ *  - a special situation where there is a 5+card spade suit with a singleton Ace in another suit. The opener will consider this bid as a close-out bid, and will pass. The partnership with a 10+card spade fit will likely succeed in making the game contract.
     13-16 pts:  There are enough partnership points for a game in spades. responder has 2 options:
        • Bid  4 ♠  with only a 3-card spade suit. This triple raise indicates both point count range and suit length. The opener will consider this bid as a close-out bid, and will pass.
        • Bid the  Jacoby 2 NT  - a special situation where there is opening count and a 4+card spade suit. This provides the opener the opportunity to explore a slam contract.
     17-20 pts:  There are enough partnership points for a game in spades.
        • Bid  3 NT  - This jump-shift raise indicates the responder's point count range, and provides the opener the options to play the contract in No Trump, play the contract in 4-Spades, or explore a slam contract.
Hier Resp 1S support

      
Responder has no spade support (less than 3-spades), but has a 4+card heart suit ×
The #2 priority is to propose the other major, the 4+card heart suit. Ignore the minor suits, and see if the opener also has a 4-card heart suit. An 8-card fit in hearts may still be possible so the partnership can play a contract in a major suit. Proposing a new 4+card heart suit is subject to the 1-over-1 restriction. When introducing a new suit, keep the bidding level as low as possible. If the responder has:

    • 6-9 pts:  Propose  1 NT  - The 1-over-1 restriction prohibits bidding a new suit at the 2-level. Instead of bidding PASS (which indicates 0 to 5 pts), the 1NT bid indicaties the point count range and no spade support. It says nothing about the other 3 suits. This keeps the bidding open for the opener.

    • 10-16 pts:  Propose  2 ♥  - This bid indicates no spade support, 10-16 points, and a 4+card heart suit. Since this bid is a new suit, the opener must respond.

    • 17-20 pts:  Propose  3 ♥  - This jump-shift indicates the responder's point count range and a 4+card heart suit at a low level. Since this bid is a new suit, the opener must respond.
Hier Resp 1S propose hearts

      
Responder has no spade support (less than 3-spades), and no 4+card heart suit (less than 4-hearts). ×
The partnership will not be playing a major suit contract. The partnership is still looking for a suit to play.
With the 8 or more remaining cards in the responder's hand, there will be a better minor suit with at least 4+cards long. Propose that better minor suit.
When proposing a new 4+card suit, keep the bidding level as low as possible. The responder does not know if the opener will accept that suit, so leave room for additional bidding if necessary. If the responder has:
    • 6-9 pts:  Propose  1 NT  - The 1-over-1 restriction prohibits bidding a new minor suit at the 2-level. Instead of bidding PASS (which indicates 0 to 5 pts), the 1NT bid indicates the point count range and no spade support. It says nothing about the other 3 suits. This keeps the bidding open for the opener.
    • 10-16 pts:  Propose the Better Minor suit  2 ♣  or  2 ♦  - This bid indicates 10-16 points, no spade support, and no 4+card heart suit. The better minor suit will have at least 4+cards. Since this bid is a new suit, the opener must respond.
    • 17-20 pts:  Propose the Better Minor suit  3 ♣  or  3 ♦  - This jump-shift indicates the responder's point count range, no spade support, and no 4+card heart suit. The better minor suit will have at least 4+cards. This bid provides the opener the options to play the contract in No Trump, play the contract in the proposed minor, or explore a slam contract. Since this bid is a new suit, the opener must respond.
Hier Resp 1S propose better minor

   • 21+ pts:
      
Responder has 21+ pts - There are enough points for a slam. Bid  4 ♣  (Gerber) to ask the opener for the number of aces the opener holds. ×

Summary Response Table

Simple Responses to 1 Spade Opening Bid
Priority Suit Length Responder's HCPs and Bid
0 to 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Pass Weak (1 over 1) Moderate Game Level Major & NT Jump-Shift Slam
#1 Support
 Spades 
3+ spades  PASS   2 ♠   3 ♠   4 ♠   3 NT   4 ♣ Gerber 
Explore Slam
#2 Propose
 Hearts 
4+hearts  1 NT   2 ♥   2 ♥   3 ♥ 
#3 Propose
 Better Minor 
4+cards
Better Minor
 1 NT   2♣  or  2♦   2♣  or  2♦   3♣  or  3♦ 
5/31/2024 12 to 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
Minimum PARTNERSHIP Points     (assume opener has 12 HCPs)

5/30/2024
Reed's Bridge Site © 2024         (Updated 11/20/2024)