Opening Bid Evaluation

SAYC

Preface

  SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card)
  1. Introduction
  2. Bidding
  3. Opening Bid Evaluation
  4. Opening Bid Options
  5. Scoring
  6. Bidding Strategy

  Statistics

Opening Bids

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 NT
      • Open 2 ♣
      • Open 3 NT
Opening vs Table Position

× Respond to Suit Openings

   Guidelines for Responses
         Distribution Points
         Jacoby 2 NT♥
         1-over-1 Restriction
   Respond to 1 ♠
   Respond to 1 ♥
   Respond to 1 ♦
   Respond to 1 ♣
Bid 3: Opener's Next Bid
   Responder Supports the Bid Suit
         (Respond 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
• 1-Suit Opening Bids
• Responses to 1-Suit Opening Bids
• 1 NT Openings & Responses
• Responses to Weak Openings
• Responses to 2 Club Openings

1) Point Count - the sum of the HCPs

The deck of 52 cards contains 16 "face" cards - 4 Aces, 4 Kings, 4 Queens and 4 Jacks. Each face card, or "Honor Card", is assigned a point value, as displayed in the table to the right. Each deck of cards contains 40 Honor Card Points (HCPs).

The point count of the hand is simply the sum of the Honor Card Points (HCPs) in the hand.

Honor Card Points (HCPs)
Face Card	HCPs
Ace	4
King	3
Queen	2
Jack	1

Preface

Opening Bids

3. Opening Bid Evaluation

1) Point Count - the sum of the HCPs

2) Suit Length