SAYC Preface Open
1 Level Resp
1 Suit Resp
 1 NT  Weak
Bids Strong
 2 ♣  Strong
 NT  Other
Bids Taking
Tricks Practice Duplicate Downloads Front Door

Yellow Card Bidding System Mantra
    ● First, determine which suit to play - then determine the contract level to play.
    ● Try to play a contract in the following priority:
           1) Play a MAJOR suit contract.
           2) Play a NO TRUMP contract.
           3) Play a MINOR suit contract as a last resort.

First Priority -  1 ♠  or  1 ♥ 

Open  1 ♠ 
   • HCPs - The hand must have 12-21 HCPs. The only concern is the total HCPs in the hand. The location of the HCPs does not matter - even if there are no HCPs in the spade suit.
   • Suit Length - The hand must have 5 or more cards in SPADES, and have more spades than hearts. If the number of spades and the number hearts is equal, open with the higher ranking spade suit.
   • Opener is proposing the partnership play a spades contract. If the responder has a 3+card spades suit, the partnership will have an 8+card fit in spades, and the partnership can play a spades contract.

Open  1 ♥ 
   • HCPs - The hand must have 12-21 HCPs. The only concern is the total HCPs in the hand. The location of the HCPs does not matter - even if there are no HCPs in the hearts suit.
   • Suit Length - The hand must have 5 or more cards in HEARTS, and have more hearts than spades.
   • Opener is proposing the partnership play a hearts contract. If the responder has a 3+card hearts suit, the partnership will have an 8+card fit in hearts, and the partnership can play a hearts contract.

Second Priority -  1 NT 

Open  1 NT 
There are 3 requirements to be able to open in No Trump:
    • NO 5+card major - less than 5 cards in spades and less than 5 cards in hearts.
    • 15 to 17 HCPs exactly - no more, no less. The location of the points does not matter.
    • BALANCED - no voids, no singletons, and one or zero doubletons (cannot have 2 doubletons).
Opener is proposing the partnership play a No Trump contract, even though the opener would prefer to play a major suit contract. If the responder has a 4+card major suit, the partnership can still play a contract in that major suit.

Last Priority -  1 ♦  or  1 ♣ 

Open  1 ♦ 
    • The hand must not have a 5+card major suit, and cannot open in No Trump.
    • HCPs - The hand must have 12-21 HCPs. The only concern is the total HCPs in the hand. The location of the HCPs does not matter - even if there are no HCPs in the diamond suit.
    • Suit length - The hand must have 3 or more cards in DIAMONDS, and better diamonds than clubs.
    • Opener is proposing the partnership play a diamonds contract, even though the opener would prefer to play a major suit contract. If the opener has a 4-card major suit, and the responder has the same 4+card major suit, the partnership can still play a contract in that major suit.

Open  1 ♣ 
    • The hand must not have a 5+card major suit, and cannot open in No Trump.
    • HCPs - The hand must have 12-21 HCPs. The only concern is the total HCPs in the hand. The location of the HCPs does not matter - even if there are no HCPs in the club suit.
    • Suit length - The hand must have 3 or more cards in CLUBS, and better clubs than diamonds.
    • Opener is proposing the partnership play a clubs contract, even though the opener would prefer to play a major suit contract. If the opener has a 4-card major suit, and the responder has the same 4+card major suit, the partnership can still play a contract in that major suit.