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.
Even though the opener bids No Trump (the second priority), the opener may not want to play No Trump. The opener cannot open a major suit without a 5-card major. But the opener may hold one or both 4-card major suits. This leaves the possibility of still playing a major suit contract (the number 1 priority).
As soon as the OPENER bids 1 NT , the partner (RESPONDER) knows what the final contract for the partnership will be. The responder knows the opener has 15 to 17 HCPs, no 5-card major and balanced, and knows the contents of its own hand. The opener does not have the big picture, so the opener must rely upon the responder to control the bidding and set the final contract. The responder will steer the bidding toward the final contract by using one of three paths.
Respond to 1 NT Opening
Responder's Major Suit Length
Responder's HCPs and Bid
0-7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Part Score (47%)
Game Major (33%)
Game Minor (16%)
Slam (4%)
5+card Major Path 1 (Transfers)
5 hearts
2 ♦ Xfr to hearts
2 ♦ Xfr to hearts
4 ♦ Texas Xfr to hearts
4 ♣ Gerber Asking for Aces or 4 NT Quantitative Invitation Asking for Points
6+ hearts
4 ♦ Texas Xfr to hearts
3 ♥ Natural Bid
5 spades
2 ♥ Xfr to spades
2 ♥ Xfr to spades
4 ♥ Texas Xfr to spades
6+ spades
4 ♥ Texas Xfr to spades
3 ♠ Natural Bid
4-card Major Path 2 (Stayman)
4 hearts and/or 4 spades
PASS play 1 NT
2 ♣ Stayman
No 4+card Major Path 3
Balanced
PASS play 1 NT
2 NT
3 NT
3 NT
6+ clubs
3 NT or 3 ♣
3 NT or 5 ♣
6+ diamonds
3 NT or 3 ♦
3 NT or 5 ♦
3/9/2025
15-22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Minimum PARTNERSHIP Point Count (assume opener holds 15 HCPs)
Path 1:5+card major and 0 to 17 HCPs - The responder will use the TRANSFER Convention to enter into a contract in that major suit. For details, visit the TRANSFERS (1NT) web page.
Path 2:4-card major (in one or both majors) and 8 to 17 HCPs - The responder willl use the STAYMAN Convention to seek an 8-card fit in a major. For details, visit the the STAYMAN (1NT) web page.
Path 3:NO 4+card major and 8 to 17 HCPs - The responder partner will abandon the search for a major suit contract, and will explore a contract in No Trump, or in a minor suit. For details, visit the NO 4-card Major (1NT) web page.
When the partner holds 18+ HCPs, the partnership has enough points for a slam. The partner has two options on how to explore the possibilities of a slam:
• Bid 4 ♣ - Gerber. This artificial bid is asking for the number of opener's Aces.
• Bid 4 NT - Quantitative Invitation. This is a natural bid that is asking for the opener's points.
Visit the web page on Invitation to Slam.