FULL STANDARD AMERICAN YELLOW CARD (SAYC) CONVENTION CARD
(This follows the EBU20A Convention Card format.)
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM
| Bidding System: |
Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC)
|
| Leads: |
4th highest, top of sequence
(leads are variable by agreement) |
| Signals: |
Attitude |
| Discards: |
Attitude |
| Strength of 1NT openers: |
15-17 |
| 2C Response to 1NT opener is: |
Stayman (Normally with a 4 card
major) |
FULL
DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM
| OPENING BIDS |
| Opening bid |
Point range |
Min length |
Conventional
Meaning |
Special
Responses |
| 1C |
12*-21 |
3 |
See notes 1-2 |
1NT response 6-10 HCP non-forcing
|
| 1D |
12*-21 |
3 |
See notes 1-2 |
2NT response - see note 5
|
| 1H |
12*-21 |
5 |
See notes 1-2 |
2 over 1 change of suit 11+ |
| 1S |
12*-21 |
5 |
See notes 1-2 |
|
| 1NT |
15-17 |
|
|
Stayman, Jacoby (red suit)
transfer |
| 2C |
22+ |
|
Strong, artificial |
See note 3 |
| 2D |
5-11 |
6 |
|
2NT is game interest. Opener
bids |
| 2H |
5-11 |
6 |
|
a feature or 3NT if maximum.
|
| 2S |
5-11 |
6 |
|
Change of suit forcing.
|
| 2NT |
20-21 |
|
|
Stayman, other bids natural.
|
| 3NT |
25-27 |
|
|
Stayman, other bids natural.
|
| 3 bids |
6-10 |
7 |
Pre-emptive |
|
| 4 bids |
6-10 |
8 |
Pre-emptive |
|
| OVERCALLS
|
| Simple |
Natural, wide-ranging. 8-16. Change of suit
by responder non-forcing |
| Jump |
Weak - 6 card suit at 2 level. Usually 7 at
3 level. |
| Cue Bid |
Michaels (see note 6) - but natural if ops
have bid 2 suits |
| 1NT Direct |
15-18, responses: Stayman, natural as per
1NT opening |
| 1NT Protective |
10-15, responses: Stayman, natural as per
1NT opening |
| 2NT Direct |
Unusual if a jump - see Note 6. Responses
are limit bids. |
| 2NT Protective |
See above |
| DEFENSIVE BIDS
|
| Opponents open: |
Defensive methods: |
| Strong 1C |
Natural |
| Weak 1NT |
Double = Penalties, Overcalls are
natural |
| Strong 1NT |
As above |
| Weak 2 |
Double = take-out - Cue =
Michaels |
| Weak 3 |
Double = take-out - Cue = Michaels
|
| 4 of Minor |
Double = take-out - Cue =
Michaels |
| 4 of Major |
Double = penalty
|
| Multi 2D |
Natural |
| ACTION OPPONENTS INTERVENE
WITH |
| Simple Overcall:
| Doubles are: |
Take-out over bids up to 2S, promises 4
cards in any unbid major |
|
| Bids are: |
New suit forcing. 2 of a major is 5+cards
and 11+ pts.
|
| Jump Overcall: |
Doubles are: |
Take-out over bids up to 2S, promises 4
cards in any unbid major
|
|
Bids are: |
New suit forcing
|
| Double: |
Redouble is: |
10+
|
|
New suit is: |
Forcing at 1 level - not at 2 level
|
|
Jump in new suit: |
Pre-emptive - to play
|
|
Jump raise is: |
Pre-emptive
|
|
2NT is: |
Good raise |
| SPECIAL USES OF DOUBLES:
|
| Doubles of opening NT bids or
NT overcalls are for penalties, following which all subsequent doubles are
for penalties. Otherwise, all doubles of suit contracts up to and
including 2S are for take-out. Eg 1S Dbl 2S Dbl - both doubles are for
take-out |
| Doubles of artificial bids
show the suit bid |
| Redoubles are SOS up to 3S
except when an artificial bid has been
doubled. |
| SLAM CONVENTIONS
|
| Convention |
Meanings of Responses |
Action over interference
|
| Blackwood |
5C = 0/4, 5D = 1, 5H = 2, 5S = 3
aces |
D0P1 |
| Gerber – see note 7 |
4D = 0/4, 4H = 1, 4S = 2, 4NT = 3
aces |
D0P1 |
| 5NT Grand Slam
Force |
| OTHER CONVENTIONS
|
| FSF (Fourth Suit Forcing) |
– but after 1C (No) 1D (No) 1H (No), 1S is
natural and 2S is “Fourth suit” |
| UCBs (Unassuming Cue Bids) |
– opposite partner’s overcall, a cue bid
shows a good raise |
| OPENING LEADS
|
| Normal leads against suit contracts: 2nd and 4th highest |
| AK |
AKx |
KQ10 |
KQx |
KJ10 |
| K109 |
QJ10 |
QJx |
J10x |
10xx |
| 109x |
987x |
10xxx |
Hxxxx |
Hxxxxx
|
| Hxxx |
Hxx |
xx |
xxx |
xxxx |
| Normal leads against NT contracts: 2nd and 4th highest |
| AKx(x) |
AJ10x |
KQ10 |
KQx |
KJ10
|
| K109 |
QJ10 |
QJx |
J10x |
10xx
|
| 10xxx |
109x |
987x |
Hxx |
Hxxxxx
|
| Hxxxx |
Hxxx |
xx |
xxx |
xxxx
|
| SIGNALS AND DISCARDS
|
| Describe primary method. State alternatives in
brackets
|
| Signals on Partner's lead: |
Attitude: high = encouraging, low =
discouraging
|
| Signals on Declarer's lead: |
Attitude
|
| Discards: |
Attitude
|
| Exceptions to above: |
Count |
| SUPPLEMENTARY DETAILS
|
| Note 1
|
| Balanced Hands not 15-17:
|
| With 4-4 in the minors, open 1D. With 3-3 in
the minors, open 1C. 1D is only three cards if shape is 4432.
|
| Unbalanced Hands:
|
| Always open the longest suit
|
| With two five-card-or-longer suits, always
open the higher
|
| Note 2
|
|
After a one-level response, 1NT = 13/16, 2NT = 19/21
|
|
Note 3
|
|
2C - 2D response is a relay but other bids are positive and specific
(2NT=8points balanced)
|
| 2C - 2D - 2NT is 22-24
|
| After 2C - 2D, bidding is forcing to 3 of
opener's major or 4 of opener's minor.
|
|
Note 4
|
|
Transfer breaks are only by jumping in the agreed suit
|
|
1NT (No) 2S = Jacoby Transfer to 3C
|
| This will be passed or converted to 3D (to
be passed),
|
|
1NT (No) 2NT = Invitational to 3NT
|
|
1NT (No) 3C or 3D are invitational to 3NT with a 6+card suit
|
| 1NT (No) 3H or 3S are 6+ card suit with slam
interest
|
|
After 1NT (Dbl), Stayman and transfers apply
|
| After 1NT is overcalled, Stayman and
transfers do not apply, but a cue bid is strong and Staymanic.
|
|
Note 5
|
|
2NT response to 1H or 1S opening bid is Game Forcing, agreeing trumps,
with slam interest
|
| Opener bids 3 of a non-trump suit to show a
singleton or void, or else shows point count by…
|
| jump to 4 of trump suit to show max 14, 3NT
15-17, 3 of trump suit 18+.
|
| This convention does not apply after
interference by opponents
|
|
2NT response to 1C or 1D opening bid is 13-15 and forcing; 3NT response
is 16-17
|
|
Note 6
|
|
Michaels Cue Bid / Unusual 2NT
|
|
1C 2C or 1D 2D shows at least 5-5 in the majors, 8+ points
|
| 1H 2H or 1S 2S shows at least 5-5 in the
other major and one minor, 10+ points
|
| 1 any 2NT shows at least 5-5 in the two
lowest unbid suits
|
| Values range from enough for a minimum
overcall up to a very strong hand
|
|
Note 7
|
|
Gerber is used only directly when partner has opened or rebid 1NT or
2NT. 5C asks for kings. |
|