SAYC

What kind of word is "SAYC"?

SAYC is not a word. It is an acronym. SAYC stands for Standard American Yellow Card.

Bridge is a difficult game. We all know that. Certain bids mean certain things. In addition, when you start to learn a little more you realize that some people play the same bid in the same situation DIFFERENTLY!

The first time you learn this is probably when you learn Jacoby Transfers. When you walk into the Jacoby Transfer class you play that a 2♦ response after a 1NT opening bid shows ♦. When you walk out of the Jacoby Transfer class you now bid 2♦ after a 1NT bid to show ♥. That's a big difference. You and your Partner better make sure you know what a 2♦ response means after a 1NT opening bid otherwise the partnership could get into trouble!

Unfortunately there are hundreds of examples of these kinds of bids. Bids you might mean one way but Partner might interpret another way. Neither player would be right or wrong it just depends on what they agree to play BEFORE the game.

Basic agreements are easily known for established partnerships. You play with the same person week after week and you learn what they mean when they make a bid. But what happens if you just go to the bridge club and pick up a partner you don't know? How could you ever discuss all the possibilities that might crop up?

You can't. There are too many possibilities to discuss.

So the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League -- that is the organization that is in charge of duplicate bridge in North America) created a "standard" card a long time ago. It is called the "Yellow Card". It contains a list of standard bids that every experienced player should know. That way, when you go to your local bridge club and pick up a game with someone you don't know, you can agree to play the "Yellow Card" and you don't have to discuss whether or not you play this bid or that bid. If the bid is on the Yellow Card you play it and if it is not on the Yellow Card you don't play it.

Basic stuff on the "Yellow Card":

1NT opening range is 15 to 17
2NT opening range is 20 to 21
3NT opening range is 25 to 27
Stayman
Jacoby Transfers
Weak 2 bids
Blackwood
Gerber
Negative Doubles up to 2♠
Standard defensive signals

There are others but you get the idea.