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.

Responding

Playing matchpoints. Both sides are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T
♥KQJ5
♦986
♣AT652

Partner opens the bidding with 1♥. The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

This answer might be different for everyone depending on what system you play.

As long as you get Partner to game in ♥ I'm happy. For some people that might be starting with 2♣ and then bidding game later on, for others it might involve bidding Jacoby 2NT. Some might just leap there right away if that shows a stong hand.

The bid I don't like is 2♥. This shows a hand with 6 to 10 points and three ♥. You need to count your Dummy points here since you have a fit for Partner's suit. You have three points for your singleton. That makes 13 points altogether. Get the partnership to game in whatever way you can to tell Partner you have a strong hand.

Rebidding

Playing matchpoints. You are not vulnerable but the Opponents are.

Here is your hand:
♠A875
♥AKQT64
♦84
♣2

You open the bidding with 1♥. The Opponents are silent during the auction. Partner responds 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 3♠?

This shows a hand with four ♠ and about 17 or 18 points. You have thirteen High Card Points plus three points for your singleton and 1 point for your doubleton.

Your ♥ suit is GORGEOUS! I'll give you that. But if you rebid your ♥ suit you can no longer count your Dummy points. You'll have to rebid 2♥. Plus Partner will now never believe you have four ♠. You would have supported them if you did.

If you wanted to bid 4♠ I'd totally agree with that bid also. You don't need much from partner to make a game. As little as:
♠KQJ2
♥85
♦7632
♣976