Standard American SAYC
Tables
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Chapter 1: Hand Valuation
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High Card Points ("hcp"): Tricks are taken with high cards, thus, points are awarded to the four highest cards in a suit:
Ace ("A") - 4 points King ("K") - 3 points Queen ("Q") - 2 points Jack ("J")- 1 point
Distribution Points ("dp"): Tricks are also taken with extra cards in long suits, thus, one point is awarded for each card over 4 in a suit:
5-card suit - 1 point (for one card more than 4) 6-card suit - 2 points (for two cards more than 4) 7-card suit - 3 points (etc.)
Total Value ("strength"): High Card Points + Distribution Points = Total Points.
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Chapter
2: General Approach and Opening Bids
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Game |
No. Tricks |
Strength |
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3Nt |
9 |
25 (or 26) |
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4M (4♥ or 4♠) |
10 |
26 |
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5m (5♣ or 5♦) |
11 |
29 |
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SAYC is a 5-card major system. · Normally opening 5-card majors in all seats. · Open the higher ranking of two long suits of equal length (5-5 or 6-6).
Notrump opening bids show a balanced hand and can be made with a 5-card major suit or a 5-card minor suit. · Natural notrump ranges are: · 1Nt - 15 to 17 · 2Nt - 20 to 21 · 3Nt - 25 to 27
With opening values but no 5-card major or a notrump bid, opener would open the better minor suit. · Normally opening 1♦ with 4-4 in the minors and 1♣ with 3-3 in the minors.
Opening 2 bids: · 2♣ is strong and forcing. · 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ are weak two-bid openings.
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To open the bidding in Nt requires: · 1Nt - 15 to 17 points · 2Nt - 20 to 21 points · 3Nt - 25 to 27 points
and a balanced hand: · no voids, no singletons, not more than one doubleton, (which also means no 6-card suit and not more than one 5-card suit) · 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2
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With fewer than 13 points, pass.
With 13 to 21 points: · With a 5-card or longer suit: ·· Bid your longer suit. ·· Bid the higher ranking of two 5-card or two 6-card suits. · With no 5-card (or longer) suit: ·· Bid you better minor (usually longer) suit. ·· Bid the higher ranking of two 4-card minor suits. ·· Bid the lower ranking of two 3-card minor suits.
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Chapter
3: Responses to Notrump Opening Bids
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Stayman is a system used by responder after an opening bid of 1Nt to find 4-4 major suit fits and right side the play of the hand. After an opening bid of 1Nt responder's bid of 2♣ is conventional, saying nothing about clubs, asking opener if he has a 4-card major suit (four ♠ or four ♥). After an opening bid of 1Nt and a 2♣ bid by responder, asking opener if he has a 4-card major, a response to Stayman will allow opener to show a 4-card major by naming the denomination (2♠ or 2♥) or denying a 4-card major by bidding diamonds (2♦). After a Stayman bidding sequence, the second bid by responder will support/deny a fit with opener and show the size of responder's hand. (see Stayman)
Jacoby Transfers is a system used by responder after an opening bid of 1Nt to transfer the play of the hand from responder to opener. After the opening bid of 1NT, if responder has a 5-card (or longer) major suit such as ♥AK1094 responder transfers opener to the suit by bidding the lower ranking suit '2♦ transfers to 2♥' and '2♥ transfers to 2♠'. After transfer has been completed, responder's second bid will show the size and shape her hand. (see Jacoby Transfers)
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· With 4-card major, pass. · With 5-card (or longer) major transfer opener into major, then pass: ·· 2♦ transfers to 2♥, then pass ·· 2♥ transfers to 2♠, then pass · With a balanced hand, pass. · With 6-card minor suit, pass.
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· With 4-card major, bid Stayman (2♣), then raise to 3M if 4-4 fit or bid 2Nt. ·· 2♣ asking for 4-card major, then bid 3M if 4-4 fit ·· 2♣ asking for 4-card major, then bid 2Nt to show other major · With 5-card (or longer) major transfer to major, then raise to 3M if 6-card suit or bid 2Nt. ·· 2♦ transfers to 2♥, then bid 3♥ with 6-card ♥ suit or 2Nt ·· 2♥ transfers to 2♠, then bid 3♠ with 6-card ♠ suit or 2Nt · With balanced hand, bid 2Nt. · With 6-card minor suit and an unbalanced hand bid 3♣ or 3♦, as invitational to 3Nt. · With 6-card minor suit and a balanced hand bid 2Nt.
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· With 4-card major, bid Stayman (2♣), then raise to 4M if 4-4 fit or bid 3Nt: ·· 2♣ asking for 4-card major, in response to 2♦ bid 3Nt ·· 2♣ asking for 4-card major, then bid 4M if 4-4 fit ·· 2♣ asking for 4-card major, then bid 3Nt to show game forcing hand and other major · With 5-card (or longer) major transfer to major, then raise to 4M if 6-card suit or bid 3Nt: ·· 2♦ transfers to 2♥, then bid 4♥ with 6-card ♥ suit or 3Nt ·· 2♥ transfers to 2♠, then bid 4♠ with 6-card ♠ suit or 3Nt · With balanced hand, bid 3Nt. · With-5 card (or longer) minor suit, bid 2♣ (Stayman) and when partner rebids (2♦, 2♥, or 2♠), bid 3♣ or 3♦ showing slam interest.
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· With 4 points and a 4-card major, bid Stayman (3♣), then raise to 4M if 4-4 fit or bid 3Nt: ·· 3♣ asking for 4-card major, in response to 2♦ bid 3Nt ·· 3♣ asking for 4-card major, then bid 4M if 4-4 fit ·· 3♣ asking for 4-card major, then bid 3Nt to show game forcing hand and other major · With 5-card (or longer) major transfer to major, then raise to 4M if 6-card suit or bid 3Nt: ·· 3♦ transfers to 3♥, then bid 4♥ with 6-card ♥ suit or 3Nt ·· 3♥ transfers to 3♠, then bid 4♠ with 6-card ♠ suit or 3Nt · With balanced hand, bid 3Nt. · With-5 card minor suit and game forcing value, bid 2♣ (Stayman) and when partner rebids (2♦, 2♥,or 2♠), bid 3♣ or 3♦ showing 6-card club suit and game forcing (with slam interest). · 4♣ is ace asking (Gerber) · 4Nt invites to 6Nt (Quantitative)
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C:\Fred\Bridge\Standard
American SAYC\SAYC Tables.doc