SAYC Bridge Conventions

Here are some of the conventions that should be played under normal circumstances. Trying to put all we play in one place in a simple manner Your profile should say:

SAYC,
sh C,
4wy tx,
u2NT,
mich,
Bergen,
J2NT,
1430,
2d wait,
Capp

Point Count

The point count needed for various levels of bidding are:

Grand slam : 37
Little slam : 33 (subtract Ace points)
Game in minor :29 (subtract Ace points)
Game in major :25 (subtract Ace points)
Game in NT :26
2nt/3 level suit :22

Opening Suit Bids

My recommendations are as follows: Honor (Quick) Tricks:

AK=2,
KQJ, AQ, AJ10: 1-1/2
Kx, QJ=1/2
Qx=+, AKQ=++ (becomes 2 1/2), ++=1/2

Opening Point Count (HCP)
Add Distribution Points OR add points for length beyond 4 in any suit ADD

1 for all Aces
1 for doubleton
2 for singleton
3 for void
OR for length, if 5 cards in a suit give 1 extra point, for 6 give 2 extra points

SUBTRACT

1 for no Ace
1 for unguarded singleton or doubleton honor K, Q, J or KQ or QJx.

Principle: Open when

13 HCP: but not necessarily a 5 carder
12 HCP: 5 carder, 2 1/2 HT
10-11 HCP: good 6 carder or 2 good 5 carders, 2+ HT

Rule of 20

This is an interesting rule to decide when to open. It says, that you count your HCP and add the two longest suits and if they add to 20 you can open. So if you open with 11 points, you should have a 5 carder suit and a 4 carder suit. You should also have Honor Tricks. You can have 10 HCP and two 5 card suits

Short Club (5542)

We keep hearing about short Club and better minor.
When you have 3-3 in minors, bid 1

When you have 4-4 in minors, bid 1

What do we do with a 4-4-3-2 distribution. In Better minor, you will bid 1

In Short C you will bid 1

. You should alert Short Club even if you do not have a short Club. Say "May be short" in the alert box. This also means

has to be 4 carder for you to bid 1

With longer suit, bid that suit first, with same length, higher suit first
The 5542 is a way to say you bid 5 card majors, 4 card

and 2 card

If playing Short

then:
1

- 2

: 6 - 9 HCP, 5 carder

- 2

: 6 - 9 HCP, 4 carder

In either better minor or short club:
1

- 2

: 6 - 9 HCP, 3 carder

- 2

: 6 - 9 HCP, 3 carder

4-way Transfer

This is preferred on 1nt/2nt calls. 1nt - response

2: stayman. Bid your 4 carder major
2: Transfer to 2
2: Transfer to 2
2: Transfer to 3
3: Transfer to 3
2N: Invite to 3N with max

On a transfer if you have 17 points and 4 carder support u can super accept it by saying 3

or 3

If you use 3-way transfer with 2

to transfer to 3

or 3

, then if

is your
suit you have to correct it to 3

and partner does not know how many points
you have and will pass. With 4-way once transfer has happened to stronger
hand , you are still in control

Bidding at two level

Once partner has opened a bid..Say 1

or one

, and you are bidding in
response at two level. You must have 11+ points (10 in a pinch). For major
it is 5 carder and for minor can be 4 carder

Reverse

A lot of confusion exists with it. The simplest way to put it is if you bid at one level and then bid a higher suit in the second level it is considered to be a reverse. This means you should have 16+ points
eg. S:A H:AKJ D: KJxx C: Kxxxx
1

- 1

- is considered a reverse. Since

is higher than 1

1 - 1
2 - is considered a reverse since is higher than 1

Unusual 2nt

This shows two lower suits of the remaining three unbid suits. 5-5 distribution.
Notice that spades does not come up in the bidding. You can bid 1S and the then bid and repeat other side suit if need be.
The point count depends on the vul situation.
If same vul (both vul or non-vul) then u need to have matching points (opening hand 12 - 15).
If favorable vul u can be weak (10-11)
. If non-favorable then u need to be 16+ (strong)

1 - 2NT = minors
1 - 2NT = minors
1 - 2NT = and
1 - 2NT = and

Michaels

Michaels is a raise of the opps suits and shows 5-5 in two suits as below

1 - 2 = 5-5 majors
1 - 2 = 5-5 majors
1 - 2 = and a minor. 2nt to ask which one
1 - 2 = and a minor. 2nt to ask which one

Bergen

On major bid by partner shows 4 card support for partner

1 - 3 = 4 and 7 - 9 pts (3 is there..game depends on other values)
1 - 3 = 4 and 10-12 pts (Game force)
1 - 3 = 4 and 0 - 6 pts

1 - 3 = 4 and 7 - 9 pts (3 is there..game depends on other values)
1 - 3 = 4 and 10-12 pts (Game force)
1 - 3 = 4 and 0 - 6 pts

Jacoby 2NT

J2NT is used on a major response only. Note: if 5-5 in H/S bid higher suit first
The questions to be asked for response are:

Do I have a good 5 carder side suit?
Do I have a singleton or void in a side suit?
Do I have a minimum hand?
Do I have a intermediate hand?
Do I have a maximum hand?

- 2NT: 13+ HCP, 4+ card support

4//: 5 carder good suit (2 of 4 honors)
3//: void or singleton
4: game. low points (12-14)
3NT: intermediate points (15-17)
3: go slow (18+)

- 2NT: 13+ HCP, 4+ card support

4//: 5 carder good suit (2 of 4 honors)
3//: void or singleton
4: game. low points (12-14)
3NT: intermediate points (15-17)
3: go slow (18+)

Ogust

: weak preempt by partner. 2NT asks to describe more (i need support and strong opening hand)

3 = weak hand weak suit
3 = weak hand good suit
3 = good hand weak suit
3 = good hand good suit
3NT: Suit headed with AKQxxx

Smolen

This is used on 1NT and you have 5/4 in majors and game going hand 1NT - 2

(no major)
2

= 5

and 4

= 5

and 4

partner can chose between 5 card major or 3NT. Bid your 4 carder is easiest way to remember
Some play smolen at 3 level, so you will have to decide.

Cappelleti

Also known as CAPP. When the opps open NT your responses are

partner doubles (17 points)
2 = 10 - 16, any 6 carder 2 for which suit
2 = 5/5 in major
2 = 5 hts and a minor i can say: 2NT which minor
2 = 5 and a minor
2NT = 5/5 in minors

DONT

This is similar to CAPP. Disturb Over NT. when opp bid 1nt

Double = 1 suit hand...if weak bid 2 and partner can pass with suit
2 = and a higher ranking suit
2 = and a major
2 = both majors
2 = and may be weak

Inverted Minor

Normally 2 of minor means 6 - 9 points and 3 means 10-12.
Inverted minor is other way round. On a minor bid, 2 of the minor is forcing with points 10-12.
3 of minor is weak and pre-emptive in nature.

Rules for Preempts:

2 of the 4 honors
6 for 2 level, 7 for 3 level
7 - 11 points
Rule of 2 and 3: can go down 2 if vul and 3 if non-vul when doubled

Rule of 11

Leading 4th best in NT: Subtract from 11 the card that has been led. Thats the
number of cards higher than that led card which are outside. See what dummy
has and what u have and then u can guess what the op has

Law of Total Tricks

If opps call a suit and partner overcalls and you are non-vul and support for
partners suit then add the two suit lengths and go to that level directly

RKC

play 1430 or 0314
K of trumps if known is a key card. You bid 1430/2-Q/2+Q.
When you bid 4nt is is key card asking. You include all 4 aces and K of trumps if known in the response

5: 1 or 4 keycards
5: 0 or 3 keycards
5: 2 key cards and missing the Q of trumps
5: 2 key cards and having the Q of trumps

The Kings are bid 04/1/2/3 simple blackwood but we do not count the K of trumps again if it has been counted before

2 Bidding

shows 22+

2: 0 - 7 or 8+ unbalanced (4-4-4-1)
2/2/3/3: 8+ and 5 carder
2N: 8+ balanced

Types of Doubles

Take out Double

You need a pattern of two different kinds

12-15 points, Minimum of 3 card support in all other suits, optionally short in ops suit OR

16+ HCP and any distribution Responder: 0-8 points bid cheapest 4 card suit 8-10 points and stopper in opps suit bid 1 NT with 9 points jump bid 11+ points cue bid opps suit.

Stolen

Partner opens NT and the opps throw in an interfering bid.
If that was the bid you were going to say for your staymen or transfer bid,
DOUBLE. That means opps "stole my bid" and your partner will either bid
his/her major for staymen or accept the transfer.
This will allow the big hand to remain hidden.

1NT - 2 - X (he stole my staymen bid) Partner will bid his 4 card major.
1NT - 2 - X (he stole my transfer bid for 2) Partner must say 2.
1NT - 2 - X (he stole my transfer bid for 2) Partner must say 2.
1NT - 2 - X (he stole my transfer bid for 3) Partner must say 3
1NT - 3 - X (he stole my transfer bid for 3) Partner must say 3

If not playing Leb, Audrey Grant advises systems on over a X or 2

(X here is stayman). Over any other bid she recommends natural,
with a cue bid being stayman.

Balancing Double

Minimum of 9-10 HCP"S
bidding goes as follows:
opps-1 spade; my partner passes; opps partner passes; I then double.

Negative double

One suiter hand

6 point rule applies

example: ptnr opens 1 club, opps bid one heart, responder X's-meaning hand contains 4 spades.

If responder bids 1 spades the hand contains 5 spades.

Two suiter hand

Example: Opps-1 diamond;partner-pass;opps responder 1 heart; I then X. I hold 4+ in suits not mentioned and can support either suit.

10 point rule applies. Remember ops also have atleast 18 HCP

Carding

Standard carding is when you play a high card on a card to show interest in
that suit so partner can lead that suit again
UDCA: Upside Down Count Attitude is the other way.
Low card shows interest and high card discourages.

Discarding

Discards come in two flavors.

Standard discards: This is when u discard a suit on some play. This is the suit you have interest in the next time partner has go the lead. It works quite well for suit bids
Standard Carding for Attitude: High enc, low disc
- 1. Our Leads - attitude
- 2. Their leads -- count
- 3. Discards -- attitude
Laventhal Discards: This is when you discard a suit you do not want.
A low card shows interest in lower of the other two remaining suits and a high discard means higher of the remaining two suits.
eg. Play is in and you do not have one. You discard a . The remaining two suits are and . is a low card so you show interest in
If you discard a ..that is a high card. so you show interest in . Is useful for NT hands where you do not want to waste your suits you have interest in
O/E: This is odd even discard. A bit tricky but is here for completeness. If you discard a odd card, then it is the suit you want. If it is a low even card, then is lower of other two suits. If it is a high even card, then it is higher of other two suits.