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Bridge Club Live (BCL) Full SAYC

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) BCL Full Version
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 opps 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 = Michaelst
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 majo
  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
10xx 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.