The Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC) is a complete, simple bidding system published by the ACBL: five-card majors, a 15-17 1NT, a strong artificial 2♣, weak twos and a short list of standard conventions. Because everyone knows it, SAYC is the default when two strangers sit down together, online or at a club.
The name comes from the yellow convention card it was printed on. The system is written up in a short ACBL booklet; the details below follow that booklet, though editions differ by a point here and there.
SAYC Opening Bids
| Opening | Shows |
|---|---|
| 1♣ | 3+ clubs, about 12-21 points. With 3-3 in the minors, open 1♣ |
| 1♦ | Usually 4+ diamonds. With 4-4 in the minors, open 1♦; with four cards in each major, three diamonds and two clubs, also 1♦ |
| 1♥ / 1♠ | 5+ cards, about 12-21 points |
| 1NT | 15-17 HCP, balanced |
| 2♣ | Strong and artificial: 22+ points or the playing strength of game |
| 2♦ / 2♥ / 2♠ | Weak two: a six-card suit, 5-11 HCP |
| 2NT | 20-21 HCP, balanced |
| 3-level | Preempt: a long suit, weak hand |
With two five-card suits, open the higher-ranking one. With a balanced 12-14, open one of a suit and plan to rebid 1NT. Light openings follow the Rule of 20.
Notrump Bidding
Over partner's 1NT, SAYC uses:
- 2♣ Stayman, asking for a four-card major. With both majors, opener bids 2♥ first.
- 2♦ and 2♥ Jacoby transfers to hearts and spades.
- 2♠ asks opener to bid 3♣, so responder can sign off in a long minor (pass 3♣, or bid 3♦).
- 2NT invites game, about 8-9 points.
- 3♣ / 3♦ show a six-card suit and invite 3NT.
- 3♥ / 3♠ show a six-card suit and slam interest.
- 4♣ Gerber, asking for aces. A direct 4NT is natural and invites 6NT.
Over 2NT, Stayman (3♣), transfers (3♦ and 3♥) and Gerber work the same way, one level higher. The 2♠ minor sign-off is special to SAYC: see what 1NT - 2♠ means in SAYC and four other systems. The 1NT opening is the backbone of SAYC: learn Stayman and Jacoby transfers well and most notrump auctions take care of themselves.
Responding to One of a Suit
Over 1♥ or 1♠:
| Response | Shows |
|---|---|
| Single raise (1♥ - 2♥) | 3+ trumps, about 6-10 points |
| Limit raise (1♥ - 3♥) | 3+ trumps, about 10-12 points, invitational |
| 2NT (Jacoby) | 4+ trumps, 13+ points, game forcing; opener shows shortness |
| 1NT | About 6-10, not forcing, no fit, no higher suit at the one level |
| New suit at the one level | 4+ cards, 6+ points, forcing one round |
| New suit at the two level | About 10 or 11+, forcing one round (not game forcing) |
| Jump shift | Strong, slam interest |
| Game raise (1♥ - 4♥) | Weak, five trumps and shape, preemptive |
Over 1♣ or 1♦: bid a four-card major if you have one (up the line with 4-4), raise the minor with support (a jump raise is a limit raise), and use 2NT for 13-15 balanced (game forcing) and 3NT for 16-17. A 1NT response shows about 6-10 with no major.
Rule of ThumbIn SAYC, a two-level new suit forces for one round only. That is the main difference from 2/1 Game Force, where it forces to game. Compare 1♠ - 2♣ in SAYC and 2/1 to see the difference.
SAYC: 2♣ shows about 10 or more points and forces for one round only.
Opener's Rebids
Opener's second bid places the hand in one of three ranges:
| Strength | Typical rebids |
|---|---|
| Minimum (12-15) | 1NT (12-14 balanced), rebid own suit, single raise of responder, new lower suit |
| Medium (16-18) | Jump rebid of own suit, jump raise of responder, a reverse |
| Maximum (19-21) | Jump shift (game forcing), jump to 2NT (18-19) or 3NT, double jump raise to game |
A reverse (for example 1♦ - 1♠ - 2♥) shows extra values and is forcing for one round. A jump shift is forcing to game.
Strong 2♣, Weak Twos and Competition
Strong 2♣. Responder bids 2♦ (waiting) with most hands. A positive response (2♥, 2♠, 3♣, 3♦) shows a good five-card suit and 8+ points and forces to game; 2NT shows a balanced 8. With 22-24 balanced, opener rebids 2NT. See strong 2 clubs.
Weak twos. A raise is to play. 2NT is the only forcing response with a fit: opener rebids the suit with a minimum or shows a feature (a side ace or king) with a maximum. A new suit is forcing for one round. SAYC uses the feature ask, not Ogust.
Competition:
- One-level overcalls show about 8-16 points and a good five-card suit.
- A 1NT overcall shows 15-18 balanced with a stopper.
- Jump overcalls are weak (preemptive).
- Takeout doubles are standard; negative doubles apply through 2♠.
- Michaels cue bids show 5-5 (over a minor: both majors; over a major: the other major and a minor).
- The unusual 2NT jump overcall shows at least 5-5 in the two lowest unbid suits.
Slam: 4NT Blackwood asks for aces, 5NT for kings, and 4♣ Gerber is used over notrump. Leads and signals are standard: top of a sequence, fourth best from length, high card encourages.
A SAYC Auction
North opens 1♣, South shows hearts, North shows spades, South invites and North accepts.
Read it call by call:
- 1♣: North has no five-card major and no 15-17 balanced, so opens the cheaper minor. It may be only three clubs.
- 1♥: South shows four or more hearts and 6+ points. Forcing.
- 1♠: North shows four spades and denies four hearts. A new suit by opener at the one level is not forcing, but responder passes only with a very weak hand and a spade fit.
- 2NT: South has 11-12 points, a balanced hand, and stoppers in the unbid suit (diamonds). Invitational.
- 3NT: North accepts with 14 or more.
Every call here is natural. That is SAYC's strength: an average partner can follow it without notes.
The SAYC Bidding Tree
| First call | Main responses |
|---|---|
| 1♣ / 1♦ | 1♥ / 1♠ (4+), 1NT (6-10), raise (6-10), jump raise (10-12), 2NT (13-15), 3NT (16-17) |
| 1♥ / 1♠ | Raise (6-10), limit raise (10-12), Jacoby 2NT (13+), 1NT (6-10), 2/1 (10/11+), jump shift (strong) |
| 1NT | 2♣ Stayman, 2♦ / 2♥ transfers, 2♠ minor sign-off, 2NT invite, 3NT, 4♣ Gerber |
| 2♣ | 2♦ waiting, positive suit (8+, 5 cards), 2NT (8 balanced) |
| Weak two | Raise to play, 2NT feature ask, new suit forcing |
| 2NT | 3♣ Stayman, 3♦ / 3♥ transfers, 4♣ Gerber |
TipThe fastest way to learn SAYC is to bid it. BridgeDummy's Bidding Room has a SAYC card for its EPBot robots, so you can play random deals in the system alone or with a partner and compare your auctions with the robots' choices.
Practice: SAYC
Partner opens 1♠. You play SAYC. Your call?
You play SAYC. Partner opens 1♠. What do you respond?
Your hand:
When you feel at home with SAYC, the natural next step is Two Over One Game Force, which keeps the openings and changes mainly the responses. To see where SAYC sits among Acol, Precision and the other systems, read the bridge bidding system guide.