Bridge Conventions and Bidding Systems

Part 1

Revised and Simplified by Wayne Flournoy

and Anna Marsh (OKbridge user-name: "ana") - Further revised June 2002 with the help of Paul Hightower

Originally developed as ACBL Standard Yellow Card.

This document has been divided into 2 parts - Part 1 covers the SAYC bidding system and Part 2 covers a few of the optional conventions used on OKbridge.

Main Index Standard SA-YC Conventions Index

Overview Stayman

Standard SA-YC Conventions Jacoby Transfers to Majors! Jacoby Xfer to Minors! *

General Approach Jacoby 2NT! *

Responses and Later Bidding after 1NT Opening 4th Suit Forcing! *

2NT and 3NT Opening Blackwood

1st Level Bidding/Responses/Rebids Quantative 4NT

Strong 2 Opener DOPI *

Slam Bidding Conventions Control Showing Cuebids

Defensive Bidding Gerber *

Balancing Seat Bids Grand Slam Force! *

Competitive Bidding Weak 2/3 Bids

Leads and Signals 2NT! Response to Opening Weak 2

Document Links, etc. Raise only Non-Forcing (R-O-N-F)

OKb SAYC CC Unusual NT! *

Note: ! = Alert throughout Michael's Cuebid! *

Note: HCP=Actual High Card Points: Points=HCP+distributional points Negative Doubles!

Note: *= Possible Optional Convention (see below) SOS Redoubles

Overview

Part 1 describes the SA-YC bidding system as played on OKbridge. SA-YC is normally a "five-card majors" bidding system, but players may exercise their own judgement to open a good four-card major in third seat. A few sequences are defined in the later rounds of SA-YC auctions. Players are free to assign "forcing", "invitational", or "non-forcing" meanings to natural calls in such sequences.

All artificial bids/conventions mentioned in Part 1 are standard SA-YC. A novice player may arrange with his partner not to use some of the standard conventions, but the partnership must agree explicitly which conventions are to be excluded. Suggested standard conventions for novices to specifically omit are marked as "1-Star" ( * ).

General Approach

Normally open five-card majors in all seats.
Open the higher of long suits of equal length: 5-5 or 6-6.
Normally open 1 with 4-4 in the minors.
Normally open 1 with 3-3 in the minors.
Notrump openings show a balanced hand but can be made with a five-card major or minor suit.
1NT = 15-17HCP
2NT = 20-21HCP
3NT = 25-27HCP {See also Part 2 Gambling 3NT}
Strong artificial 2 Opener = (22+ HCP)
Weak two-bids in diamonds, hearts and spades. (5-11 Points, 6 card suit)

Responses And Later Bidding After 1NT Opening

Stayman

A response of 2 after a 1NT opening by partner is Stayman. It shows 8+ HCP and at least 1 4-card major, or an unbalanced, game-forcing hand with 5+ in a minor, with or without a side major. Stayman is normally avoided with 4333 or 3433 shape, just raise to 2NT or 3NT Opener must rebid 2 (denying a 4-card major), 2, or 2. If responder then rebids three of either minor, it shows game/slam interest and at least 5 cards in the bid suit.

If responder has 5/4 or 4/5 in the majors he can rebid the longer major when the response is the shorter major or denial of a 4-card major to show 5: eg., 1N-2-2-3(showing 5xhearts and 4xspades) or 1NT-2-2-2(showing 5xhearts and 4xspades)

Note 1: If opener has 4-4 in majors, opener bids 2 first: if responder's suit is spades, he will rebid 2NT and opener can then bid his 4-card spade suit if he feels a suit contract is best. For example:

Opener	Responder	Shows
1NT	2	Opener has 4/4 majors, minimum/maximum NT opener (not forcing)
2	2NT
3/4	Pass

Note 2: Stayman can also be used in cases where responder has fewer than 8 HCP and intends to pass any response, e.g. if responder has 4-4-4-1 shape (the club being a singleton), any response can be passed to, hopefully, improve the final contract. {see also Minor Suit Stayman}

Jacoby Transfers to Majors ( ! )

Jacoby transfers (Xfers) show a five-card major suit:

is a transfer to 2

Opener MUST accept the transfer although he can jump to the three level with 17 points and four-card support for responder's major. {see also Jacoby Xfer to Minors, Minor Suit Stayman and Minor Suit Transfer Bids}

Example A
1NT	Pass	2! (with any HCP)	Pass
2 (normal acceptance of Xfer)	Pass	Pass (content to play in 2)	Pass
Example B
1NT	Pass	2! (with any HCP)	Pass
3 (17HCP+4x) (invitational)	Pass	Pass/3NT/4 (sign off)	Pass
Example C
1NT	Pass	2! (with any HCP)	Pass
2	Pass	2NT (promising 5)/3 (promising 6+) (invitational)	Pass
Pass/3NT/4	Pass	Pass	Pass
Example D
1NT	Pass	2! (11+HCP)	Pass
2		2) 5-5 in the majors, invitational (NF). The sequence 1NT-2!-2-3 is 5-5, (GF), while 5-4 and 4-5 hands should use Stayman rather than a Jxfr
		3/3 (natural GF - possible slam try)
		3NT (asks for pref of game in 3NT or 4)

Note 1: Jacoby Transfers are used also over openers of 2/3NT
Note 2: Jacoby Transfers are "off" altogether if the NT opening is overcalled.

Jacoby Transfer to minors (J4xf) ( ! ) ( * )

Used if responder has a long minor, less than 8HCP, limited entry making a NT contract undesirable.

After a 1NT opener, a 2! response is a transfer to 3, which can be passed with clubs or responder can rebid 3 if his suit is diamonds.

Note: Jacoby Transfer to minors is "off" altogether if the NT opening is overcalled or doubled. J4xfers are also on over openers of 2NT. Over 3NT, 4 is to play unless you have agreed J4xfer on over 3N openers.

Other Responses to 1NT

Opener	Responder	Shows
1NT	2NT	8-9HCP usually denies 4-card major but can be used on v balanced hand
	3/3	6-8Points, 6+ minor suit - limited entries (NF)
	3/3	6+card suit and slam interest (GF+)
	4/4/5/5	6+card suit no slam interest and limited entries for NT (NF)
	4	Gerber asking for Aces
	4NT	Quantative not Blackwood: opener bids 6NT if max, Pass if min

Interference After 1NT Opening Bids

If Opponents Double, Stayman and Jacoby Xfers are "on"

Example

Opener	Opp	Responder	Response Shows
1NT	X	2	Stayman
1NT		2/2!	Xfer to 2/2

If Opponents Bid over NT Opener, Stayman and Jacoby Xfers are "off". Bids are natural except for a cuebid (ie. a bid of opp's suit), which can be used with game force strength as a substitute for Stayman
.

Example

Opener	Opp	Responder	Response Shows
1NT	2/2	3/3	4/4 majors, opener bids 4 of a 4-card major or 3NT if no 4-card major or a pref for NT
1NT	2/2	3/3	4 of the unbid major, opener rebids 4 of the unbid major with 4 or 3NT without 4 of the required major or a pref for NT

If Jacoby Xfer is Doubled

Opener's Possible Bids	Responder's Possible Bids
Pass	Make natural bid XX Pass (to play) Bid 2 of a major (sign off)
XX (strong holding in dbled suit)
Complete Xfer to show 3+ trumps	Pass or bid on
Jump to 3 of suit	Pass or bid on

If Jacoby Xfer is Overcalled

Opener's Possible Bids	Responder's Possible Bids
Pass	Make natural bid X to show strength Pass
X for penalty	Pass or bid on
Bid 3 of major with good supporting hand	Pass or bid on

If Stayman is Doubled

Opener's Possible Bids	Responder's Possible Bids
Pass with 4 x clubs	Make any natural rebid X for penalty
XX with 5 x clubs or 4 x good clubs
Make any natural rebid

If Stayman is Overcalled

Opener's Possible Bids	Responder's Possible Bids
Pass	Make a natural rebid X for penalty
X for penalty with 4 of opp's suit
Bid 4-card major at 2 level

Responses to 2NT and 3NT Openers

Stayman and Jacoby Xfers are "on". J4xfers are on over 2N not 3N unless by arrangement

Opener	Responder	Response Shows
2NT	3	Stayman
	3/3!	Xfer to 3/3
	3!	J4Xfer to 4, adj to 4 if necessary
	4	Gerber
	4NT	Quantitative, invites 6NT if max
3NT	4	Stayman
	4/4!	Xfer to 4/4
	4NT	Blackwood (not Quantitative since 4 has been used for Stayman

Responses/Rebids to 1 of a Suit Opener

Responses to 1 of a major

**Example Responses to 1 Opener**
Opener	Responder	Response Shows
1	1	min 6 Points, at least 4x. Unlimited bid does not necessarily deny 3x
	1NT	6-10HCP and balanced hand. Denies 4x and, usually, 3x (NF)
	2	6-10 Points + at least 3x trumps. Limit bid,(NF) Over opener of 1 would show 5-card heart suit, 11+Points. Unlimited bid
	2/2	11+Points and 4+card minor suit.
	2NT!	J2NT ,13+HCP asks partner to show short suit while agreeing trump fit (GF+) Note:If not playing J2N, responses of 2NT and 3NT are defined in SAYC as standard, 13-15 and 16-17; however, many OKbridge players prefer 2NT=11-12 and 3NT=13+, so you should agree 'forcing' or 'limit' 2NT response or else you'll have to guess. If in doubt try to find a new suit bid and then bid 2N/3N
	2/3/3	(Jump Shift) 17+Points (forcing+)
	3	10-12 Points + at least 3 x trumps. Limit raise (NF)
	3NT	15-17HCP, balanced hand, at least 2 x hearts (NF)(see also "2NT" above)
	4	usually 5+ hearts, a singleton or void, and fewer than 10 HCP (NF)

Note: In an uncontested auction any new suit bid (where it is not preemptive) at the 3 level is 100% forcing - This applies to both opener�s and responder�s calls. SAYC, in common with all versions of Standard American, adheres to the new-suit forcing principle, ie., a new suit by responder is forcing for 1 round, unless reponder has previously passed or either player has bid notrump. Having said this, very few 1st/2nd round bids in uncontested auctions are 100% forcing in SAYC � J2N, a jump shift, and a new suit bid at the 3 level are forcing. If responder makes a 2 level first round bid then he usually promises a rebid. See also Part 2 Splinters

Responses to 1/1 Opener

A 1 opener suggests at least 4-card suit, since 1 is preferred on hands where a 3-card minor suit must be opened. The exception is a hand with 4-4-3-2 shape, which should be opened 1. Responses and later bidding generally follow the same principles as "Responses to 1 of a major". Bidding at the one level is "up-the-line" in principle ie., bid next-ranking 4-card suit if no 5+-card suit to bid.

**Example**
Opener	Opp1	Responder	Opp2	Responder Shows
1	Pass	1	Pass	6+ Points, 4+diamonds, does not deny the majors or a club fit (unlimited hand)
		1		6+ Points, does not deny 4 diamonds,spades or a club fit (unlimited hand)
		1		6+ Points, does not deny 4 hearts/diamonds or a club fit (It is normal to respond 1 with 5/4 or 5/5 majors) (unlimited hand)
		1NT		6-10 Points, denies 4 diamonds, 4 hearts, 4 spades and 5 clubs (limited hand, NF)

Note 1: Over a 1/1 opener, without a higher-ranking 4-card suit to show, responder needs 5 trumps to raise 1, or 4 trumps to raise 1, (one less trump will do in a competitive sequence)
Note 2: Responses of 2NT/3NT are standard: (ie., responses of 2NT and 3NT are defined in SAYC as standard, 13-15 and 16-17; however, many OKbridge players prefer 2NT=11-12 and 3NT=13+, so you should agree 'forcing' or 'limit' 2NT response or else you'll have to guess. If in doubt try to find a new suit bid and then bid 2N/3N)
Note 3: There is no forcing minor-suit raise. {See also Part 2 Splinter bids, Inverted Minors and Bergen Raises}

Opener's (non-artificial) Rebids
13-16 Points	NT at cheapest possible level (NF)
	Rebid own suit at cheapest available level (NF)
	Raise Partner's suit at cheapest available level (shows 3+ trumps) (NF)
	Bid "up the line" (eg.,1-P-1-P-1) has a wider range of 13-18 points.(NF)
	Non-reverse bid in a new suit (has a wider range of 13-18 points) (forcing if bid at the 3 level)
17-18 Points	Jump in own suit (invitational, NF)
	Bid higher-ranking 4-card suit (this "up the line bid" has a wider range of 13-18 points)(NF)-If bid at the 2 level over a 1 level response, it is a reverse, 17-18 points, 1st suit longer than 2nd (NF): if bid at the 2 level over a 2 level response, 17+ (GF)
	Bid a lower-ranking 4-card suit at the two level (also 13-18 points), NF over 1 level response, forcing after 2 level response since responder promised a rebid
	Jump in Partner's suit, invitational with 3+ trumps. (NF)
	Bid in a new suit at the 3 level without jumping(15+points)(GF)
19-22 Points	Jump in NT (forcing)
	Double jump in Partner's suit (strongly invitational if not game call)
	Double jump in own suit (strongly invitational if not game call)
	Jump in new suit (forcing)

Note: After a rebid of 1NT by opener, a reverse or jump shift by responder is forcing (poss slam interest), (eg.1-P-1-P-1NT-P-2 or 3). {see also Part 2 Splinter bids}

General Comment: The above rebid structure is peculiar to the OKb version of SAYC and should not be assumed when playing elsewhere. In particular, OKb suggests opener rebid the cheapest of his two suits with any weak hand lacking 3 card support for responder's first suit; so after 1-1-2-2!, opener's 3 could be a minimum with 2254 shape, while 3 would promise extra shape and strength.

When playing SAYC outside of OKb, opener should just rebid naturally, jumping to show extra values.

Jacoby 2NT (J2NT) ( ! )*

If responder jumps to 2NT over a 1/1 opener, it is J2NT asking opener to show a singleton or void. It shows 13+Points, support for opener's suit and is game forcing. Opener rebids as follows:

Opener	Responder	Opener	Opener Shows	Responder
1	2NT!	3!	Max hand, 18+Points and strong suit but denies short suit	Either sign off in game or look for slam
		3/3/3!	Singleton or void in bid suit
		3NT!	Medium hand, 15-17 Points, denies short suit (artificial)
		4	Minimum hand and denies short suit
		4/4/4	Strong 5-card side suit

4th Suit Forcing (4sf) ( ! ) *

When responder is an unpassed hand and rebids the 4th suit in an uncontested auction, it is game forcing and may be artificial.(eg. 1-P-1-P-1-P-2!-?). Responder is using the 4th suit to indicate a good hand with 11+ points and no attractive rebid. Opener should respond with a natural bid that further describes his hand. Taking the above bidding sequence as an example, opener should rebid as follows:

Opener's Rebid	Shows
2	Rebid own suit with weak hand (NF); semi-artificial, does not promise extra length
2	Prefer reponder's 1st suit with 3+ trumps and a minimum (NF), jump with 15+ (GF)
2	Rebid second suit showing 6-5 and good hand (forcing)
2NT	Bid NT to show stop in 4th suit and a extra values, jump with exceptional strength (19+?)
3	Raise 4th suit with 4+ and extra strength
3	Rebid of opening suit showing extra length and strength. (Jump rebid would show extra values)

4SF does not apply in the following situations:

In an "up the line" bidding sequence, e.g., 1-1-1-1. This is peculiar to OKbridge and not so in the original ACBL SAYC booklet. When not playing on OKbridge, it is forcing and could be 4+ spades with 6+ points or it could be 10+ without spades.
When responder's rebid is a jump bid in the 4th suit, e.g., 1-1-2-3. The jump rebid of the 4th suit is undefined. We recommend it show invitational values and at least 5/5 in the bid suits, so that a bid and rebid of the 4th suit would be natural and game forcing. Since 1 is treated as always natural (on OKbridge), it is sensible to play responder's jump to 2 (after 1-1-1, opps silent) as 4SF, eg., xx-AQx-AKxx-xxx. Opener's 4th suit bids are natural.
In competition, do not count the opponent's suit as one of the first three, e.g., 1-(P)-1-(1); P-(P)-2: responder's 2 bid is forcing (new suit), but natural. Experts commonly use the cue-bid of the oponents suit as a general forcing bid (2 in this case) such as with a balanced hand lacking a stopper in spades.

Strong 2 Opener

In general a 2 opener shows 22+ points, and is forcing to 3 of a major or 4 of a minor. If opener rebids 2NT after a 2 response, showing 23-24HCP and a balanced hand, the same responses may be used as over a 2NT opener There are exceptions to the number of HCP needed for a 2 Opener. The following are guidelines only:

23HCP at least if hand is balanced

17HCP at least if 1-suited hand within one trick of game (9 playing tricks)

21HCP at least if hand has 8 playing tricks

**Responses**
Opener	Responder	Response Shows
2	2	Artificial negative, (usually less than 7HCP but may be "waiting" with a good hand unsuited to a positive response)
	2/2/3/3	8+HCP (or 1.5 honour tricks) + 5-card suit headed by Q or better
	2NT	8+HCP, balanced hand

Slam Bidding

Blackwood Convention

Blackwood 4NT is used to ask for Aces. Responses to 4NT show the number of Aces by steps. A 5NT bid that follows Blackwood 4NT asks for Kings.

**Blackwood asking for Aces**
Initiator	Responder	Shows
4NT	5	0 or 4 Aces
	5	1 Ace
	5	2 Aces
	5	3 Aces

**Blackwood asking for Kings**
Instigator	Responder	Shows
5NT	6	0 or 4 Kings
	6	1 King
	6	2 Kings
	6	3 Kings

Note: Although not always possible, if the Blackwood bidder wishes to sign off in 5NT, he should bid an "unplayable" suit at the 5 level (ie. an unbid suit or opp's suit) and the responder is obliged to bid 5NT
eg. (assume opps pass) 1-2-3-4NT-5-5-5NT.

{See also Part 2 Roman Key Card Blackwood}

Quantative 4NT

A direct raise after 1NT/2NT to 4NT is Quantitative and invites 6NT if opener is maximum or Pass if minimum. Also applies over partner's direct overcall of 1NT if no interference from RHO.

DOPI *

"Double with 0 Aces, Pass with 1". Allows response to Blackwood over opponent's interference

The Bids Are:
Double	0 Aces
Pass	1 Ace
Next available bid	2 Aces
2nd available bid	3 Aces
3rd available bid	4 Aces

Control-Showing Cuebids

A control-showing bid may be used to find 1st and 2nd round controls once the trump suit has been agreed. The control-showing bid is a non-jump bid in an unbid suit at or above the 3-level (if agreed trump suit is a major) or the 4-level (if trump suit is a minor) . (Do not muddle "trial bids" with control-showing bids, eg., 1-P-2-P-3 would be a trial bid, usually shortage, asking if responder can help in that suit)

Rules for control-showing bids:

Never pass a control-showing bid

With two controls, it is usually better to first bid the one that keeps the bidding lower. In some cases it is better to reverse the order, i.e., 4

-4

rather than 3

-4

-5

Bid suits first that have not been bid by your partnership. Bid Aces 1st, Voids 2nd, Kings 3rd. An exception, is to bid a 2nd round control in an unbid suit before cueing 1st round control in a suit that has been shown or denied. Avoid bidding a singleton or void in a suit bid naturally by your partner.

Return to the agreed trump suit (below game if possible) to discourage a slam try. A bid above game by partner is a strong slam try and you should return him to the agreed trump suit - any other bid would show acceptance of the slam and possible grand slam aspiration. {see GSF below and Part 2 Voluntary Bid of 5 of a Major}

If a control-showing bid is doubled, redouble shows 2nd round control of that suit. A pass encourages partner (versus a return to agreed trump suit to discourage).

Control-showing bids above five of the trump suit are a try for seven.

If either partner is able to judge the correct final contract he should bid it as soon as possible.

The partnership is committed to playing in the agreed trump suit once a control-showing bid is made.

Gerber *

Gerber is used to ask for Aces and Kings over an opening 1NT or 2NT bid by partner or a rebid of 1NT or 2NT by partner. 4 asks for Aces and 5 for Kings.

Responses to Gerber are:
4 asking for Aces	4	0 or 4	5 asking for Kings	5	0 or 4
	4	1		5	1
	4	2		5	2
	4NT	3		5NT	3

Note: If the Gerber instigator makes any bid other than 5, it is to play (including 4NT)

Grand Slam Force (GSF) *

A bid of 5NT without the preceding 4NT Blackwood bid is a GSF and asks partner to bid 7 of the agreed trump suit if he has 2 of the 3 top trump honours (ie.A,K,Q)

Bid 6 if you have less than 2

Bid 7 if you have 2
{See also Part 2 Voluntary Bid of 5 of a Major}

Defensive Bidding

Defensive Overcalls after an Opening of 1 of a Suit
at 1 level	with 8-16 Points 1. bid good 5-card suit. Suit quality depends on HCP 2. bid a very strong 4-card suit if max HCP
Overcall at 2 level	with 8-16 Points and a substantial suit or excellent distribution (e.g. 2x 5-card suits)
1NT	15-18HCP with stop in opener's suit. (Jxfers are "off" Stayman is "on")
Double	Opening hand possible shortage in opener's suit
Cuebid! (minor)	8+Points. Michaels Cuebid asking for takeout in majors
Cuebid! (major)	10+Points. Michaels Cuebid showing 2-suited hand (Other major + unidentified minor suit)
Jump in a suit	Pre-emptive: same values as opening pre-empts
2NT	Unusual NT showing 8+Points and at least 5/5 in the lower 2 unbid suits

Responses to 1 Level Overcalls
Raise	6-11 Points and 3+ trumps
Jump Raise	10-12 Points and 4+trumps
Raise to Game	1. Weak distributional hand with v good trump support 2. Strong HCP and adequate trump support
New Suit	9-13 Points, usually denies fit in partner's suit (non-forcing)
Jump Shift	12-14 Points with good 6-carder
1NT	9-12HCP, balanced hand.Implies stops in the unbid suits. Guarantees stop in opp's suit
2NT (non-jump)	11-13HCP, balanced.Implies stops in the unbid suits. Guarantees stop in opp's suit
2NT (jump)	13-15HCP, balanced.Implies stops in unbid suits. Guarantees stop in opp's suit
3NT	15-16HCP, balanced.Implies stops in unbid suits. Guarantees stop in opp's suit
Cuebid opp's suit	Asks pard about strength of his overcall (forcing 1 rnd, invitational) 1. Bid 2 of own suit = minimum overcall 2. Any other bid = 11+Points

Note: Responses to 2-level overcall may be made with a weaker hand, since overcaller has indicated a stronger hand.

Pre-empt Bids

Pre-empt bids are weak 2 (except 2)/3 bids showing a 6/7-card suit of reasonable quality and 5-11 Points. If the hand also has a 4-card major then pre-empt bids should not be used. Pre-empting is intended to keep the opposition out of the bidding, not one's partner. It is better to wait until your partner has passed before pre-empting.

Note: A 4 or 4 opener is pre-emptive but stronger than an opening 2 or 3 bid and should have good distributional values. A double over an opening 4/4 bid is for takeout but can be passed if you think penalty would be more profitable. 5/5 openers are also pre-emptive, but a double over such a bid is penalty oriented.

Responses to Opening Pre-empt Bids

Over an opening 3 bid, partner should pass unless he has 15+ points.
Over an opening weak 2 bid:

2NT response is forcing and shows game interest (even if the opps intervene). Opener should show a "feature": ie. a suit with Ace or King. With no feature, rebid suit or raise to 3NT. {See also Part 2 Ogust}

3NT is to play.

A raise in opener's suit is invitational but not forcing. {See R-O-N-F below}

A new suit response (5+carder) is forcing for one round. Opener can bid a 4-card minor (headed at least by Q) or bid NT showing 8-11 Points, support partner's suit (if 3 of them or dblton with honour), rebid own suit (showing minimum 5-8 Points)

Raise Only Non-Forcing (R-O-N-F)

A method of responding to weak 2 openers which utilises both 2NT and a new suit as forcing responses. Hence, the raise of partner's suit is the only non-forcing response below game.

Unusual NT( ! ) *

A jump overcall of 2NT over a 1 of a suit opener is Unusual NT and shows at least 5/5 in the lower 2 unbid suits. It is normally used defensively with a weak hand (8-10 Points in the 2 suits).

After a strong 2

opener, an overcall of 2NT may be used in the same manner but should have 16-19 Points

A jump overcall of 2NT followed by a raise of partner's suit, or a cuebid indicating control in opp's suit, shows a strong hand (16-18 Points)

Responses to Unusual 2NT are:

Preference bid

Jump preference bid (mostly pre-emptive)

Cuebid for game or slam invitation

Bid another suit (non-forcing)

Bid 3NT with stops in the other 2 suits and enough entries for the long suits

Bid 4NT which would be Blackwood

Note 1: Except 3NT, any other NT bid after both opponents have bid and partner has passed can also be considered as Unusual NT
Note 2: A 4NT bid over opp's opener of 1 of a suit should also be recognised as Unusual NT

Michaels Cuebid ( ! ) *

The Michaels Cuebid promises a 2-suited hand.

Examples

Opp1	O/Call	Overcall Shows
1	2!	8+Points showing both majors
1	2!	8+Points showing both majors
1	2!	10+Points showing spades and an undisclosed minor
1	2!	10+Points showing hearts and an undisclosed minor

Note 1: A response of 2NT over the major suit cuebid asks partner to bid his minor

Note 2: In a competitive auction, if 2NT is unavailable, responder can bid 4 (non-forcing) or 4NT (forcing) to locate the minor. 3NT is always to play.

Note 3: The strength of the Michaels Cuebid follows the same guidelines as used for Unusual NT overcall. It is more "shape" than HCP that counts

Note 4: Michaels Cuebid typically shows at least 5/5 shape, but over a minor-suit opening, just 5/4 shape in the majors is permissible so long as the 4-carder is reasonably good.

Note 5: Novice players may choose to use the Michaels Cuebid overcall for the majors only ("higher-suits cuebid"). ie. When opps have bid 1 of a minor, a cuebid of the minor shows at least 5/5 in the majors

Examples

Opp1	O/Call	Overcall Shows
1	2!	8+Points and 5/5 in the majors
1	2!	8+Points and 5/5 in the majors

Balancing Seat Bids

You are in the balancing seat after a bid (usually an opening bid) followed by 2 passes: you may double for takeout or overcall with a weaker hand than you would in the direct seat. Partner should recognise this and adjust his reponses accordingly.

Note: After 2 passes, in the third seat, you may open 1 of a suit with a weaker hand than normal - again, partner should recognise this and adjust his responses accordingly: your rebid will tell him your strength. A useful and simple convention is Drury (or Reverse Drury), which can be used by Responder to find out if the Opener has opened 1 of a major in the 3rd seat after 2 passes, with a full opener or a light balancing opener

Balancing Bids after Opener Followed by 2 Passes

Opp 1	Pard 1	Opp 2	Pard 2	Pard 2 Shows
1	Pass	Pass	1	Can be weaker than in direct seat with 5-card suit or good 4-carder
1	Pass	Pass	1NT	10-15 Points + heart stop
1	Pass	Pass	2	At least 13 Points and good 6-card suit
1	Pass	Pass	X	12+Points support for the unbid suits
1	Pass	Pass	X	19+Points with stop in hearts and balanced hand
Pass	1	Pass	2NT	19+Points with stop in hearts and balanced hand
1	Pass	Pass	2NT(!)	Unusual NT! or, if not playing Unusual NT, balanced hand, 15-18HCP + good heart stop
1	Pass	Pass	2	Strong hand with 2 good suits, void in hearts (or A single)
1	Pass	Pass	3NT	To play
1	Pass	Pass	X	Blackwood asking for aces
Pass	1	Pass	4NT	Blackwood asking for aces

Note

Opp 1	Pard 1	Opp 2	Pard 2	Shows
1	Pass	2	Pass	This is also a balancing seat situation for Pard 1, since opps have limited their hands. If Pard 1 passes then it is a balancing situation for Pard 2 but bear in mind vulnerability and the possibility that your side may be better off passing and that your pard didn't balance!
Pass	?	---	---

Competitive Auction

Since there are almost endless possible sequences, it pays to have simple guidelines to prevent bidding misunderstandings. Bids have the same meaning as they would have without the interference bid. ie.they do not guarantee extra HCP: however, there are one or two extra bidding options now open to both opener and responder:

Example A

Pard 1	Opp 1	Pard 2	Opp 2	Pard 2 Shows
1	2	3	Pass	The 3 cuebid is game forcing and indicates support for pard's suit
1	2	X!	Pass	Negative Double

Example B

Pard 1

Opp 1

Pard 2

Opp 2

Pard 1 Shows

Pass

With a holding of, say,

Jxx

Axxx

AQJx

and no interference your correct rebid is 1NT.
Since Opp2 bid 2

and you do not have a club stop, you must bid your 2nd choice of 2

, even though your pard has only promised 4 x spades

-?-

Responses (by an unpassed hand) after Opp's Overcall of 1 of a Suit

Bid	Shows
X!	Negative Double, 6+ Points (see Example A above)
Raise	6-10 Points + 3 major- or 4 minor-trump support
Game Bid	10+ Points with 4+ trumps (usually signoff)
Jump Raise	10-12 Points with 4 trumps (invitational)
New Suit at 1-level	8+Points and 4+-card suit (unlimited forcing 1 rnd)
1NT	8-11HCP balanced with stop in opp's suit (not forcing)
2 over 1	9+Points, 5-card suit (forcing for 1 rnd)
2NT	12-15HCP, balanced with stop in opp's suit (invitational)
Jump Shift	17-19 Points with support for pard's suit or 5-card suit (forcing to game)
Cuebid	17+Points, support for pards suit + 1st or 2nd rnd control in opp's suit. (forcing to game, slam invitation)

Responses (by an unpassed hand) after Opps Overcall of 1NT

Bid	Shows
Double	9+Points and can be penalty oriented
Raise	5-8 Points with 3+ trump support
New Suit	5-8 Points with good 5-card suit
Pass	No support for pard and no good suit

Responses after Opp's Takeout Double

Pard 1	Opp 1	Pard 2	Pard 2 Shows
1	X	1/1	Unlimited (forcing 1 rnd)
		1NT	6-8HCP denies 4 diamonds, balanced (NF)
		2	6-10 Points + 6-carder or v good 5-carder (NF)
		2NT	promises 10+HCP,4+trumps(limit or better raise)
		XX	promises 10+Points, without support(NF) Note:it is better to make a more descriptive bid of 1, 1,or 2NT unless you are preparing the way to double opps
		2/2/3	6/7-card suit, pre-emptive (NF)
		3	Less than 10 Points + good trump support(pre-emptive)(NF)

Bids over Opponent's Pre-empt

Double for takeout {See also Part 2 Lebensohl}

Overcalling a suit or NT is natural and non-forcing

Cuebid (minor)! is Michaels Cuebid

Cuebid (major) Strong showing good stop, single or void in opp's suit - asks partner for his best suit (game forcing+)

Takeout Doubles (t/oX)

The double of an opening suit bid at the 1 or 2 level or over a pre-empt bid is a takeout double. Minimum requirements vary, depending on distribution and the level of bidding at which partner must respond.

A hand that has at least 3 cards in all the unbid suits may bid a t/oX with 13+Points

A hand that has at least 4 cards in all the unbid suits may bid a t/oX with 11+Points

If the doubler has previously passed, a t/oX promises 9-11 Points and 4 cards in the unbid suits

With 17+Points you can use the t/oX with 1 or more very good suits (or NT stops in all the suits). The t/oX is followed by a suit bid to indicate a strong hand.

A jump bid after the t/oX is forcing.

A 4NT bid after the t/oX is Blackwood

Responses to partner's t/oX if RHO passes

Bid	Shows
Minimum bid	0-9 Points
1NT	6-10HCP balanced with stop in opp's suit
Jump bid (below game)	10-12 Points (invitational)
2NT	10-12HCP with stop in opp's suit and no 4-card major
Cuebid	13+Points or 10-12 Points with 2x4-card majors (forcing)
3NT	13-16HCP
Double Jump	Less than 10 Points with 6-carder (pre-emptive)
Pass	At least 5 of opp's suit. Guarantees 3 trump tricks

Rebids by Takeout Doubler after Minimum Response

Bid	Shows
Pass	15 Points or less
Raise	16-18 Points + 4-card trump support 18-20 Points if raise is at 3 level in non-competitive auction
Jump Raise	18-20 Points + 4-card support
New Suit	18-20 Points, 5+-card suit. Fewer Points if also has 4-card unbid major
Jump Shift	6+card self-sufficient suit and strong hand (not forcing)
1NT	18-20HCP
2NT	19-21HCP if non-jump or 21-22HCP if jump
3NT	9 playing tricks
Cuebid of opp's suit	21+Points, slam interest

Negative Doubles ( ! )

A double at the 1 or 2 level after partner has opened and RHO has overcalled, is a Negative Double and is used to indicate a biddable hand, promising the other 2 suits and leaving bidding room for partner.
Note: Bidding a major at the 2 level or higher shows 11+Points and a 5+-card suit.

Use of Negative Doubles

Pard 1	Opp 1	Pard 2	Pard 2 Shows
1	1	X!	6+HCP and 4(+) /. (A bid of 1 is "up the line" at least 4, 9+points). Note: If pd's next bid has to be at the 2+ level eg.,1-(2)-X!, then 9+points.
1	1	X!	6+Points and 4+ /
1	1	X!	6+Points and 4/4+ in the majors
1	1	X!	4/4+ in the minors

Note: A direct double over opponent's opening of 1NT is usually penalty oriented.

Responses to Negative Doubles

Bid	Shows
Minimum (below game)	upto 16HCP (non-forcing)
Jump	16-18 Points (non-forcing)
Cuebid of opps suit	19+Points (forcing to game)
Pass (rare)	For penalty

Note 1: All rebids by the Neg Xer below game are non-forcing, except a cuebid of opps suit.
Note 2: Using Neg Xes means that partner is unable to double for penalty. Therefore, when an opp's suit overcall is followed by 2 passes, opener should try to re-open with a double, if he has 2 or less cards in the opp's suit, since partner may have passed with a good hand for penalties.

Penalty Doubles

If your agreement is to play Negative Xes through 2 then a penalty oriented double would be:

X of a 3+ level bid (except over opp's preemptive opener when double is for takeout, see t/oX above)

Direct X of a NT bid

Direct X of opp's overcall of 1NT

X after partner has accurately described both his strength and distribution

X after either partner has made an earlier redouble

X after either partner has made a penalty X earlier or passed a takeout double

X of any artificial bid (eg. Stayman,Cuebid, Blackwood) or responses. This is also lead directing

X of an opening game bid in the minors

Note 1: Be wary of doubling for penalty on the strength of partner's overcall
Note 2: Unless noted elsewhere, any bid or double by the opponents cancels any convention intended for non-competitive auctions
Note 3: If the opponents use a convention (such as Michaels or the Unusual NT), you can double the artificial bid to show at least 10HCP or cuebid one of the opp's shown suits to force to game
Note 4: A forcing pass is used when opps are clearly competitively bidding for pre-emptive reasons and you are unsure if you should double or bid higher (usually past game). A pass forces partner to either double or bid.

Redoubles

A redouble can have 5 different meanings:

No.	Pd1	Opp1	Pd2	Opp2	Shows
1.	4+	X	XX	Pass	Penalty to play
2.	1NT	Pass	2!	X	Penalty - good diamond suit
2.	XX	Pass	Pass	Pass	Penalty - good diamond suit
3.	1	X	XX	Pass	10+HCP - to play
4.	1	Pass	Pass	X	SOS-responder cannot stand the X but can support at least 2 of the unbid suits
4.	Pass	Pass	XX	-?-
5.	1	X	Pass	Pass	SOS-Opener does not relish playing in 1X and is asking pard to bid his best suit
5.	XX	Pass	-?-	-?-

Note: SOS redoubles are recognisable if you remember that there would be no point in redoubling a cheap contract since it would force the Opps to enter the bidding.

Defensive Leads and Signals

Defensive signals when following suit or discarding are High Encourages, Low Discourages
Leads are Top of Touching Honours. {See also Part 2 Lavinthal Discards and Odd/Even (Roman) Discards}

OKbridge SA-YC CC Default Carding
Carding	High discard encourages, Low discourages: infreq count signals
Suit-leads	4th best, Kqx, Qjx, Jtx, T9x, kJtx, kT9x, qT9x, xxX, xxxX, xxxXx, aKx
NT-leads	4th best, aKjx, aQjx, aJt9, aT98, Kqjx, kQt9, kJt9, kT98, Qjtx, qT98, Jt9x, T98x, xxX, xxxX, xxxXx

Pairs may choose to change these options and mark their leads with a "circle". Where no card is marked with a "circle", those marked in "bold italics" will be presumed to be the agreement. Some choices to consider are:

Which card is led from AKx
Which card is led from AK. Does the reverse sequence indicate AK doubleton?
Which card is led from xxx, xxxx, xxxxx
Whether 3rd and/or 5th best leads are used
Whether 3rd best is led from KJ10x, K109x, or Q109x (or from AJ10x or A109x vs. NT)
Whether or not infrequent count signals are given

Note 1: Normally do not lead unsupported honours from a suit not bid by partner
Note 2: It is Declarer's responsibility to look at opponents' carding agreements.

**OKBRIDGE SA-YC CC**
Omitting Jxfer to Minors, J2NT, Michaels, Unusual NT, Gerber, GSF, DOPI, 4th Suit Forcing (4sf)
System	Standard American Yellow Card
NT	1N=15-17: 2N=20-21: 3N=25-27: JXF to Mjors: 3C/3D= invitational
Majors	5cm: Direct Raise = limit (pre-empt over X)
Minors	1D shows 4/4432: DR=limit: 1N/1m:6-10: 2N/1m:13-15: 3N/1m:16-17
Strong	2C shows 22+ balanced or 9+ tricks, 2D response artificial, may be waiting
Weak	2D, 2H, 2S shows 5-11 hcp, good 6 cards, RONF, 2N reqs feature
Overcalls	8-16 HCP: cue is 1 Rnd force: jump overcall is pre-emptive
NT-Over	1N=15-18, 2C= Stayman, other systems off
Doubles	Negative -> 2S
VS.Doubles	New Suit Force 1-level: 2N = Limit raise or better
Preempts	May be light
Vs.Preempts	Dbl is takeout at 2 and 3 level, 2N/weak 2 = 16-19 HCP Bal
Cuebids	Natural
Slam-Bids	Blackwood
Suit-leads	4th best, Kqx, Qjx, Jtx, T9x, kJtx, kT9x, qT9x, xxX, xxxX, xxxXx, aKx
NT-leads	4th best, aKjx, aQjx, aJt9, aT98, Kqjx, kQt9, kJt9, kT98, Qjtx, qT98, Jt9x, T98x, xxX, xxxX, xxxXx
Carding	High discard encourages, low discourages: infreq count signals
Misc	(insert any non-standard SAYC conventions agreed upon)

To include Jxfer to minors add to "NT", "2S forces to 3C/D"

To include J2NT add to "Majors", "J2NT"

To include Unusual NT add to "NT-Over", "UNU NT for lower 2 unbids"

To include Michaels add to "Cuebids", "Michaels, Natural if opps have bid 2 suits"

To include Gerber and Grand Slam Force add to "Slam-Bids", "Gerber over NT, GSF"

To include DOPI add to either "Slam-Bids" or "Misc", "dopi"

To include 4th suit forcing add to "Misc", "4sf"

Bridge Conventions and Bidding Systems - AnnAM Co.UK

Part 2

Some of the Conventions used with SA-YC
(but mainly with 2/1)

Index

Astro!

Bergen Raises! (Bergen)

Brozel! (broz)

Cappelletti! (capp) (also known as Hamilton (ham))

DONT!

Drury! and Reverse Drury! (rdrury) and 2-way RDrury

Flannery! (flan)

Gambling 3NT! (gnt)

Inverted Minors! (invm)

Jacoby Xfer to minors! (J4xf)

Landy! and Revised Landy! (rlandy)

Lavinthal Discards (Lav)

Lebensohl! (Leb)

Lightner Double

Minor-Suit Stayman! (mss)

Minor-Suit Transfer Bids! (mst)

New Minor Forcing! (nmf)

Odd/Even (Roman) Discards (o/e)

Ogust!

Puppet Stayman!

Roman Key Card Blackwood (rkc)

Smolen Transfer Bids! (Smolen)

Splinters! (spl)

Texas Transfer Bids! (Texas)

Unusual over Unusual!

Voluntary Bid of 5 of a major (Vol5)

Note 1: DOPI and R-O-N-F have been included in Part 1

Note 2: ! = Alert throughout NF=Non-Forcing

Astro ( ! )

A method of competing against an opponent's 1NT opening bid for 2-suited hands. An overcall of 2 shows at least 5/4 or 5/4 shape in hearts and a minor, 2 shows at least 5/4 or 4/5 shape in spades and any 1 other suit. HCP range approximately 9-14. Any other bid is natural.

Astro can by partnership agreement also be used in the balancing seat and over 2NT openers (see below) and Gambling 3NT

The Astro Overcalls are:

East	South	Shows
1NT	2!	At least 4 hearts with unknown minor
1NT	2!	At least 4 spades with unknown 2nd suit

Note 1: The longer suit can be either way round, ie., at least 9 cards in your 2 suits
Note 2: One of the Astro bidder's major suits is always known
Note 3: All direct game calls are sign off

More Frequent Responses to Astro

East	South	West	North	Shows
1NT	2!	Pass	2!	Denies 3 cards in the known major (hearts)
	2!		2!	At least 3 cards in the known major (hearts)
	2!		2!	Denies 3 cards in the known major (spades)
	2!		2!	At least 3 cards in the known major (spades)

Less Frequently Used Responses

East	South	West	North	Shows
1NT	2/!	Pass	2/3!	6+spades/clubs, denies 3 of known major (NF)
			2NT!	11+HCP would like to find out what partner's other suit is (forcing)
			3/3!	good 6-card suit, good 3 of other minor, denies 3 of known major, (invitational)
			3/3!	Jump in any suit is natural and invites game. Here it invites game in the known major Partner should pass if min

Note1: In competition, if the Astro overcall is doubled, responder may:
(a) Pass to show at least 4 cards in the suit doubled
(b) Make a normal response
Note2: If Opp2 bids over the Astro overcall, the Astro responses have the same meanings as far as possible.

Options Open to the Astro Bidder
Pass	Indicates that 2nd suit is the relay suit
2 x known major	Shows 5+ & indicates that the relay suit was not the 2nd suit (If this can't be tolerated by responder he may bid 2NT forcing the Astro bidder to bid his 2nd suit)
3 x suit	5+ in the 2nd suit (If Astro bidder's 3 is a raise or jump bid it is inviting to game)
2 x other major	Shows exactly 3 of the other major in case responder has 4/5 (if not responder should bid 2NT asking for Astro bidder's minor)

Astro can (although rare) be used over an opening 2NT (and Gambling 3NT) by the opponents, with extreme distribution and favourable vulnerability, to describe both 1 and 2 suited hands. The principles of Astro above should still apply in both direct and balancing seats. For example:

East	South	Shows
2NT	3!	hearts+minor:Lacking 3 hearts partner bids 3! (relay)
	3!	spades + another suit
	Any other suit bid!	Natural
	3NT!	Both minors

Bergen Raises ( ! )

Bergen Raises apply when partner (playing 5-card majors) opens 1 of a major. The theory is that you want to bid to the level of the combined length of your trump suit, according to "The Law of Total Tricks". ie., with 4-card support + partners 5 = 9 tricks = 3 level. With a weak hand and 4 trumps you can jump to the 3 level (pre-empt)

Note:This table of examples assumes a basic system of 2/1

North	South	Shows
1/1	2/2	7-10 Points with 3 trumps (constructive raise)
1/1	3/3!	0-6 Points with 4 trumps
1/1	1NT!	6-12 Points less than 4 trumps, good other major/other suit (forcing) (If responder has good 10-12 and 3 trumps,he rebids 3 of opener's suit)
1/1	2NT!	J2NT, (forcing). If NOT playing J2NT =13+Points (invitational)
1/1	3!	6-9 Points and 4 trumps
1/1	3!	10-12 Points and 4 trumps (limit raise)
1/1	4/4!	0-6 Points and 5 trumps
1	2/2!	Game Forcing
1	2/2/2!	Game Forcing

Note 1: Nowadays most use 3! as the "limit" raise and 3! to show 6-9, either way the minor raise is artificial and says nothing about the bid suit.

Note 2: A jump to 3 of the other major shows a hand worth a raise to game with singleton or void in side suit: if opener wishes to discover the short suit he bids in steps eg., 1-3!, opener bids 3NT! to ask about the singleton/void: responses are: 4! or 4! = singleton/void in bid suit: 4! = singleton/void in spades. (Over 1-3!, 3! would ask about the short suit and a 3NT! response would = single/void in clubs etc.)

Brozel ( ! )

A method of competing against an opponent's 1NT opening. A double is used to show a 1-suited hand. If partner does not wish to defend, he removes the double to 2 and the doubler can pass (with clubs) or bid his real suit.

**The Overcalls of 1NT are:**
East	South	Shows
1NT	X!	1-suited hand
	2!	clubs and hearts
	2!	diamonds and hearts
	2!	hearts and spades
	2!	spades and a minor (pard may respond 2NT to locate minor)
	2NT!	clubs and diamonds
	3/3/3/3!	3-suited hand + void or singleton in bid suit. (Note: Most players prefer to use this as a natural bid)

Cappelletti! (Capp) (also known as Hamilton or Ham) ( ! )

Used versus opponent's opening of 1NT

**The Overcalls of 1NT are:**
East	South	Shows
1NT	X!	Strong hand (penalty oriented)
	2!	1-suited hand Respond with 2! (Pass only if you have a good 6-card club suit). Partner can pass with diamonds or correct to his suit
	2!	At least 5/4 in the majors
	2!	hearts + a minor
	2!	spades + a minor
	2NT!	Both minors

Possible responses to Cappelletti!

Capp O/Call North Shows

X!
Strong Penalty Pass Can stand the X

2 x Suit Weak takeout, can't stand the X

2 !
1-Suited 2! Relay asks Pd. to bid his suit � Pd will pass if suit is diamonds or correct .If Pd has 6x+4x, he can show this by bidding 2NT! over the 2! relay

Pass Poor hand with long decent clubs

2-! Good 5+-card major

2NT! 11-13HCP balanced hand (invitational)

2!
5/4+majors Pass Poor major suit support with long good diamonds

2- Minimum response - major suit preference (NF)

3! Poor major suit support with long good clubs

2NT!
(force 1rnd) Either a minor-suit hand or limit raise in 1 of the majors (if the latter the plan is to rebid 3- after pd has shown his better minor) (NF,invitational)

3-! Preemptive in accordance with " The Law of Total Tricks"*

2!
hearts+minor
(NF) Pass content to play in 2

3! Preemptive as * above

2NT!
(force 1rnd) Asks Pard to bid his minor or shows a limit raise, eg.1NT-2!-P-2NT!-P-3-All Pass or, 1NT-2!-P-3-3(invitational, NF)**

2!
spades+minor
(NF) Pass content to play in 2

3! Preemptive as * above

2NT!
(force 1rnd) Asks Pard to bid his minor or shows a limit raise as ** above but spades instead of hearts

2NT!
both minors 3-! Preferred minor

3! A good major suit of your own and 11+HCP (more likely vs wk NT)(NF)

Pass/3NT! 11+HCP Balanced hand with good major stops (more likely vs wk NT)

Note 1: The above responses assume Opp2 passes. If Opp2 doubles the 2 overcall, then a redouble shows 7+HCP and support for all suits inviting the Overcaller to compete at the 3-level

Note 2: The Partnership may agree that in the "balancing position" a double would show a 4-card major+ a longer minor

Note 3: Capp may also be used over openings of 2/3NT (including Gambling 3NT)

Note 4: Further, the Partnership may also agree to use Capp after one partner has opened the bidding with 1/1 and opponent has overcalled 1NT. In this case, Partner2's Capp overcalls at the 2-level would have the same meaning as above and would indicate a weak hand of 8 or less Points, since with a stronger hand he would double for penalty

DONT! (Disturb Opponents NT)

The Overcalls of Opp's 1NT are:

East	South	Shows
1NT	X!	1-suited hand (if weak respond with 2! partner can pass with clubs or correct to his suit) *
	2!	clubs and a higher-ranking suit
	2!	diamonds and a major
	2!	both majors
	2!	spades and may be weak

Note: A response of 2NT! by North is forcing - see below

Possible Responses to DON�T Overcalls:

West	North	South Response Options assuming East Passes
1NT	X!	2! (artificial) asks Pard to bid his suit (see * above)
		If you have a v good suit of your own you can bid it
		If you have a balanced hand with 14+HCP you can pass for penalty
	2!	Pass is you have 3+
	2!	Bid 2! (artificial) asks Pd to bid the other suit (if suit is pd will pass)
	2!	Pass if you have 3+
	2!	Bid 2! (artificial) asks Pd to bid the other suit (if suit is pd will pass)
	2!	Pass with hearts or adjust to spades
	2!	Pass
	2!	Raise if you have a strong hand and at least 2x. (Remember Pd may be weak)

Further 3-level bids by DONT overcaller after 2NT! (14+HCP) response:

West	North	South	North	North's possible responses
1NT	2!	2NT! (forcing)	3!	Bad hand with clubs and unknown other suit
			3!	Good hand with clubs and diamonds
			3!	Good hand with clubs and hearts
			3!	Good hand with clubs and spades
	2!	2NT! (forcing)	3!	Bad hand with diamonds and hearts
			3!	Bad hand with diamonds and spades
			3!	Good hand with diamonds and hearts
			3!	Good hand with diamonds and spades
	2!	2NT! (forcing)	3!	Bad hand with better hearts than spades
			3!	Bad hand with better spades than hearts
			3!	Good hand with better hearts than spades
			3!	Good hand with better spades than hearts

If DONT overcall is doubled, your possible responses are:

Pass Indicates tolerance of bid suit

XX Asks for Partner's 2nd suit

New Suit Natural, non-forcing

If DONT overcall is in turn overcalled (2of a suit) your possible responses are:

Pass Natural, non-forcing

X Asks for Partner's 2nd suit

New Suit Natural, non-forcing

Another use of DONT is when your side opens 1NT and Opp1 doubles; a rescue bid may be necessary, especially if playing weak NT

*North*	Opp1	South	Shows
1NT	X	XX!	1-suited hand (if wk respond with 2! Pd can pass with clubs or correct to his suit)
		2!	clubs and another suit
		2!	diamonds and a major
		2!	Both majors
		2!	spades

Drury ( ! )

Used for reponding to 3rd/4th seat major suit opening bids. A response of 2! is 100% forcing. (Drury, and all its variations, is off if the 1 of a major is overcalled). Opener continues as follows:

Call 2! Artificial. Sub-minimum opener

Rebid of suit! Shows full opening hand

Reverse Drury (more commonly used) ( ! )

An improved version of Drury that "reverses" the meanings of opener's rebids. RDrury is an effective way to gauge the strength of partner's 3rd/4th seat 1 of a major opener. 2! by responder shows 10-12 points with at least 3 card support for the bid suit.

Opener Responder Opener Shows
1- 2! 2! Artificial, showing full opening hand
2-! Rebid of suit=subminimum hand, responder should pass
1 2! 2! At least 5/4 spades/hearts, does not promise opening strength.
Responder can pass with 4x or return opener to spades
1 2! 3-! Good 5 card minor.
Does promise opening strength. (forcing)

Note: If responder really wants to show a long good minor he needs to bid 3

over 1

Two Way Rdrury ( ! ) (Recommended)

Show a limit raise with three-card trump support for partner�s major suit opener by bidding 2! and four-card support with 2! Responses are the same as for RDrury above except after 2! you lose the �2! artificial full opening hand�. A clear advantage of 2-way RDrury is that opener can now identify the combined trump fit and that extra trump may be invaluable in partner's decision to bid game. 2-way RDrury allows responder, a passed hand, to tell partner that he has a limit raise with either 3 or 4-card support for Opener�s major suit opener. This form of Drury is highly recommended since opener is made aware of the combined trump total, in keeping with the �Law of Total Tricks�.

Flannery ( ! )

Instead of a weak 2, an opening bid of 2! is used to show 5 hearts and 4 spades and 11-15HCP. Responder may:

Sign off in 2 of a major

Jump to 3 of a major to invite game

Bid 2NT as a forcing enquiry

**Over 2NT Response, Opener Rebids in the Following Manner:**
Responder	Opener	Shows
2NT!	3/3!	3 cards in bid minor
	3!	Minimum hand with 2/2 in the minors
	3!	Maximum hand with 2/2 in the minors
	3NT!	Max hand with 2/2 in the minors + an honour in both minors
	4/4!	4 cards in the bid minor

Note: 2 is sometimes used instead of 2 (reserving 2 for some other purpose) - the responses are the same, except that responder passes to sign off in hearts

Gambling 3NT ( ! )

1. 10-12HCP and a 7-card solid minor, no void or small singleton, open 3NT! (The hand must have no outside Ace or King). If responder has stops in the other 3 suits and no minor void (and no slam interest), he can pass. If he does not have the required stops and entry, he must bid 4 which opener can adjust to 4 if necessary.

2. Acol 3NT Opening (Recommended)
16-21HCP, a solid or semi-solid minor suit of at least 6 (usually 7) cards, and outside stops in at least 2 (often all 3) suits, no void or small singleton
Note: Responder must never rescue partner: if slam is out of the question, responder should pass.

Inverted Minors ( ! ) (invm)

A single minor raise is forcing and a jump minor raise is weak, thus "inverting" the standard meaning of the two bids. When responder has a weak minor raise (eg. 1-2) he is unlikely to "buy" the contract so he may as well bid 3. Conversely if responder has a good minor raise, he wants to keep the bidding as low as possible to allow careful exploration for game, or slam. No hand is too strong for a single minor raise. For example:

Responses over an Opening of 1 of a minor
North South Shows

1/1 1NT 6-10HCP balanced hand.Denies 4-card major.
Does not deny 4 of bid minor (NF)

1/1 2/2! Min 10 Points (no upper limit) and 4+trumps,
denies 4-card major (forcing)

1/1 3/3! Weak hand with 5 trumps or 4 good trumps

After the single minor raise, opener must bid again, (except if responder is a passed hand, or if opener's RHO intervenes with a bid or a double).

Opener's Possible Rebids
North South North Shows

1/1 2/2! 2NT! Min response suggests NT as final contract

3/3! Min response hand unsuitable for NT

2/2! Extra strength, 4+ of the bid minor + 3/4-card major

3NT! 18-19HCP (if playing 15-17NT), balanced hand

After a single minor raise responder is compelled to bid again only if opener rebids in a new suit. Otherwise, responder has the option of passing if he feels the proper contract has been reached.

Responder's Possible Rebids
North South South's Rebid Shows

1/1 2/2! Natural showing 2 raise as minimum

2/2! 2NT!

1/1 2/2! Minimum single raise (unsuitable for NT)

2/2! 3/3!

1/1 2/2! Strength in the other minor: may help to enable 3NT

3/3! 3/3!

1/1 2/2! 3 good hearts/spades (South denied 4 with the single minor raise)

2/2! 3/3!

1/1 2/2! Stops in the 2 unbid suits

2/2! 3NT!

After responder's rebid, any further bidding is governed by the following principle: "After a single minor raise, if either partner returns to 3 or 4 of the agreed minor or 2NT, this is not forcing (except if either partner has bid 3NT prior to a return to 4 of the minor) and indicates minimum values for his previous bidding. Hence, any other bid that does not complete game is forcing.". In competition, the forcing single minor raise is "on" after a single suit overcall or t/oX

Jacoby Transfer to minors (J4xf) ( ! )

Use if responder has a long minor, less than 8HCP, limited entry making a NT contract undesirable.

1. The simple SAYC method:
After a 1NT opener, a 2! response is a transfer to 3, which can be passed with clubs or responder can rebid 3 if his suit is diamonds.

2. The better method which keeps Opener as declarer:
After a 1NT opener, 2! is a transfer to clubs and a 2NT! call is a transfer to diamonds

Note 1: Jacoby Transfer to minors is "off" altogether if the 1NT opening is overcalled.
Note 2: Although this is an SA-YC treatment, another way is to use 2 to Xfer to Clubs and 2NT to Xfer to Diamonds thereby keeping the contract in the strong hand.

Landy and Revised Landy (rlandy)( ! )

A simple defense over opponent's 1NT opener. An overcall of 2! is artificial and asks for takeout in either of the majors. All other overcalls are natural, unless you use Revised Landy which additionally uses 2! to show both minors.

Laventhal Discards (Lav)

Discard of a low card of either remaining suit (ie. excluding trumps), asks for the lower suit
Example: If, say, hearts are trumps and you are discarding on clubs, then a low spade or diamond asks for a diamond.

Discard of a high card of either remaining suit, asks for the higher suit
Example: If, say, diamonds are trumps and you are discarding on spades, then a high heart or club asks for a heart

Lebensohl (Leb) ( ! )

A method of contending with the opposition suit overcall of partner's 1NT opening bid. Essentially it involves an artificial response of 2NT. which demands that opener bids 3! as a "relay" bid. Responder may then pass (with clubs) or sign off in his real suit. After a 2-level overcall by the opponents, a response of 3 of a new suit is natural and forcing, e.g., 1NT-(2)-3! (This also applies if it is a jump bid over opp's 2-level overcall: e.g. 1NT-(2)-3!).

If responder, after the Lebensohl 2NT bid, bids a suit that is higher ranking than overcaller's suit, it is invitational to game e.g., 1NT-(2)-2NT!-(P)-3!-(P)-3!). The logic behind this is that if the responder had wished to sign off, he could have bid two immediately after the overcall, which would be weak, just as in standard bidding (e.g., 1NT-(2)-2).

A common problem after an overcall of the 1NT opening is determining whether a stopper is held in the opponent's suit. 3NT is often reached with each partner hoping the other has a stopper, but in fact neither has. This problem can be solved through another application of the Lebensohl convention. Here's how (assume West passes):

e.g. North East South South's Rebid Shows

A 1NT 2 2NT! Confirms a heart stop - partner should pass

3! Pass 3NT!

B 1NT 2 2NT! Cuebid is Stayman showing 4 spades and confirms a heart stop

3! Pass 3!

C 1NT 2 3NT! Denies heart stop. Partner must have a heart stop to Pass

D 1NT 2 3! Denies heart stop but shows 4 spades.
Partner must have a heart stop to bid 3NT

Memory Aid: "DD" = "Direct Denies"

After a 2-suited overcall (eg. when opps are using conventions such as Brozel, Astro and Landy) and the overcall is artificial, it is still possible to employ Lebensohl, but with certain modifications as follows:

1. After a 2-suited artificial overcall of 1NT opening, the suit bid is still an "unbid" suit.
2. The agreements re the stop in opp's suit (see above) are "off"
3. After a 2-level artificial overcall, a double is for penalty but the doubler does not promise specific values in the artifical suit but defensive strength (approx 7+HCP) and usually suggests length in one or both of the opp's suits.

Note : After a natural 3-level suit overcall a double is for takeout

A further application of the Lebensohl convention is used after partner has made a takeout double of opponent's weak 2-bid opener. A response of 2NT! (if you are weak and have a long suit) requires the doubler to bid 3! (unless he is v strong and can pass or bid 3NT), then you may pass (with clubs) or sign off in your suit.

East South West North North's Rebid Shows

2 X Pass 2NT! Less than 7HCP with
5+cards in the bid suit

Pass 3! (relay) Pass (with clubs)/3!

Note 1: The failure to engage the Lebensohl 2NT bid gives a constructive meaning to 3-level suit responses to partner's takeout double
Note 2: If the suit bid at the 3 level, after engaging the Leb 2NT is a higher ranking suit than the opp suit, then it is invitational, e.g., 2-X-2N!-3!-P-3!.

Lightner Double

A form of lead-directing double made over a voluntarily bid slam contract. Its purpose is to request an unusual lead, never a suit bid by your own side. In the majority of cases the Lightner Double is based on a void, often in one of the opponents' suits, usually in a side-suit bid by dummy.

Note: The Lightner Double only applies against voluntarily bid slams so the double of an opponent's sacrifice bid is not lead-directing but penalty.

Minor Suit Stayman (mss) ( ! )

Over partner's 1NT opener, 2! shows at least 5/4 in the minors, denies a 4-card major and shows game interest. If the 1NT opener responds 3! or 3!, it shows a minimum for his NT and 4 cards in the minor bid.

Note 1: MSS (like Jacoby Transfers) is "off" altogether if the 1NT opening is overcalled. Also over openers of 2NT and 3NT.

Note 2: The use of MSS over a 2 or 3NT opener always shows slam interest. If a minor suit has been agreed, then a later bid of 4NT is Blackwood

Note 3: This simple form of MSS is not recommended since it eliminates the use of (MST which combines both Jacoby Transfers to minors and minor Suit Stayman)

Minor Suit Transfer Bids ( ! )

Recommended treatment whereby Jacoby Xfers to minors and MSS are used as a combined convention. The Minor Suit Transfer Bid must always show a "one-suited" hand, since all "two-suited" hands are adequately catered for with the use of Stayman, Jxfers to majors, or MSS. MST uses 2NT! as the transfer to clubs and 3! as the transfer to diamonds.

Example A
No. North South South's Rebid Shows

1. 1NT 2NT! At least 5 (usually 6) clubs and a "bust"

3! Pass

2. 1NT 3! At least 5 (usually 6) diamonds and a "bust"

3! Pass

Example B: further bidding by the Xfer bidder
No. North South South's Rebid Shows

1. 1NT 2NT/3! Singleton or void in the "new" suit, at least 6 of the known minor.
Game force, suggests slam interest

3/3! 3/3!

2. 1NT 2NT/3! No singleton or void, Game Force, possible slam interest.
Opener should pass if min with min support in the known minor

3/3! 3NT!

3. 1NT 2NT/3! 6+ of the known minor. highly distributional,
Game invitational. Opener should pass or continue to 5/5

3/3! 4/4!

4. 1NT 2NT/3! This is quantitative not Blackwood but South has
shown 5+ of the known minor

3/3! 4NT!

5. 1NT 2NT/3! Signing off in the known minor.
highly distributional, very few HCP

3/3! 5/5!

Since 2NT is used as a Transfer, Responder must use Stayman to invite to game in NT if he has a balanced hand and 8/9 HCP. This works as follows:

No. North South South's Rebid Shows

1. 1NT 2! 8+HCP may/may not have a 4-card major - invitational to 3NT

2! 2NT!

2. 1NT 2! 8+HCP, denies a 4-card major and invites to game in 3NT

2 2NT!

3. 1NT 2! 8+HCP with exactly 4 hearts - invites to game in 3NT or 4

2 3

4. 1NT 2! "check-back Stayman" (in case opener has a 4-card suit as well as 4x)
Force 1 rnd, 8+HCP, denies 4x but shows exactly 4x
- opener now rebids logically

2 2

Note 1: Minor-Suit Xfer Bids may only be used after a 1NT opening bid and are "off" if the 1NT opener is overcalled or doubled.

Note 2: If the Minor-Suit Xfer Bid is overcalled or doubled, opener may:

Bid with a good fit for responder's minor

X for penalty

Pass

Responder's rebids will have their usual meanings.

Note 3: If opener bypasses the Xfer (rare) and rebids 3NT, it would indicate a super-fit in responder's known minor and an expectancy of making 3NT despite partner's weakness. After such a bypass, responder is in charge of the bidding since his weakness/strength are unknown to the opener. He may

Pass
Rebid his suit (usually a sign off)
Cuebid a new suit if he has slam interest
Bid 4NT to invite slam in NT

Note 4: If as responder you have 7-10HCP and a 6-card minor suit a direct raise to 3NT is probably the best bid since any attempt to employ Minor-Suit Xfer Bids to further describe your hand would decrease your chances of succeeding in the better contract of 3NT.

Note 5: An addition to Minor-Suit Xfer Bids is the use of 3/3/3! to show a 3-suited hand with a singleton or void in the suit bid (Splinter Response). This would be game forcing and would show slam interest. If the shortage is in clubs, then use Stayman and bid normally. Splinter Responses are "off" after interference by the opposition

New Minor Forcing (NMF) ( ! )

The use of a bid in an unbid minor suit by responder as an artificial convenient forcing bid after a 1NT rebid by the opening bidder. Much like "4th Suit Forcing (4sf)". It promises about 11+HCP and is most frequently used when responder has a 5-card major suit as a means of enquiring about 3-card support. With a choice of "new minor" bid the longer and stronger to suggest a stopper.

NMF is also effective when responder has 5/4 spades/hearts (after a minor-suit opening). It asks opener for a 4-card heart suit, as well as for 3-card spade support.

NMF may also be used as a temporising bid when responder wishes to invite game in his own suit, or in opener's suit. This is the only means of describing such hands of invitational strength, assuming that responder's 2nd-round jump bids are forcing.

After the NMF forcing bid, opener must further describe his distribution, in order to help responder locate the best contract. In most cases, opener may also indicate whether he holds minimum or maximum strength for his 1NT rebid.

Note: In competition if either opponent has bid, the NMF convention is "off": responder's rebid in a new minor after opener's 1NT shows a real suit and is not forcing.

3rd Round Bids Available to Opener
Priority North South North's 3rd Rnd bid Shows

1 1 1 Shows 4 hearts by bidding the unbid major.
Does not deny 3xspades

1NT 2!

2! ?

2 1 1 Show 3 hearts and min/max 1NT rebid

1NT 2!

2/3! ?

3 1 1 Denies 3 spades, shows club stop
and min/max 1NT rebid

1NT 2!

2NT/3NT! ?

4 1 1 Denies 3 spades, no diamond stop
and min 1NT rebid

1NT 2!

2! ?

5 1 1 Denies 3 hearts no spade stop,
does not agree clubs but shows 4 of them

1NT 2!

3! ?

Responder's 3rd Round Available Bids

Pass If opener's 3rd round bid is the logical contract

Any Minimum Bid Natural (agreeing suit/NT) (if below game invitational)

Any Jump Bid Natural (agreeing suit) (if below game forcing)

After 2 3rd rnd bid by pard
(showing 4x), with 5x
and less than 4x, bid 2 Asks if pard has 3 spades
(forcing for 1 rnd)

If the NMF convention is adopted, responder must know the proper methods of describing 2-suited hands (at least 5/5 shape) after opener's 1NT rebid:

With a weak 2-suiter, responder may (a) rebid a reasonably good 5-card major or (b) pass. Do not bid a new minor suit. (With 5/5 majors, responder is able to bid both suits).

With an invitational 2-suiter, responder should bid a new minor, even when holding both majors. Then on the next round, responder may bid his 2nd suit (unless opener's 3rd bid has indicated an obvious final contract).

With a game-forcing 2-suiter, responder should jump in his 2nd suit.

Odd/Even Discards (also known as Roman Discards)

An odd discard encourages that suit.
A low even discard discourages that suit and asks for the lower of the remaining side suits (discount trumps)
A high even discard discourages that suit and asks for the higher of the remaining side suits (discount trumps).

Note 1: Usually applies on first discard only
Note 2: Can be extended to encourage/discourage lead, eg., play odd to encourage continuation or hi/lo even to discourage continuation and ask for hi/lo of the side suits.

Ogust ( ! )

A method of rebidding after a forcing 2NT! response to a weak 2 bid. The weak 2 bidder decribes both the strength of his hand and the number of top honours in the long suit (top honours are A, K, & Q. Do not count the Jack).

Responses are as follows

3! Min hand with 1 top honour in suit

3! Min hand with 2 top honours in suit

3! Max hand with 1 top honour in suit

3! Max hand with 2 top honours in suit

3NT! Max hand with 3 top honours in suit

Memory Aid: "minors are minimum, 1-2-1-2-3" where the numbers refer to the top honours held for each of the 5 possible replies.

Note: Where opener is between minimum (6HCP) and maximum (10/11HCP), treat

7-9HCP + 6-7 losers as maximum
7-9HCP + 8+ losers as minimum

Losers: There are 3 possible losers in each suit - AKQ missing . However an unsupported Q counts as half a loser and a small singleton would only count as 1 loser, a small dblton as 2 losers, so a hand of, say, AJxxxx, xx, xx, Qxx, would have 8 and a half losers but if you change the Qxx to QJx the hand would have 8 losers (both would be minimum with one top honour=3!)

Puppet Stayman ( ! )

A variation of Stayman where the 2! response to partner's 1NT opener, forces opener to rebid 2! if he has no 5-card major.

Responder continues as follows:

! shows a 4-card spade suit

! shows a 4-card heart suit

2NT! shows both 4-card majors and invitational strength

! shows 4 hearts and 4 or 5 spades, game force

! shows 4 spades and 5 hearts, game force

3NT! no 4-card major and game going strength

The advantage of this treatment is that it allows opener to be declarer without divulging any information about his hand. A similar treatment can be used over 2NT openers.

Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKC)

The answers to RKC include the King of trumps as an extra control card (ie. 5 control cards: 4 Aces and King of trumps). There are 2 main versions played on OKbridge, 0314/3014 and 1430.

RKC 0314/3014 asking for Controls RKC 1430 asking for Controls

4NT 5 0 or 3 controls 1 or 4 controls

5 1 or 4 controls 3 or 0 controls

5 2 or 5 controls without Q Trumps 2 or 5 controls without Q Trumps

5 2 or 5 controls with Q Trumps 2 or 5 controls with Q Trumps

After the reply to 4NT, 5 of the trump suit is a signoff. If the reply is 5 or 5, the cheapest relay asks for the trump Queen, and the next cheapest relay is used to ask for Kings. If the reply is 5 (denying the trump Queen) or 5 (showing the trump Queen), then the cheapest relay is used to ask for side suit Kings.

Note 1 (with patnership understanding):

A 5NT response to 4NT can show an 0 or 2 controls with a working void
6 of any suit below the trump suit can show 1 or 3 controls with void in the bid suit
6 of the agreed trump suit can show 1 or 3 controls with a void in a higher ranking suit

Note 2:

A 5NT rebid by the RKC bidder, when it is not a 1st or 2nd relay, asks for the cheapest King. With the club King, for example, responder would bid 6.
Many players expect that asking for the trump Queen or for Kings is a grand slam try that guarantees that all keycards are held by the partnership. If so, then either partner is entitled to go to the 7 level when their unshown holdings are judged to be "the right stuff".
The relays re Q of trumps and asking re Kings are based on "agreed trump suit" - if no trump suit has been agreed (eg., 1-P-1-P-4NT), you should assume the last bid suit is the trump suit, ie., spades
Relays exclude the agreed trump suit which would be used to signoff.
If an Ace/Control is missing be aware that to ask about Kings may take you over 6 of the agreed suit.
Some players show Zero Kings by bidding 6 of the agreed suit and specific Kings by bidding the cheapest suit in which a King is held. Some players bid 5NT to show a King in a suit above the trump suit. If you are in any doubt as to what any of the replies mean, ask the RKC bidder.

RKC Asking for Side Suit Kings & Q of Trumps
North
(RKC ? Aces) South
(RKC ? Aces Reply) Agreed
Trump Suit North South Shows

4NT 5 clubs 5
? trump Q 5 No trump Q

5 Trump Q

5
? Kings 5 0

5NT 1

6 2

6 3

diamonds 5
? trump Q 5 No trump Q

5NT Trump Q

5
? Kings 5NT 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

hearts 5
? trump Q 5 No trump Q

5 Trump Q

5
? Kings 5NT 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

spades 5
? trump Q 5 No trump Q

5 Trump Q

5
? Kings 5 0

5NT 1

6 2

6 3

4NT 5 clubs or
diamonds 5
? trump Q 5 No trump Q

5NT Trump Q

5
? Kings 5NT 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

hearts 5
? trump Q 5NT No trump Q

6 Trump Q

5NT
? Kings 6 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

spades 5
? trump Q 5 No trump Q

5NT Trump Q

5NT
? Kings 6 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

4NT 5 clubs,
diamonds
or hearts 5
? Kings 5NT 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

spades 5NT
? Kings 6 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

4NT 5 clubs
diamonds
hearts
spades 5NT
? Kings 6 0

6 1

6 2

6 3

Smolen Transfer Bids (Smolen) ( ! )

An adjunct to Stayman and Jacoby Transfers, where, after a 2 reply to Stayman, responder holding 5/4 or 6/4 in the majors, jumps to 3 of his 4-card major, allowing opener to become declarer in responder's long major.

Example

Opener	Responder	Responder Shows
1NT 2	2 3!	5 spades and 4 hearts
1NT 2	2 3!	5 hearts and 4 spades

Opener can raise responder's long major with 3 trumps or rebid 3NT with only 2. In the latter case, with 6 of his long major, responder can bid 4 of the suit immediately below his 6-card major as a further transfer.

Example

Sequence	Responder	Responder Shows
1NT-2-2-3!-3NT	4!	6 spades and 4 hearts
1NT-2-2-3!-3NT	4!	6 hearts and 4 spades

Splinters ( ! )

The use of an unusual jump bid to show a singleton or void in the suit bid and excellent trump support for partner's last bid suit. This is forcing to game and shows slam interest.

North South Shows

1 3! 13-16HCP, agrees hearts, singleton or void spade (forcing)
With no slam interest partner may sign off in 4

1/1 4/4! As above but with club/diamond void or singleton

1 4! As above but with heart void or singleton
Note: Some players prefer that any game call is to play and not a splinter

Note 1: In competition after opponent's takeout double, splinter bids are still "on"

Note 2: In non-competitive auctions, Splinter bids may be extended to areas of rebidding, by both opener and responder. In this respect the "rule of thumb" is if a particular new-suit bid would be forcing, then one level higher in that same suit is a splinter bid.

Texas Transfers ( ! )

Jump responses of 4/4 over opener of 1NT/2NT to transfer to 4/4 when responder wants to be in game but has no slam interest

Opener Responder Opener
1NT/2NT 4! 4
4! 4

The idea behind this convention is similar to that behind Jacoby Transfers - it is better for opener to be declarer, since his high cards won't be exposed to the defenders.

Using both transfer conventions, responding to both 1NT and 2NT, Root/Pavlicek recommend the following understandings:

Texas, then pass is signoff in game, therefore:

Jacoby, then raise to game is mild slam try (not forcing but opener is invited to bid again with maximum).

Jacoby, then 4NT is defined as quantitative slam invitation, therefore:

Texas, then 4NT is Blackwood.

Opener	Responder	Opener	Responder	Using both JXfer and Texas, Shows
1NT	2-!	2-	4-	Suggests slam interest
	2-!	2-	4NT	Quantitative slam invitation
	4-!	4-	Pass	Signoff in game, no slam interest
	4-!	4-	4NT	Blackwood, not quantitative

Texas Transfers are "on" in competition through 3

Opener Opp1 Responder Shows
1NT 2-3 4! Xfer to 4
2 4! Xfer to 4
3 4 Natural, not an Xfer

Unusual Over Unusual ( ! )

A defence of Opponent's Unusual NT overcall of Opener's 1 of a major opening.

After a 2NT overcall of Opener's 1-, resonses of 3 and 3 are artificial showing hearts and spades respectively: e.g., If partner opened 1:

3! shows a heart suit with enough strength to force
3! shows a limit raise (or better) in spades
3! shows a heart suit but is not forcing
3! shows a spade fit, but less than a limit raise

Voluntary Bid of Five in a major Suit

A voluntary bid of five in an agreed major suit, is a slam invitation which is also a form of "asking bid". It asks partner to proceed to slam if he has 1st or 2nd round control of the enemy suit or, if your side has bid all but one suit, then 1st or 2nd round control in the unbid suit.

The Responses to Control Showing Enquiry
re Enemy Suit or Unbid Suit are:

Bid	Shows
Pass	No controls in specified suit (2 quick losers)
Bid 6	1st round control (eg. Ax)
Bid 6	with 2nd round control (eg.singleton)
5NT (rare)	Guarded King giving partner the option of 6NT

Note: If opps have bid a suit and there is also an unbid suit, a cuebid of the unbid suit shows 1st round control in both.

When the above is illogical, eg. 1-5 or if there is no unbid suit and no enemy bid, the voluntary bid of 5 of the agreed trump suit asks about the trump quality.

Responses to Trump Suit Enquiry are:

Call	Pass	If you feel there are 2 trump losers
	6	If only 1 trump loser
	7	If trumps are solid

Note 1: Since there is no logical reason to jump to 5 of a major suit, a voluntary such bid must be a slam try, you should be able to recognise it when used.

Note 2: If partner has pre-empted in a competitive auction, a raise to 5 of his major is not a slam try, even if voluntary. This is an "advance sacrifice".

Main Index	Standard SA-YC Conventions Index
Overview	Stayman
Standard SA-YC Conventions	Jacoby Transfers to Majors! Jacoby Xfer to Minors! *
General Approach	Jacoby 2NT! *
Responses and Later Bidding after 1NT Opening	4th Suit Forcing! *
2NT and 3NT Opening	Blackwood
1st Level Bidding/Responses/Rebids	Quantative 4NT
Strong 2 Opener	DOPI *
Slam Bidding Conventions	Control Showing Cuebids
Defensive Bidding	Gerber *
Balancing Seat Bids	Grand Slam Force! *
Competitive Bidding	Weak 2/3 Bids
Leads and Signals	2NT! Response to Opening Weak 2
Document Links, etc.	Raise only Non-Forcing (R-O-N-F)
OKb SAYC CC	Unusual NT! *
Note: ! = Alert throughout	Michael's Cuebid! *
Note: HCP=Actual High Card Points: Points=HCP+distributional points	Negative Doubles!
Note: *= Possible Optional Convention (see below)	SOS Redoubles

Capp O/Call	North	Shows
X! Strong Penalty	Pass	Can stand the X
X! Strong Penalty	2 x Suit	Weak takeout, can't stand the X
2 ! 1-Suited	2!	Relay asks Pd. to bid his suit � Pd will pass if suit is diamonds or correct .If Pd has 6x+4x, he can show this by bidding 2NT! over the 2! relay
	Pass	Poor hand with long decent clubs
	2-!	Good 5+-card major
	2NT!	11-13HCP balanced hand (invitational)
2! 5/4+majors	Pass	Poor major suit support with long good diamonds
	2-	Minimum response - major suit preference (NF)
	3!	Poor major suit support with long good clubs
	2NT! (force 1rnd)	Either a minor-suit hand or limit raise in 1 of the majors (if the latter the plan is to rebid 3- after pd has shown his better minor) (NF,invitational)
	3-!	Preemptive in accordance with " The Law of Total Tricks"*
2! hearts+minor (NF)	Pass	content to play in 2
	3!	Preemptive as * above
	2NT! (force 1rnd)	Asks Pard to bid his minor or shows a limit raise, eg.1NT-2!-P-2NT!-P-3-All Pass or, 1NT-2!-P-3-3(invitational, NF)**
2! spades+minor (NF)	Pass	content to play in 2
	3!	Preemptive as * above
	2NT! (force 1rnd)	Asks Pard to bid his minor or shows a limit raise as above but spades instead of hearts**
2NT! both minors	3-!	Preferred minor
	3!	A good major suit of your own and 11+HCP (more likely vs wk NT)(NF)
	Pass/3NT!	11+HCP Balanced hand with good major stops (more likely vs wk NT)

If DONT overcall is doubled, your possible responses are:
Pass	Indicates tolerance of bid suit
XX	Asks for Partner's 2nd suit
New Suit	Natural, non-forcing
If DONT overcall is in turn overcalled (2of a suit) your possible responses are:
Pass	Natural, non-forcing
X	Asks for Partner's 2nd suit
New Suit	Natural, non-forcing

Call	2!	Artificial. Sub-minimum opener
Call	Rebid of suit!	Shows full opening hand

North	South	Shows
1/1	1NT	6-10HCP balanced hand.Denies 4-card major. Does not deny 4 of bid minor (NF)
1/1	2/2!	Min 10 Points (no upper limit) and 4+trumps, denies 4-card major (forcing)
1/1	3/3!	Weak hand with 5 trumps or 4 good trumps

North	South	North	Shows
1/1	2/2!	2NT!	Min response suggests NT as final contract
		3/3!	Min response hand unsuitable for NT
		2/2!	Extra strength, 4+ of the bid minor + 3/4-card major
		3NT!	18-19HCP (if playing 15-17NT), balanced hand

North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1/1	2/2!	Natural showing 2 raise as minimum
2/2!	2NT!	Natural showing 2 raise as minimum
1/1	2/2!	Minimum single raise (unsuitable for NT)
2/2!	3/3!	Minimum single raise (unsuitable for NT)
1/1	2/2!	Strength in the other minor: may help to enable 3NT
3/3!	3/3!	Strength in the other minor: may help to enable 3NT
1/1	2/2!	3 good hearts/spades (South denied 4 with the single minor raise)
2/2!	3/3!
1/1	2/2!	Stops in the 2 unbid suits
2/2!	3NT!	Stops in the 2 unbid suits

e.g.	North	East	South	South's Rebid Shows
A	1NT	2	2NT!	Confirms a heart stop - partner should pass
A	3!	Pass	3NT!	Confirms a heart stop - partner should pass
B	1NT	2	2NT!	Cuebid is Stayman showing 4 spades and confirms a heart stop
B	3!	Pass	3!
C	1NT	2	3NT!	Denies heart stop. Partner must have a heart stop to Pass
D	1NT	2	3!	Denies heart stop but shows 4 spades. Partner must have a heart stop to bid 3NT

East	South	West	North	North's Rebid Shows
2	X	Pass	2NT!	Less than 7HCP with 5+cards in the bid suit
Pass	3! (relay)	Pass	Pass (with clubs)/3!	Less than 7HCP with 5+cards in the bid suit

No.	North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1.	1NT	2NT!	At least 5 (usually 6) clubs and a "bust"
1.	3!	Pass	At least 5 (usually 6) clubs and a "bust"
2.	1NT	3!	At least 5 (usually 6) diamonds and a "bust"
2.	3!	Pass	At least 5 (usually 6) diamonds and a "bust"

No.	North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1.	1NT	2NT/3!	Singleton or void in the "new" suit, at least 6 of the known minor. Game force, suggests slam interest
1.	3/3!	3/3!
2.	1NT	2NT/3!	No singleton or void, Game Force, possible slam interest. Opener should pass if min with min support in the known minor
2.	3/3!	3NT!
3.	1NT	2NT/3!	6+ of the known minor. highly distributional, Game invitational. Opener should pass or continue to 5/5
3.	3/3!	4/4!
4.	1NT	2NT/3!	This is quantitative not Blackwood but South has shown 5+ of the known minor
4.	3/3!	4NT!
5.	1NT	2NT/3!	Signing off in the known minor. highly distributional, very few HCP
5.	3/3!	5/5!

No.	North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1.	1NT	2!	8+HCP may/may not have a 4-card major - invitational to 3NT
1.	2!	2NT!
2.	1NT	2!	8+HCP, denies a 4-card major and invites to game in 3NT
2.	2	2NT!	8+HCP, denies a 4-card major and invites to game in 3NT
3.	1NT	2!	8+HCP with exactly 4 hearts - invites to game in 3NT or 4
3.	2	3
4.	1NT	2!	"check-back Stayman" (in case opener has a 4-card suit as well as 4x) Force 1 rnd, 8+HCP, denies 4x but shows exactly 4x - opener now rebids logically
4.	2	2

Priority	North	South	North's 3rd Rnd bid Shows
1	1	1	Shows 4 hearts by bidding the unbid major. Does not deny 3xspades
	1NT	2!
	2!	?
2	1	1	Show 3 hearts and min/max 1NT rebid
	1NT	2!
	2/3!	?
3	1	1	Denies 3 spades, shows club stop and min/max 1NT rebid
	1NT	2!
	2NT/3NT!	?
4	1	1	Denies 3 spades, no diamond stop and min 1NT rebid
	1NT	2!
	2!	?
5	1	1	Denies 3 hearts no spade stop, does not agree clubs but shows 4 of them
	1NT	2!
	3!	?

Responder's 3rd Round Available Bids
Pass	If opener's 3rd round bid is the logical contract
Any Minimum Bid	Natural (agreeing suit/NT) (if below game invitational)
Any Jump Bid	Natural (agreeing suit) (if below game forcing)
After 2 3rd rnd bid by pard (showing 4x), with 5x and less than 4x, bid 2	Asks if pard has 3 spades (forcing for 1 rnd)

Responses are as follows
3!	Min hand with 1 top honour in suit
3!	Min hand with 2 top honours in suit
3!	Max hand with 1 top honour in suit
3!	Max hand with 2 top honours in suit
3NT!	Max hand with 3 top honours in suit

RKC 0314/3014 asking for Controls			RKC 1430 asking for Controls
4NT	5	0 or 3 controls	1 or 4 controls
	5	1 or 4 controls	3 or 0 controls
	5	2 or 5 controls without Q Trumps	2 or 5 controls without Q Trumps
	5	2 or 5 controls with Q Trumps	2 or 5 controls with Q Trumps

North (RKC ? Aces)	South (RKC ? Aces Reply)	Agreed Trump Suit	North	South	Shows
4NT	5	clubs	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	5	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5	0
				5NT	1
				6	2
				6	3
		diamonds	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	5NT	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		hearts	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	5	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		spades	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	5	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5	0
				5NT	1
				6	2
				6	3
4NT	5	clubs or diamonds	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	5NT	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		hearts	5 ? trump Q	5NT	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	6	Trump Q
			5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		spades	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
			5 ? trump Q	5NT	Trump Q
			5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
4NT	5	clubs, diamonds or hearts	5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		spades	5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
4NT	5	clubs diamonds hearts spades	5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3

North	South	Shows
1	3!	13-16HCP, agrees hearts, singleton or void spade (forcing) With no slam interest partner may sign off in 4
1/1	4/4!	As above but with club/diamond void or singleton
1	4!	As above but with heart void or singleton Note: Some players prefer that any game call is to play and not a splinter

Part 2

Some of the Conventions used with SA-YC(but mainly with 2/1)

Some of the Conventions used with SA-YC
(but mainly with 2/1)