Simplified and Expanded by Wayne Flournoy
and Anna Marsh (OKbridge user-name: "ana")

Originally developed as ACBL Standard Yellow Card.

ALERT! The SAYC Part 1 has been revised to clarify and correct errors and omissions - 21st July, 2002

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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.

Part 1 Errors, Omissions, Amendments, Additions prior to 21st July 2002:

• 1st Level Bidding/Responses/Rebids - further updated 26th May, 2002 to amend/clarify what is and what isn't forcing. Error corrected in the example table re "Responses to 1 Opener" where 1-1major does NOT deny 4 diamonds. also some corrections to the further bidding tables.
• Amendments have been made to the 4SF examples and notes (26th May,2002)
• If you have received a printout in the mail please check that "General Approach" Item 10. on Page 2 of Part 1 is included. I apologise for this printing error and have now put it right (1 Feb 99).
• Expansion of first response in table of "Other Responses to 1NT" to include a balanced 8HCP count hand with a 4-card major - suggesting that 2NT response would be an option (March,1999)
• "Preempts" another option after 2N by responder asking for feature is to rebid suit (June 2000)
• "Competitive Bidding" "responses by an unpassed hand" - Jump Raise=10-12 Points with 4 trumps (invitational)(June,2000)
• "Competitive Bidding" "Responses after Opp's Takeout Double" amendment to the examples 1-X-2NT "Pd2 shows" should read "promises 10+HCP,4+trumps(limit or better raise)"
  1-X-XX "Pd2 shows" should read "promises 10+Points, without support(NF) Note:it is better to make a more descriptive bid of 1H, 1S,or 2NT unless you are preparing the way to double opps" (March,2001)
• "Stayman": expanded to include 5/4 (4/5) majors (January 2001)

Part 2 simplifies some of the more common "optional" conventions used on OKbridge both with SAYC and, more usually, with 2/1.

Part 2 Errors, Omissions, Amendments, Additions:

• Typing error corrected in "NMF" (26 Jan 99); 1st example of opener's 3rd rnd response
• Odd/Even (Roman) Discards page has been expanded to make it clearer (17 April 99)
• Expanded CAPP and DONT (8 July 1999)
• Typing error Flannery - Opener/Responder transposed (corrected 4 July 99)
• RKC omission 2 or 5 controls also RKC for Kings clarified (corrected 24rh July 99, further clarified 9th July, 2001)
• Lebensohl clarified (8 July 99): further clarification of Leb o/wk2 (March 2001)
• RDrury expanded (June 2000): 2-Way RDrury added (July 2000)
• Puppet Stayman, Smolen Transfers, Texas Transfers, Unusual over Unusual have been added (July 2000)
• Puppet Stayman amended (9th July 2001)
• Clarification of note to Voluntary 5 "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." (28th September 2001)
• Omission correct Cappelleti ocall 2 response 2- (10th March 2003)

Although one may prefer to play KISS (Keep it Simple Sweetie) , there are some conventions that one should know, if only to be aware of what the opponents are telling each other! If you would like to learn more conventions, an excellent source (and the main source for this document) is "Modern Bridge Conventions" by William S. Root & Richard Pavlicek. This book can be ordered (Worldwide) from Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies

Part 1 revised 21st July, 2002
Part 2(Optional Conventions) (updated 10th March 2003)
(these were written in Word 2000 but should be compatable with Word 7 and possibly Word 6. The ACBL CC may lose some formatting in Word 7 in which case you may like to download the PDF version of it instead.

Available PDF Documents

(converted to PDF using Acrobat 5 - to upgrade Acroreader visit Adobe):

Part 1 Revised 21st July, 2002
Part 2 (Optional Conventions)(updated 10th March, 2003
ACBL CC (as at 1999)

If you are unable to download the documents, please contact Fifthchair.org. and request a printout. You will need to cover the printing, P&P charges and any donation to fifthchair would be welcome.

Please revisit this site to ensure your copies are current, since I am constantly working on the documents to correct, expand, add - Ana, June 1999