INTRODUCTION TO SAYC - PART 1

You come online, sit in the lobby as you hear calls for SAYC players. You want to join in but you're not quite sure you are ready. You ask yourself, will I know how to respond to partner's opening bid, when to make a takeout double, how to bid that slam when you hold 20 HCPs and partner opens? The fundamentals are essential to SAYC, and this is your opportunity to get a solid launch as a competent SAYC player, ready to move up the ladder to Part 2 of this course.

What Constitutes An Opening Bid and Responder's First Bid

Opener's Rebid

Notrump Bidding

Overcalls

Takeout Doubles

Negative Doubles

Balancing Bids, Doubles and Overcalls

Slam Bidding

LESSON ONE:

OPENING BIDS AND RESPONDER'S FIRST BID

The Bridge Forum International

Here we will look at what constitutes an opening bid, some guidelines for opening particular hands and we will then move on to responder's first bid. We will determine the range within which responder's hand falls: minimum, invitational, game forcing, or slam zone.

ONE LEVEL OPENING BIDS

The tendency today is to open all 12 HCP hands regardless, although some 10/11 point hands are even more promising while some 12 HCPs are not worthy of an opening bid.

A. FIRST AND SECOND SEAT OPENERS

a) Here, with 11 HCP and strength in the major suits, this is certainly a solid 1ª opener.

b) While you cannot count distribution points for your void (until a FIT is found with partner), your 2 1/2 quick tricks (i.e. sure winners in a suit) make this a clear cut opening bid.

c) Here the values are scattered and your major suits are weak. This is an 11 HCP hand which you should pass. Many inexperienced players open these hands and get into trouble.

B. THIRD SEAT OPENERS

After two passes, you can take liberties to make life a bit more difficult for right hand opponent (RHO) who appears to be marked with a good hand. How should you determine whether you pass or open with sub-minimum values.

a) The chances are that you will be defending. What do you want led? By opening 1ª you not only direct the lead but you allow partner to compete when he has a fit.

b) Although opening one of a major strictly shows a 5-card suit, you can exercise your judgment when partner is a passed hand (and therefore unable to do too much damage). Remember that you do not promise a rebid once partner has passed, so opening 1© is a good tactical move on this hand.

c) There is no reason on earth to justify opening this pile of garbage.

C. FOURTH SEAT OPENERS

a) Here is prime time to open light. Recommended is to open 1ª and to pass whatever partner responds In both third and fourth seat, after two or three passes, a good guideline is the RULE OF 15. You take your HCP and add them to the number of spades held.

Thus in example a) you have 10 HCP and 5 spades = 15. You open this hand in third or fourth seat. With example b) you also have 11 HCP but only 3 spades totaling 14. This hand is best passed in third seat and certainly in fourth seat.

Why do you add your HCP to the number of spades you hold? Given that spades are the "BOSS" suit, the more spades you have, the more control you have for future bidding. You will be able to outbid opposition without going to next level if you can control the spade suit.

b) Here in fourth seat, after three passes, you hold a 13 HCP hand with six spades. There is a particular bid for such a situation, whether the 6-card suit is spades, hearts, or diamonds. You bid 2ª (or 2© or 2¨)!

Clearly in fourth seat this cannot be a preemptive bid!! (who is one preempting in fourth seat?)

In fourth seat this specific bid shows an opening hand with a decent 6-card suit.

REMEMBER once partner has passed, the obligation of having a rebid no longer applies.

D. DO I OPEN 1C or 1¨?

a) With 13 HCP there is no question that you are going to open the bidding with this hand. Given three-three in the minors, one may be tempted to bid one's "better minor", here diamonds. However with SAYC, you open 1§.

b) This is the rare distribution, 4/4/3/2 where diamonds, your longer minor, is only a three card suit, thus you bid 1¨. NB not all hands that open 1¨ promise four in the suit.

c) Here with 17 HCP, longer clubs than diamonds, you bid 1§ and have no concerns about reversing (i.e., bidding a higher ranking suit at the two level, here diamonds).

d) With 18 HCP, and four-four in clubs and diamonds, you are free to bid naturally; that is, your four card suits UP THE LINE (5-card suits are bid from the top down). If partner should happen to bid 1© or 1ª, you now have the sensible 2NT rebid. This jump bid denies four spades if partner bids either 1© or 1ª. It shows exactly 18-19 HCP with a fairly balanced hand.

E. RULE of 20

For minimum hands you might like to use the rule of 20 well outlined in Marty Bergen's book Points Schmoints.

Open the hand if your total high card points plus number of cards in your two longest suits add up to 20.

However, the rule of 20 should note be used unwisely. Insure that concentration of values is in your five-card suits!

HAPPY BRIDGINGJ

Copyright © 2003 Bridge Forum International