Thirteen Conventions on the SYC

Thirteen Conventions on the ACBL Standard Yellow Card - (see box # on card): 1. Stayman: looking for a four card Major: (SYC#2) Stayman: means a bid of 2 clubs is asking for a 4 card Major w 8/9 HCP (SYC#2) up the line. First is Hearts then Spades. 2. Jacoby Transfer : (SYC#2) : Jacoby for Majors over 1, 2 and 3 NT (on over doubles.) 2 Diamond Bid = Transfer to 2 Hearts with 5 and 0+ HCP. 2 Heart Bid = Transfer to 2 Spades with 5 trump and 0+ HCP. 2 Spade Bid transfer to 3 Clubs with 6Clubs; Responder rebid to 3 D -= sign off.

3. Open 5 Card Major /Jacoby 2 NT response: (SYC#3) Jacoby 2 NT Response = 13(+) HCP; 4 trump and a singleton or . 4. Open 2 Club Bid & responses : (SYC#5) Responder to Two Club bid = 22+HCP: “Fun” plays 3 point Steps: 2 Diamonds is 0-3 HCP; Opener re-bids 3 Clubs - Responder bids best; opener places Contract. 2 Hearts is 4-6 HCP; Opener places Contract. 2 Spades is 7-9 HCP; Opener places Contract- may Ace Ask if long /strong suit. 3 Clubs is 10-12 HCP; 3 Diamonds = 13+HCP; Opener Ace Asking - Places Contract.

5. Open Weak Two Bids : (SYC #6) Opening Weak two bids are bids of two Diamonds, two Hearts and two Spades showing six good cards and only 5-11 HCP. Note: To pre-empt, needs 2 of the top three Honors or 3 of the top five Honors. Honors = Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Tens. 6. Negative Double : (SYC#7) Negative Doubles are made by the Responder in an Auction where his partner Opened and there is an intervening bid by an Overcaller. The Responder's Negative Double shows 8-10 HCP and support in the two unbid suits, (not support for the suit bid by Opener or the suit bid by the Overcaller) with a four card support in the unbid Major. I.e. 1 Club - (1 Diamond) - Double by Responder = 4/4 or better in the two Majors. 1 Diamond – (Heart) - Double = exactly 4 Spades + a minor; Responder would Bid 2 Spades with 5 cards. 1 Diamond – (Spade) – Double = 4 hearts + a minor.

7. : (SYC#7)

Take out Double by Overcaller = 12+ HCP and no 5 card suit. Response bids over a Take--out Double over Opener’s Minor Bid: 1 Heart / 1 Spade w 8+ HCP and 5 Cards. 2 Clubs w 6 cards & 10 HCP. Redouble responder’s bid with 5 cards in opener's suit and 10+ HCP. Jump shift 2 Hearts, 2 Spades or 3 Clubs with 6 cards preemptive shape and points to play by Responder.

Take out Double by fourth player after partner passed and Opener and Responder bid two different suits = 5 / 4 in the other two unbid suits.

8. : (SYC#8) 10+ HCP = Que bid over a Major = 5 cards in non- bid Major + 5 cards in a Minor; 10+ HCP = Que bid over a Minor bid; = 5 / 5 in the Majors.

9. Unusual 2 NT : (SYC# 12) 2 NT Bid over Opener = Unusual 2 No Trump (SYC#12) = shows w /15 – 18 HCP and at least 5/5 in the 2 Lowest unbid suits. If opened a Major = 5/5 in both minors; If opened a minor, = 5 Hearts & 5 of the unbid minor.

10. Direct Cue Bid : (SYC#15) Michaels: is bidding same Major as opener = Michaels Major = 5 cards in the un bid Major and tolerance for one of the Minor suits and 10+ HCP. Michaels: a Bid of the same suit as the declarer of a = 5/5 in the two Major suits, and 8+ HCP.)

11. Gerber : (SYC#16)

Gerber X; 4 Clubs bid is Ace asking: Over 1 NT & 2NT opening bids or last no trump bid, When partner bids 4 Clubs: Response: four diamonds equals zero aces, four hearts equals one ace, four spades equals two aces and four No Trump equals three aces.

12. Blackwood : (ACBL - SYC#16) Blackwood X 4NT: is asking for aces ; Response: five clubs equals zero aces, five diamonds equals one ace, five hearts equals two aces, five spades equals three aces. Grand Slam Force X 5 NT: is asking for Kings: 5 NT guarantees partnership has all ; Response: six clubs equals zero Kings, six diamonds equals one King, six hearts equals two Kings, six spades equals three Kings.

13. SOS Redoubles : (SYC#17) SOS Redoubles is used to request that partner bid a different suit if your partnership is doubled for penalty in a trump suit at the three level or lower when you cannot support that doubled suit bid.

These are the thirteen Convention Bids on the ACBL Standard Yellow Card. These are the first Conventions you must learn to play fundamental