SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card)

SAYC is a bidding system based on 5-card majors and a strong 1NT. It is prevalent in online bridge games and derives its origins from the ACBL.

• The ACBL SAYC Convention Card (PDF)
• The ACBL SAYC System Booklet (PDF)

The following is from the ACBL's treatise on SAYC:

• 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 and can be made with a five-card major suit or a five-card minor suit.
• 1NT = 15-17
• 2NT = 20-21
• 3NT = 25-27
• Strong conventional 2 opening.
• Weak two-bids in diamonds, hearts and spades.

Bid	Description	Related Conventions
1 opening bid	3+ clubs, 13-22 points	Limit Raises
1 opening bid	3+ diamonds, 13-22 points	Limit Raises
1 opening bid	5+ hearts, 13-22 points	Limit Raises Jacoby 2NT Jordan 2NT
1 opening bid	5+ spades, 13-22 points	Limit Raises Jacoby 2NT Jordan 2NT
1NT opening bid	Balanced, 15-17 HCP	Gerber Jacoby Transfers Stayman
2 opening bid	22+ HCP or 9+ tricks	—
2// opening bids	6-card suit, 5-11 HCP	RONF
2NT opening bid	Balanced, 20-21 HCP	Gerber Jacoby Transfers Stayman
3/// opening bids	7-card suit, 5-11 HCP	—
3NT opening bid	Balanced, 25-27 HCP	Jacoby Transfers Stayman
4/ opening bids	8-card suit, 5-11 HCP	—
4/ opening bids	7+ card suit, 7 tricks not vul. or 8 tricks vul.	—

Bid	Description	Related Conventions
Takeout Doubles	Takeout for the unbid suits, OR 17+ points	—
Negative Doubles	Through 2	—
SOS Redoubles	Redoubling for takeout after the opponents double for penalty	—

Bid	Description	Related Conventions
4 Gerber	Asks for aces in a no-trump contract	DOPI DEPO ROPI
4NT Blackwood	Asks for aces in a trump contract	DOPI DEPO ROPI
5NT Grand Slam Force	Invites a grand slam with 2 of 3 top trump honors	—

• Standard attitude signals. High encourages, low discourages.
• Standard count signals. High-low shows an even # of cards, low-high shows odd.

SAYC is a bidding system created by the ACBL in the 1980s for tournament play. The intent was to offer "Yellow Card" events in which everyone played the same system, thereby avoiding alerts and misunderstandings.

When online duplicate bridge began in the late 1990's, SAYC filled the need for a default convention card. It gained traction on OKbridge and was later adopted by Bridge Base Online. Ironically, SAYC is more popular today as the de facto system in online pickup games than the carefully standardized sit-down events which the ACBL originally envisioned.

Online adoption has led to grassroots modifications of the system, with some players defining "SAYC Basic" vs. "SAYC Full". Officially, the ACBL does not make this distinction.

It is also worth noting that SAYC lacks several conventions and treatments that are popular in modern tournaments. Experienced players may consider filling some "holes" in the system, including (but not limited to):

• Inverted Minors
• Roman Key Card Blackwood
• A defense to 1NT, such as Cappelletti or DONT
• 1/ : 2NT as 10-12 HCP instead of 13-15 HCP
• 1/ : 3NT as 13-15 HCP instead of 15-17 HCP