SAYC 1 Opening Bid

In the SAYC bidding system, a 1 opening shows 13-22 points and 3+ clubs. Examples of hands suitable for a 1 opening:

6 AJ42 AJ2 KT987	This hand has 13 HCP and its longest suit is clubs.
K97 AKJ2 K87 975	This hand is one point shy of a 1NT opening bid, and one heart shy of a 1 opening. With 3-3 in the minors, open 1, not 1.
AJT64 8 7 AKT532	Holding 6+ clubs and a 5-card major, open 1, not 1. You can "reverse" the bidding and bid spades twice at your next two turns.

With 5-5 in the black suits, some players open 1 while others prefer 1:

AT986 AJ 6 KT987

If you open 1 with this hand and partner responds 1/, you have an easy 1 rebid. However, it is an inexact bid that could also be made with a hand containing only 4 spades and 3 clubs. If you elect to open 1 instead, you immediately indicate a 5-card suit, but the risk is that partner makes a 2/1 response, forcing you to introduce your clubs at the 3-level.

Examples of hands that should not be opened 1:

Q5 AQ4 AJ2 KT987	With a balanced 15-17 HCP, open 1NT instead.
AK54 T873 T87 AK	With 4-4-3-2 shape, open 1 instead.
7 AKQ AJ5 AKQ875	This hand is too strong for 1. Open a strong 2 instead, which shows 22+ HCP or a trick short of game. This hand has 10 probable tricks.
5 A432 J652 AKJ9	SAYC advises opening 1 with 4-4 in the minors, but opinions vary.

Response	Meaning
Pass	0-5 points.
1	4+ diamonds and 6+ points. Forcing. Depending on partnership style, responder may have a 4-card major if bidding 4-card suits "up the line." In contrast, the "Walsh" style of bidding (named for Richard Walsh) would bypass 4- or even 5-card diamond suits to respond 1/ instead. 7653 AQ43 AJ92 T Respond 1 if bidding "up the line". Otherwise, respond 1.
1	4+ hearts and 6+ points. Forcing. AJ92 KT43 765 T2 With 4-4 in the majors, respond 1, not 1.
1	4+ spades and 6+ points. Forcing. KQ832 J9754 643 -- With 5-5 in the majors, respond 1, not 1.
1NT	6-9 points, balanced. Denies a 4-card major, and tends to deny 4 clubs. Non-forcing. K52 QT2 J763 K54 You could respond 1, but 1NT is more descriptive.
2	A single raise shows 6-9 points and at least 4-card support. Denies a 4-card major. Non-forcing.
2//	A Strong Jump Shift, showing a 5+ card suit and 17-19 points. Forcing to game.
2NT	In SAYC, 2NT shows a balanced 13-15 HCP. Responder normally denies a 4-card major unless holding 4-3-3-3 shape. This bid is forcing to game. However, many players use it as a balanced 10-12 HCP instead.
3	A limit raise, showing 4+ clubs and 10-12 points. Denies a 4-card major. Non-forcing.
3NT	In SAYC, this shows a balanced 15-17 HCP. Responder normally denies a 4-card major unless holding 4-3-3-3 shape. However, many players use it as a balanced 13-15 HCP instead.
4NT	Blackwood, asking for aces.

Raises

Raises are opener's priority when responder bids a major.

Raise	Meaning
Single raise	4+ card support for partner's suit and 13-15 points. Not forcing.
Double raise	4+ card support and 16-18 points. Not forcing.
Double jump raise	4+ card support and 19-22 points. Not forcing.

Rebidding no-trumps

Rebid	Meaning
1NT	A balanced 12-14 HCP. Not forcing.
2NT	A balanced 18-19 HCP. Not forcing.

Rebidding clubs

Rebid	Meaning
2	6+ clubs and 13-15 points. This may also show 5 clubs after 1 : 1. With 4 hearts and unbalanced shape like 1-4-3-5, opener must rebid his 5-card suit. (2 would be a "reverse", showing 16+ points.) Not forcing.
3	6+ clubs and 16-18 points. Not forcing.

Bidding a new suit

Rebid	Meaning
A new suit at the 1-level	A 4+ card suit, 13-18 points. Non-forcing.
A jump shift in a new suit	A 4+ card suit and 19+ points. This may occasionally be only a 3-card suit if opener lacks a good alternative bid. Game-forcing.
A "reverse"	A bid of a new suit that bypasses 2. For example, after the auction begins 1 : 1, both 2 and 2 are reverses. This shows a 4+ card suit and 16+ points.

Rebid	Meaning
2NT	A balanced 18-19 HCP. Not forcing.
2	6+ clubs and 13-15 points. Not forcing.
2//	A reverse, showing a 4+ card suit and 16+ points. Forcing.
3	6+ clubs and 16-18 points. Forcing.

When the opponents make a takeout double over 1:

• A redouble shows 10+ points and no other suitable call.
• A 2NT response is the Jordan 2NT convention, showing a limit raise or better in clubs.
• A jump raise of 3 response becomes a weak 4-card raise, showing 0-6 points.

If the opponents overcall 1:

• A double of an overcall through 2 is a Negative Double.
• A cue bid of the overcaller's suit shows a Limit Raise or better in clubs. 4+ clubs, 10+ points.
• A jump raise of 3 is a weak 4-card raise, showing 0-6 points.

		Opener			Responder
		92			AT83
		AKJ3			62
		J94			Q53
		K654			Q932
		Opener 1 1NT (1)			Responder 1 Pass

1. Shows a balanced 12-14 HCP and denies 4-card spade support. Note that opener cannot rebid 2, which would be a reverse showing 16+ points.

		Opener			Responder
		972			83
		QJ2			AT93
		A			Q532
		KQJ654			Q32
		Opener 1 2 (1)			Responder 1 Pass

1. 13-15 points and 6+ clubs

		Opener			Responder
		972			AT83
		AQJ2			T93
		A			KT2
		KQJ64			T52
		Opener 1 2 (1) 3NT			Responder 1 2NT Pass

1. A reverse, showing 16-22 points and 4+ hearts

		Opener			Responder
		AJ2			KT853
		AT3			KQ94
		AK5			T2
		K743			92
		Opener 1 2NT (1) 3 (2) Pass			Responder 1 3 4

1. 18-19 HCP, balanced
2. Shows 3-card spade support

		Opener			Responder
		KJT73			A54
		5			KT9643
		6			T72
		AK7432			6
		Opener 1 1 2 (2) 4			Responder 1 2 (1) 3 Pass

1. Shows 6+ hearts
2. Shows a 5-card suit by bidding spades twice