Simplified and Expanded by Wayne Flournoy
and Anna Marsh (OKbridge user-name: "ana")
Originally developed as ACBL Standard Yellow Card

The source page is http:www.annam.co.uk/sayc.htm

Part 1 describes the SA-YC bidding system as played on OKbridge. SA-YC is normally a "five-card
majors" bidding system, but players may exercise their own judgement to open a good four-card major in third seat. A few sequences are defined in the later rounds of SA-YC auctions. Players are free to assign "forcing", "invitational", or "non-forcing" meanings to natural calls in such sequences.

All artificial bids/conventions mentioned in Part 1 are standard SA-YC. A novice player may arrange
with his partner not to use some of the standard conventions, but the partnership must agree explicitly which conventions are to be excluded. Suggested standard conventions for novices to specifically omit are marked as Asterisk ( * ).

Note: Throughout this document, the required alerts, based on the ACBL alert chart, are identified with an "exclamation mark" ( ! ) "HCP" is used for actual "high card points" – "Points" is used to include distributional points. NF=Non-Forcing.

General Approach
1. Normally open five-card majors in all seats.
2. Open the higher of long suits of equal length: 5-5 or 6-6.
3. Normally open 1D  with 4-4 in the minors.
4. Normally open 1C  with 3-3 in the minors.
5. No trump openings show a balanced hand but can be made with a five-card major or minor suit.
6. 1NT = 15-17HCP
7. 2NT = 20-21HCP
8. 3NT = 25-27HCP {See also Part 2 Gambling 3NT}
9. Strong artificial 2C Opener = (22+ HCP)
10. Weak Two-bids in diamonds, hearts and spades. (5-11 Points, 6 card suit)

Responses And Later Bidding After 1NT Opening
Stayman
[1NT 15~17HCP,Balanced;
(-)/2C Stayman,It shows 8+ HCP and at lease one 4-
card major; or
  an unbalanced, game-forcing hand with 5+ in a minor, with or without a side major.
 Stayman is normally avoided with 4333 or 3433 shape, just raise to 2NT or 3NT.
(-)]
[? 2D:denying a 4card major;
 2H/2S:natural;
(-)/? 3m:5card+,game/slam try;
 3M:longer majors with both major;

[1NT-2C] stayman;
[2H may 4-4 majors;
 (-)/2NT/-]
[3S or 4S 4-4 majors,& unbalanced.

[1NT-2C] Stayman can also be used in cases where responder has fewer than 8 HCP; and
 intends to pass any response, i.e.
 if responder has 4-4-4-1 shape (the club being a singleton), any response can be passed and hopefully improve the final contract.
 {see also Part 2 Minor Suit Stayman}

Jacoby Transfers to Majors ( ! )
[1NT/- 
? 2D:transfer to 2H;
 2H:transfer to 2S;
-]
[? 2M/3M:Opener MUST accept the transfer although he can jump to the three level with 17 points and four-card
support for responder's major.

[(1S)/1NT/-/?]
 Jacoby Transfers also apply when partner has made a strong natural NT overcall at any level;

[1NT-2D!]
[2H
(-)/? pass:Responder has 0-7HCP with 5+hearts;
 2S:11+HCP, 5-5 in the majors, invitational (NF);
 2NT/3H:Responder has 9+HCP (invitational to 3NT or 4H);
 3m:Responder has 11+HCP, good side suit, but may not be long (GF, poss slam interest);
 3NT:Responder has 10+HCP asks pref 3NT or 4H;

[1NT-2H]
[2S 5-5 spades/hearts, (GF), while 5-4 and 4-5
hands should use Stayman rather than a Jxfr;

[1NT-2D!]
[3H Opener has 17HCP and 4 hearts (invitational);
 (-)/? pass;
 3NT;
 4H;

Note 1: Jacoby Transfers are also used over openers of 2/3NT openers;
Note 2: Jacoby Transfers are "off" if the 1NT opening is overcalled.


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