STANDARD AMERICAN YELLOW CARD (as defined by the ACBL) (incomplete, last updated 2/15/21) POINT COUNT Card Values Ace 4 points King 3 points Queen 2 points Jack 1 point Long Suit Points (most situations, not NT) 1 point for each card in suit more than 4 Short Suit Points (if fit in partner's suit, or if considering takeout double) Doubleton 1 point Singleton 3 points Void 5 points Strong suit: suit headed by A-K, A-Q, or K-Q Good suit: suit headed by A-K, A-Q, K-Q, A-J, K-J, or Q-J-10 COMBINED POINTS NEEDED TO MAKE CONTRACT 3 NT: 25+ points 4 of suit: 25+ points 5: 29+ points 6: 33+ points 7: 37+ points OPENING BID BALANCED HAND (no more than 1 doubleton) 0-12 Pass 13-14 1 level bid as if hand were imbalanced, followed by NT 15-17 1 NT (if 5 card major, bid 1 of the major instead) 18-19 1 level bid as if hand were imbalaced, followed by jump in NT 20-21 2 NT 22-24 2 Clubs 25-27 3 NT 28-30 2 Clubs followed by jump in NT 31+ 2 Clubs followed by double jump in NT IMBALANCED HAND Bid longest suit unless that suit is a 4 card major. If tie for length, bid highest suit first If 4 card major: bid longest minor suit. If tie for length, bid clubs with 3-3 split, otherwise bid diamonds 0-12 Pass, unless strong 6 card suit or better (see Weak Bids below) 13-21 Bid at the 1 level 22+ 2 Clubs WEAK BIDS (Strong 6 card suit or better, less than opening points) If partnership agrees, allow Good suits 6 card suit: Bid 2 of the suit, unless it's clubs, in which case Pass 7 card suit: Bid 3 of the suit 8 card suit: Bid 4 of the suit RESPONDER'S FIRST BID RESPONDING TO 1 OF A SUIT IF OPPONENT PASSED IF RESPONDER HAS SUPPORT (3+ of a major, 4+ of a minor) Re-evaluate with short suit points 0-5 Pass 6-9 2 of the suit (if 5+ card major suit or 6+ card minor, and with a singleton or void, bid 4 of the suit) 10-11 3 of the suit 12+ Bid new suit as if no support and let partner show his points WITH BALANCED HAND AND NO SUPPORT, NO 4+ MAJOR or 5+ MINOR 0-5 Pass 6-9 Bid 4 card minor at 1 level if possible, otherwise bid 1 NT 10-12 Bid 4 card minor at lowest level possible 13-15 2 NT 16-18 3 NT IF NEITHER OF THE ABOVE Bid longest suit at the lowest level possible. If there's a tie, bid lowest ranking suit if 4 cards, highest ranking if 5 or more 0-5 Pass - 6-11 Bid the suit at one level if possible 10+ If not possible to bid the suit at one level, bid suit at two level 6-9 If neither of the above results in a bid: If second 4+ suit exists, bid suit the one level if possible If not, 1 NT 19+ Jump shift into the suit RESPONDING TO 1 OF A SUIT IF OPPONENT BID WHEN OPPONENT HAS MADE A TAKEOUT DOUBLE 4-6* Jump Shift if Good 6+ card suit (preemptive) 5-9* Jump Raise if strong support (4+ of a major, 5+ of minor) (preemptive) 6-9* 2 over 1 bid (no jump) if Strong 5 card suit or any 6+ card suit (not forcing) 6-9 You may pass if you don't want to bid 0-9 Bid normally as if no takeout double if none of the above 10-11* 2 NT if strong support (4+ of a major, 5+ of minor) 10+ Redouble if none of the above * - make sure your partner knows these bids before you use them, otherwise respond normally WHEN OPPONENT HAS MADE AN OVERCALL WITH SUPPORT FOR PARTNER'S SUIT 0-5 Pass 6-9 Single Raise if possible at 2 level 10-11 Bid suit at 3 level 12+ Bid suit at 4 level WITH NO SUPPORT FOR PARTNER'S SUIT 0-5 Pass 6-10 Check to see if Negative Double is in effect, if not bid as if no overcall 11+ Bid new suit at 2 level (no jumps), 5 cards needed for major If new suit is 4 card minor, negative double has priority NEGATIVE DOUBLES Use only if overcall is 2 Spades or less (on anything higher it's a penalty double) If there are unbid majors, Shows 4+ cards in all unbid major suits If no unbid majors, shows 4+ cards in both minor suits If overcall is 1-level, 6 points are required If overcall is 2-level, 8 points are required With 5-4 in the unbid suits, use judgement to chose between negative doubles and bidding the 5 card suit Special: If overcall was 1 Heart: Only use negative double with exactly 4 cards in spades Bid 1 Spade with 5+ Spade suit (6 points required) If penalty double is desired, Pass (partner may double after seeing this bid) RESPONDING TO 1 NT IF NO OVERCALL JACOBY TRANSFERS Bid 2 Hearts to transfer to spades Bid 2 Diamonds to transfer to hearts Bid 2 Spades to transfer to minor suit WITH 5+ IN MAJOR SUIT, AND 3 OR LESS IN OTHER MAJOR With 16+ points and a 6+ card major suit, bid 3 of the suit to ask for slam. Otherwise, transfer to the 5+ card major. After partner transfers normally: 0-7 Pass 8-9 If 6+ card suit, bid 3 of your suit to invite to game If 5 card suit, bid 2 NT to invite to game (partner will bid 3 or 4 of your suit if he has 3, otherwise will either pass or bid 3 NT 10-15 If 6+ card suit, bid 4 of your suit If 5 card suit, bid 3 NT (partner will bid 4 of your suit if he has 3 or more) 16+ If 5 card suit, bid 4 NT to ask for slam (with longer suit, you should not have transferred) After Partner Super-Accepts (showing 17 points with 4 cards in suit to which he transferred) 0-7 Pass 8-15 Raise to Game 16+ 4 Clubs (Gerber) WITH 6-4 OR 7-4 IN MAJOR SUITS Bid as if hand were a one suit hand with the longer suit, as above WITH 6+ IN MINOR SUIT 0-7 2 Spades, partner bids 3 Clubs, responder passes if suit is Clubs, bids 3 Diamonds otherwise 8-9 3 of the minor suit (if partner bids 3 NT, pass) 10-15 3 NT 16+ 4 Clubs (Gerber) WITH 5-5 OR BETTER IN BOTH MAJOR SUITS 0-7 Transfer to longest and strongest suit, then pass 8-9 Transfer to hearts, then bid spades, showing 5-5 and invitational strength 10+ Transfer to spades, then bid hearts, showing 5-5 with enough to force to game WITH 5-4 IN MAJOR SUITS 0-7 Transfer to 5 card suit and pass 8-9 3 Clubs (Stayman), if partner answers with a major, single raise that major if partner replies 2 Diamonds, bid 2 of the 4 card major 10+ 3 Clubs (Stayman), if partner answers with a major, bid game in the major if partner replies 2 Diamonds, jump to 3 of the 4 card major IF NONE OF THE ABOVE AND WITH A 4 CARD MAJOR 0-7 Pass 8-9 2 Clubs (Stayman, inviting to game) If partner replies 2 Hearts or 2 Spades With 4 cards in the suit, bid 3 of the suit With less than 4 cards in the suit, bid 2 NT If partner bids 2 Diamonds, bid 2 NT 10-15 2 Clubs (Stayman, forcing to game) If partner replies 2 Hearts or 2 Spades With 4 cards in the suit, bid 4 of the suit With less than 4 cards in the suit, bid 3 NT If partner bids 2 Diamonds, bid 3 NT 16+ 2 Clubs (Stayman, exploring slam) After partner's response, bid 4 Clubs (Gerber, asking for aces), and play contract in suit/NT based on partner's response IF NONE OF THE ABOVE 0-7 Pass 8-9 2 NT 10-15 3 NT 16-17 4 NT (inviting 6 NT) 18-19 6 NT 20-21 5 NT (inviting 7 NT) 22+ 7 NT RESPONDING TO 1 NT IF OPPONENT OVERCALLS Respond naturally with judgement: Jacoby Transfers and Stayman are no longer in effect. RESPONDING TO 2 NT JACOBY TRANSFERS Bid 3 Hearts to transfer to spades Bid 3 Diamonds to transfer to hearts WITH 5+ IN MAJOR SUIT, AND 3 OR LESS IN OTHER MAJOR With 12 points and a 6+ card major suit, bid 3 of the suit to invits to slam. With 13+ points and a 6+ card major suit, bid 4 Clubs (Gerber) Otherwise, transfer to the 5+ card major. After partner transfers normally: 0-4 Transfer to longest and strongest suit, then pass 5-11 If 6+ card suit, bid 4 of your suit If 5 card suit, bid 3 NT (partner will bid 4 of your suit if he has 3 or more) 12 With 4 card Diamond suit, bid 4 Diamonds With minimum hand, partner bids game in the best fit, or 5 NT if no fit) With maximum hand, partner bids 4 NT (Blackwood) With no 4 card minor Bid 4 NT (not Blackwood) Partner will pass, bid 6 NT, or bid 5 or 6 of your suit depending on his hand) 13+ With 4 card Diamond suit, bid 4 Diamonds With minimum hand, partner bids game in the best fit, or 5 NT if no fit) Raise to slam after partner responds With maximum hand, partner bids 4 NT (Blackwood) With no 4 card minor Bid 4 Clubs (Gerber) After Partner Super-Accepts (showing 21 points with 4 cards in suit to which he transferred) 0-3 Pass 4-11 Raise to game in the suit 12+ 4 Clubs (Gerber) WITH 6-4 OR 7-4 IN MAJOR SUITS Bid as if hand were a one suit hand with the longer suit, as above WITH 6+ IN MINOR SUIT 0-4 Pass 5-8 3 NT 9-12 5 of the minor suit 13+ 4 Clubs (Gerber) WITH 5-5 OR BETTER IN BOTH MAJOR SUITS 0-4 Transfer to longest and strongest suit, then pass 5-11 Transfer to Spades, then bid Hearts, showing 5-5 to force to game 13+ Transfer to Hearts, then bid Spades, showing 5-5 to show slam interest WITH 5-4 IN MAJOR SUITS 0-4 Transfer to 5 card suit and pass 5-12 3 Clubs (Stayman), if partner answers with a major, bid 4 of the major if partner replies 3 Diamonds, bid 3 of the 4 card major 13+ 3 Clubs (Stayman), if partner answers with a major, bid 4 NT (Blackwood) if partner replies 3 Diamonds, jump to 4 of the 4 card major, partner will bid Blackwood IF NONE OF THE ABOVE AND WITH A 4 CARD MAJOR 0-4 Pass 5-12 3 Clubs (Stayman, forcing to game) If partner replies 3 Hearts or 3 Spades With 4 cards in the suit, bid 4 of the suit With less than 4 cards in the suit, bid 3 NT If partner bids 2 Diamonds, bid 3 NT 13+ 3 Clubs (Stayman, exploring slam) Bid 4 Clubs (Gerber) Play contract in suit/NT based on partner's response If partner bids 2 Diamonds bid 4 Clubs (Gerber), play contract in NT IF NONE OF THE ABOVE 0-4 Pass 5-11 3 NT 12 4 NT (inviting 6 NT) 13-15 6 NT 16-17 5 NT (inviting 7 NT) 18+ 7 NT RESPONDING TO 2 CLUBS Partner is showing 22+ points. 0-7 2 Diamonds 8+ : bid Good 5+ card major at 2 level, Good 5+ card minor at 3 level, else 2 NT OPENER'S SECOND BID OPENING BID WAS 1 NO TRUMP Max hand = 17 high card points Min hand = 15 high card points Use judgement with 16 high card points PARTNER'S BID 2 Clubs (Stayman) If no 4 card major: 2 Diamonds If partner bids 2 NT, raise to 3 NT with max hand If partner bids 3 NT, pass If one 4 card major: 2 of that major If partner bids 2 NT, raise to 3 NT with max hand If partner bids 3 of the major suit, raise to 4 with max hand If partner bids a game contract, pass If both 4 card majors: 2 Hearts If partner bids 2 NT, bid 3 Spades If partner bids 3 of the major suit, raise to 4 with max hand If partner bids a game contract, pass 2 Diamonds (Jacoby) Transfer to 2 Hearts (if 17 points and 4 card suit, super-accept with 3 Hearts) 2 Hearts (Jacoby) Transfer to 2 Spades (if 17 points and 4 card suit, super-accept with 3 Spades) 2 Spades (Jacoby) Transfer to 3 Clubs (if partner bids 3 Diamonds, pass) 3 of a minor suit (partner shows 6 card suit 8-9 points, inviting to game) Min hand Pass Max hand 3 NT 3 of a major suit (partner shows 6 card suit and slam interest) Min hand 4 of the suit Max hand 4 Clubs (Gerber) 2 NT Min hand Pass Max hand 3 NT 3 NT Pass 4 NT Min hand Pass Max hand 6 NT 5 NT Min hand 6 NT Max hand 7 NT 6 NT Pass 7 NT Pass OPENING BID WAS 1 OF A SUIT PARTNER SUPPORTS MAJOR SUIT PARTNER'S BID 2 of the suit (6-9 points) 13-15 Pass 16-18 3 of the suit, inviting to game 19-21 4 of the suit 3 of the suit (10-11 points) 13 Pass 14 Pass or 4 of the suit 15-21 4 of the suit 4 of the suit (6-9 points, 5+ card suit, at least one singleton) Pass PARTNER SUPPORTS MINOR SUIT PARTNER'S BID 2 of the suit (6-9 points) 13-15 Pass 16-18 3 of the suit, inviting to game at 3 NT 19-21 4 of the suit, inviting to game at 5 Diamonds 3 of the suit (10-11 points) 13 Pass 14-17 Pass or 3 NT 18-21 3 NT or 5 of the suit 4 of the suit (6-9 points, 6+ card suit, at least one singleton) 13-19 Pass 20-21 Pass or 5 of the suit PARTNER BIDS NEW SUIT OR NO TRUMP (forcing if player on right passed) WITH SUPPORT (4 cards) FOR PARTNER'S SUIT Re-evaluate with short suit points PARTNER'S BID 1 or 2 of the suit (6+ points at 1 level, 10+ points at 2 level) 13-15 Single Raise 16-18 Jump Raise 19-21 Jump Shift to longest and strongest unbid suit If no 4 card suit to bid, jump to game in partner's suit WITHOUT SUPPORT (4 cards) FOR PARTNER'S SUIT (or if partner bid NT) 16-18 Jump in opening suit if 6+ card major or 5+ card minor (if above does not apply) 13-18 Bid longest and strongest 4+ card unbid 13-15 Rebid opening suit if 6+ card major or 5+ card minor 13-17 Bid NT at lowest level if none of the above (pass allowed if partner bid NT) 18-19 Jump Shift in NT with balanced hand 19-21 Jump Shift in 4+ card new suit 19-21 If no 4+ card new suit to bid 4 of opening suit if 6+ card major or 5+ card minor 3 NT otherwise) PARTNER AND PLAYER ON RIGHT PASS AFTER PLAYER ON LEFT OVERCALLS Partner may be asking for a penalty double from you (see "Negative Doubles" above) With a 5-5 hand or 6 in your opening suit, make your normal re-bid With less than 3 cards in the suit that was overcalled, Double Partner will pass if penalty double was desired, or will treat double as if takeout With a minimum balanced hand, Pass COMPETETIVE BIDDING REGULAR OVERCALLS For an overcall, a 5 card suit is required. At the 1 level, 10 points are needed At the 2 level, 13 points are needed With 18+ points, make takeout double instead TAKEOUT DOUBLE Own partnership cannot have bid. Re-evaluate with short suit points If opponents have bid at least 1 suit 13 points needed If opponents have bid only 1 NT 15-17 points with a balanced hand needed If player on left passes, partner responds as if to an opening 1 NT bid (including Jacoby and Stayman) PARTNER'S RESPONSE TO TAKEOUT DOUBLE 8-10 and a stopper in the opponent's suit: 1 NT 11-12 and a stopper in the opponent's suit: 2 NT 8-11 and a Good unbid suit (5 cards preferred): jump bid in that suit 12+ bid game contract, or cue bid opponent's bid suit to force to game If none of these apply, bid longest and strongest unbid suit You can pass takeout double if you have great length and strength in bid suit (turning it into a penalty double). Otherwise, if opponent on right has not bid, you must bid something. MICHAELS CUE BID AND UNUSUAL NO TRUMP After opponent has bid while partnership has not, use these bids to show two 5+ card suits Use judgement in using these bids; they should not be used with every 5-5 hand: With weak long suits and strong short suits, it is often best to find another bid With an uneven split (like 6-5), it is often best to bid the longer suit instead If one suit is much stronger than the other, it is often best to bid the stronger suit instead Use these bids less when vulnerable or opponents not vulnerable Use these bids more when not vulnerable or opponents vulnerable Use these bids more when strength is in the long suits Use these bids less when strength is in the short suits MICHAELS CUE BID Cue bid opponent's suit to show 5-5 with 5+ cards in all unbid majors If cue bid is in minor suit, shows 5+ cards in both major suits If cue bid is in major suit, shows 5+ cards in unbid major, and 5+ cards Partner can respond 2 NT, asking you to bid the minor suit that has 5+ cards 8 points needed for Michaels cue bid at 2 level 10 points needed for Michaels cue bid at 3 level UNUSUAL NO TRUMP Jump to 2 NT to show 5+ cards in the two lowest ranking unbid suits 10 points needed for Unusual No Trump PARTNER'S RESPONSE TO MICHAELS/UNUSUAL If player on right has passed, you must bid something. Bid the longest suit you have in support of the suits partner has shown. If suits are of equal length, bid the lowest ranking suit. If it is a Michaels Cue Bid showing one major suit and one minor, you may bid 2 NT (if possible) to ask partner to bid and show the minor suit. If opponent on right has doubled, respond normally, or pass to ask partner to bid his longest and strongest suit If opponent on right overcalls, pass unless you know you have an 8 card fit.