About SAYC

Standard American Yellow Card is a simple, widely used bidding system published by the American Contract Bridge League. It is a natural, five-card-major system with a strong 1NT opening (15–17 HCP) and a strong, artificial 2♣ opening.

Hand evaluation

• High-card points (HCP): A = 4, K = 3, Q = 2, J = 1.
• Balanced shapes: 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2.

SAYC opening bids at a glance

• 1NT — 15–17 HCP, balanced.
• 2NT — 20–21 HCP, balanced.
• 1♠ / 1♥ — 13–21 HCP, 5+ cards in the major.
• 1♦ / 1♣ — 13–21 HCP, longer minor (1♣ with 3–3).
• 2♣ — 22+ HCP, strong and artificial.
• Weak 2♦ / 2♥ / 2♠ — 5–11 HCP, good 6-card suit.
• 3-level preempts — 7-card suit, less than opening strength.
• Pass — fewer than 13 HCP and no preemptive shape.

The rules used by the wizard live as plain JSON files in the rules/ folder, so they are easy to audit or extend.