[therealgdg]

Playing Yellow Card

Opening bid of 1S (13-21)

No interference

Responder with 10-11 total points

Can responder bid new suit at 2 level with 4 cards in suit - either minor or H?

Does interference (intervening bid) matter?

Thanks!

[ArtK78]

The ACBL SAYC System Booklet says that a 2 of a minor response to one of a major suit shows 10 or more points and promises 4 or more cards in the suit bid.

There is no specific requirement set out in the system book for a 2♥ response to 1♠, as the system book only has a definition of a 2♥ response to a 1♥ opening. It makes sense that the rules for 2♥ over 1♠ are similar to the rules for 2 of a minor over 1 of a major, although many players would require 5 cards for a 2♥ response to 1♠. All I can say is that it is not discussed.

There is no discussion of a 2♣ response to a 1♦ opening bid.

As for bidding in competition, here is what the booklet states:

"There is almost an endless variety of possible sequences, so it pays to have simple guidelines to prevent bidding misunderstandings.

Bids mean the same things they meant without the intervening bid. Still, it is sometimes necessary to pick a bid that would normally have been a second choice without the overcall."

[Stephen Tu]

2H over 1s promises 5 cards, to facilitate finding 5-3 heart games. 4-4 heart games can be found after 1S-2m-2H-3H/4H. Minor suit 2/1s can be 4 cds, 3 in perverse cases (3433 shape, GF values, only 2c really fits, since 2H promises 5).

Interference *does* matter. After interference, 2 level free bid definitely promises *five* cards in any new suit. With only 4 cd suits to bid, you will have alternative tools of the negative double, and a natural invitational 2nt available, or the cue-bid if holding support for partner's major. Also 2/1 *not in competition*, if playing SAYC by the book (although 85% of random BBO probably does not truly know the book), promises a rebid, so opener with a strong hand and no alternative more descriptive call can "temporize", bid something that doesn't promise more than a minimum like a rebid of his own suit, and catch up on values later. 1s-2d-2s is *forcing* with no comp. But in comp, it's standard to play the free bid *does not* promise a rebid, so 1s-(2c)-2d-(p)-2s is *non-forcing*. So opener with a good hand (15+) can't afford to make any weak non-jump NT bids, non-jump bids of previous suits, which responder can pass.

Also, if the interference is a 1nt overcall, you must *double* with strong hands; bidding a new suit is in standard methods just a long suit wanting to play a partial there rather than defend 1nt or look for game. Similar after takeout doubles; 2/1 is *non-forcing* in standard, have to redouble if want to create a forcing situation. A 1/1 after a takeout double is still forcing though.

[ArtK78]

Stephen Tu, on 2012-June-05, 11:56, said:

2H over 1s promises 5 cards, to facilitate finding 5-3 heart games. 4-4 heart games can be found after 1S-2m-2H-3H/4H. Minor suit 2/1s can be 4 cds, 3 in perverse cases (3433 shape, GF values, only 2c really fits, since 2H promises 5).

Interference *does* matter. After interference, 2 level free bid definitely promises *five* cards in any new suit. With only 4 cd suits to bid, you will have alternative tools of the negative double, and a natural invitational 2nt available, or the cue-bid if holding support for partner's major. Also 2/1 *not in competition*, if playing SAYC by the book (although 85% of random BBO probably does not truly know the book), promises a rebid, so opener with a strong hand and no alternative more descriptive call can "temporize", bid something that doesn't promise more than a minimum like a rebid of his own suit, and catch up on values later. 1s-2d-2s is *forcing* with no comp. But in comp, it's standard to play the free bid *does not* promise a rebid, so 1s-(2c)-2d-(p)-2s is *non-forcing*. So opener with a good hand (15+) can't afford to make any weak non-jump NT bids, non-jump bids of previous suits, which responder can pass.

Also, if the interference is a 1nt overcall, you must *double* with strong hands; bidding a new suit is in standard methods just a long suit wanting to play a partial there rather than defend 1nt or look for game. Similar after takeout doubles; 2/1 is *non-forcing* in standard, have to redouble if want to create a forcing situation. A 1/1 after a takeout double is still forcing though.

From where do you get this information? It doesn't appear to come from the SAYC system booklet. If you are drawing your conclusions from general bridge knowledge, you should say so. The OP specifically stated that he was playing Yellow Card, so the ACBL SAYC System Booklet should be the authority on the answers to his questions (to the extent that it actually addresses his questions).

[Stephen Tu]

ArtK78, on 2012-June-05, 13:25, said:

From where do you get this information? It doesn't appear to come from the SAYC system booklet. If you are drawing your conclusions from general bridge knowledge, you should say so. The OP specifically stated that he was playing Yellow Card, so the ACBL SAYC System Booklet should be the authority on the answers to his questions (to the extent that it actually addresses his questions).

The SAYC booklet is based on Standard American. It does not pretend to be a complete systemic description of all sequences and situations. General knowledge of SA is presumed and required. Playing SAYC without making some assumptions to default to common SA practice in situations where the booklet isn't explicit is basically impossible.