[wes]

I gave up bridge years ago when I left the Army. I'm now taking ACBL-sponsored Fred Gitleman's training software which seems to me to be Standard American with 5 card majors and strong 2 club openings plus some conventions. It would be nice to have some further training software to practice bidding and then move to an on-line bridge game like Bridgebase or OKbridge. The problem is that everybody seems to be saying that SA-YC is the system to know if you want to be able to walk in and find a compatible partner anywhere in any game. So, am I learning the wrong thing? Can I easily find partners somewhere who will bid what I'm learning?

ACBL says thens of thousands have downloaded Gitleman's software so somebody else must be using his rendition. It appears that Audrey Grant teaches a simialr system to Gitleman as does Pavlichak.

I looked over OKbridge SA-YC. It seems to be much more complicated than Gitleman's. I'd like to start with easier stuff, but I don't want to spend time on something no one is using either. I've ordered Downey/Pomer's book on SA-YC. Please advise me where to start.

Thank you,

Confused in Hardyville

[helene_t]

Dear Confused, welcome to the forum!

Fred's stuff is fine. There may be some minor diferences between various versions of Standard American, but don't worry too much about it. The important things to discuss with partner are issues like carding and overcall style.

It's true that a lot of people put "SAYC" on their profile but it does not mean that they all play the same dialect of Standard American. Besides, most bidding disasters are related to player's lack of knowledge about general bidding principles, not so much about the subtle diferences between the different SA dialects. This is especially true for beginners and intermediates.

Maybe it's a good idea to browse through the "Book Review" thread.

If you like laughing while studying bidding theory, try Bergen's Points Schmoints book.

[kenberg]

You could go to the acbl website and do a search on sayc. You will find what presumably is the authorized version. About five pages, as I recall. I suggest you read it and then start playing. Generally speaking I find that folks here on BBO are accepting of those who honestly state that they are getting started. You will find the usual sprinkling of folks who know everything (just ask them, they will tell you) but just move on. Here are some features of SAYC:

1S-1NT Passable (some play it as forcing, but it's not in SAYC)

1D-2NT not passable (although some play that it is)

1S-3S Passable

1S-2D
2S-? Having bid at the two level you are expected to bid again. If you now rebid 2N or 3D, partner can pass.


In short, it's a pretty natural system.


If you overcall an opponent's 1NT, it's natural in SAYC but don't be surprised if your partner of the moment thinks you are playing Cappaletti (you can look it up if you don't know).

Stayman, Michaels, Blackwood are all part of SAYC. If they ask you if you play rkc I suggest you say no. Unless you read up on it first.


I play on both BBO and on OK. I recommend both highly. Also this forum.

I learned bridge by reading Goren forty some years ago. It's a bit different now. Fun then, fun now, just different. Probably your time away is not so long but you might still see changes. Good luck, I believe you will enjoy it.

Ken

[wes]

Thank you everybody. One person even sent a private email recommending some good books. One was by Dorothy Hayden Truscott. Well I read both her excellent books when she was just Dorothy Hayden over 30 years ago--that's how old I am. I have received Downey/Pomer's book on SA-YC.

I plan to keep learning on ACBL's training software which I believe one would call Modern SA with 5 card majors and weak two openings, plus some standard conventions like Stayman and Gerber. I have Bridge Baron version 14 which supports SA 5 card maj, sayc, and other bidding systems. I can practice bidding and play of SA-5 card on that before moving to an on-line club and a regional face-to-face club.

After some time I may try to move into sayc according to Downey/Pomer. So that's my plan. Thanks everybody for your insight.

Wes Fager

[Sigi_BC84]

As others have pointed out, in real life SAYC does not equal SAYC. Without discussion on several details you will have misunderstandings if you only agree on "SAYC".

If you don't have a regular partner/mentor, I recommend that you use the new convention card feature of BBO called "Full Disclosure" when playing online with pickup partners.

Using Full Disclosure, both you and partner (and your opponents) see the meaning of your bids. Additionally you see what the possible bids in the running auction would mean when it's your turn to make a call. This applies to most uncontested auctions and some competitive sequences.

I always have a simple system loaded in Full Disclosure when I'm playing with pickup partners.

If you want to get serious I'd say you need a regular partner. Agree on a solid, not too complicated system and play that. Actually I think that the OKBridge SAYC Notes are really good (better than the mentioned ACBL booklet).

When playing with pickup partners, don't worry about misunderstandings, weird auctions and silliness. It can't be avoided unless your partner is really good and you are on the same wavelength by chance.

--Sigi