Standard American Yellow Card allows opening notrump with all balanced hand, even with a 5-card suit. It uses the following conventions with notrump openings:
- Nonforcing Stayman
- Jacoby transfers with simple bypasses
- Minor suit bust transfers for busts
- Gerber
After a 1NT Opening[]
A 1NT opening promises 15-17 points and a balanced hand (at most one doubleton). The responses are:
- 2♣ is Nonforcing Stayman.
- 2♦ and 2♥ are Jacoby transfers to 2♥ and 2♠, respectively.
- 2♠ is a minor suit bust transfer to 3♣ (correctable to 3♦) showing a minor suit bust (6+ card suit, 0-8 points). Opener must pass afterwards.
- 2NT is invitational (8-9 HCP) and shows a balanced hand.
- 3♣ and 3♦ are natural, showing 6-card suits (with 5-7 HCP in the suit) and are invitational to 3NT.
- 3♥ and 3♠ are natural, showing 6-card suits and slam interest. Otherwise, a transfer is used.
- 3NT is a sign off in game.
- 4♣ is Gerber.
- 4NT is a Quantitative slam invite.
Nonforcing Stayman[]
1NT-2♣ is nonforcing Stayman. Opener must bid the cheapest 4-card major at the 2-level, or 2♦ otherwise. With 4-4 in the majors, bid 2♥. After that, a 3 level minor shows 5 card suit and slam interest, but other continuations are undefined in the booklet.
Jacoby Transfers[]
2♦ and 2♥ are Jacoby transfers to hearts and spades, respectively. This promises a five-card suit and any strength.
Responder's rebids[]
- Pass: to play
- 2NT: invitational (8-9 HCP and exactly 5 trump). Opener chooses between 2NT, 3 of the suit, 3NT, or 4 of the suit.
- new suit: natural and game forcing, shows two-suited hands.
- single raise: invitational and shows six trump.
- 3NT: game choice. Pass or correct to 4 of the suit.
- raise to game: sign off, requires six trump.
Bypassing the transfer[]
With a maximum (17 points) and four trump, opener may bypass the transfer, bidding responder's suit at the 3-level instead.
Gerber[]
Gerber is completely identical to the standard. 4♣ asks for aces, after which 5♣ asks for kings. This is true after an 1NT or 2NT opening.
Quantitative Raise[]
1NT-4NT is natural and invites 6NT.
Interference after 1NT opening[]
After 1NT opening is doubled[]
All responses are on after opponent doubles the opening.
After 1NT opening is overcalled[]
Any bid after the 1NT opening turns off any conventional responses, except that a cue-bid is game forcing Stayman
Interference after a convention[]
All rebids after interfered conventional responses are the same as without interference. Additionally,
- Opener may pass without support for responder's trump suit, since responder may bid again.
After a 2NT opening[]
2NT openings show 20-21 points. (Opening 2♣ and rebidding 2NT shows 22-24 points) Stayman and Jacoby transfers are still used. Responder's point ranges should be adjusted down by 4-5 points.
- 3♣ is Stayman.
- 3♦ and 3♥ are Jacoby transfers to 3♥ and 3♠, respectively.
- 4♣ is Gerber.
- 4NT invites 6NT.
After a 3NT opening[]
3NT opening shows a 25-27 balanced hand.
- 4♣ is Stayman.
- 4♦ and 4♥ are Jacoby transfers to 4♥ and 4♠, respectively.