THE STANDARD AMERICAN BIDDING SYSTEM
1. Some Historical Notes.
The Standard American System is really
one of two systems called the CLASSICAL System
& the NEO-CLASSICAL System.
The CLASSICAL system is the older of the
two & returns to an earlier time when the bidding system was more
symmetrical & uniform with respect to balanced
& unbalanced hands, where
all point ranges are in increments of 3, & a minimum opening hand
requires 13-15 points, an intermediate hand is 16-18 points
including the 1NT opening, a strong hand is 19-21 points, & a
super-strong hand is 22+ points including the 2NT opening of 22-24 points.
In contrast, the NEO-CLASSICAL System
allows 1NT to be opened with 15-17 points & 2NT with 20-21 points. But
it should be noted that the point ranges for
unbalanced hand bidding are identical to
the Classical System. Thus, the only
real difference between the two systems is in the opening point range
requirements
for balanced hands. These are summarized as follows:
Classical System
Neo-Classical System
16-18 pts opens 1NT 15-17
pts opens 1NT
19-21 pts opens 1 in a suit & jumps in
no-trump
18-19 pts opens 1 in a suit & jumps in no-trump
20-21
pts opens 2NT
22-24 pts opens 2NT
22-24 pts opens 2C & bids
2NT
25-27 pts opens 3NT
25-27 pts opens 3NT
This CLASSICAL system evolved from
CHARLES GOREN's BIDDING SYSTEM of the 1950’s which provided the skeleton of the current day
Standard American System. It was pretty
widely used up until the early 1980’s
at which time the Neo-Classical system was introduced.
But still many people use the Classical
System.
As time progressed, there were some improvements made to Goren's
Classical system with respect to:
a.
The introduction of Weak Two openings with 2 clubs as artificial &
strong, thereby eliminating all 2-level openings being strong.
b.
The introduction of the 5-Card Major opening, thereby eliminating openings
in a four card major suit,.
c.
The introduction of Bidding
Up-The-Line at the one level.
d.
The introduction of the Convenient Minor including 1D, thereby extending the idea of the short club
opening..
e.
The elimination of the
drop-dead bid over a no trump opening
by the introduction of Stayman &
Jacoby Transfers.
f.
The recognition of a reverse bid to be a stronger than a bare minimum
opening point count.
g. The implementation of the negative
double.
By the late 1970s, the system was well
matured & used almost exclusively, even though other systems like Shenken,
Percision,
& Kapp & Sheinwold were also in use. Today, almost all elderly
bridge players use this system, many of
whom have not varied from Goren's
original system, because that was they
way they learned Goren.. They still do things like opening with a 4-card major
& consider responder's
immediate jump to 2 NT to be game forcing. It's a shame, because
they are missing a lot of very fine tools that have been added.
You would be hard pressed to find a duplicate player using the Classical
System, since they have all migrated to
the Neo-Classical System
( ie,
15 - 17 point 1NT opening
system), & Two-Over-One
responses. However, the CLASSICAL system is still a good one and one
that I prefer, because of it's
uniformity between balanced and unbalanced hands and is simple to remember. And
it has kept pace with all of the
more recent conventions.
2. So what is the difference between the
Classical and Neo-Classical Systems?.
The biggest difference is earmarked by the number strata (or
point ranges) in the 13 to 21 point spectrum for balanced hands.
The Classical System is a simple and
uniform 3-strata system where there are only three point ranges between 13
& 21 to depict balanced hands,
these being the 13-15 point range, the 16-18 point range, & the 19-21 point range. This is in
contrast to the Neo-Classical
4-strata system which has
four point ranges, those being 13-14, 15-17, 18-19, & 20-21 point ranges. The 4-strata system basically evolved from
the 3-strata system.
Therefore, I call it NEO-CLASSIC.
In the Classical System, the point ranges for the balanced hand
openings (ie, 13-15, 16-18, & 20-21 )
are consistent with the point range definitions
for unbalanced hand openings, & are
therefore "UNIFORM"'. This is not the case with the Neo-Classical
System, because the balanced hand point
ranges are "SKEWED" down from the unbalanced hand point ranges
which stayed the same as the Classical System.
So there is no difference between
the two systems when it comes to bidding unbalanced hands.
For balanced hand bidding, the biggest
difference raises it's head in opening the 22-24 point balanced hand.
The Classical System will open this
hand with 2NT. But the Neo-Classical System will open it 2C, followed by
2NT.
The fact is, there was much sacraficed
all for little gain in going from the Classical to the Neo-Classical Systems.
The point range definitions for both
systems as depicted below.
CLASSICAL SYSTEM
NEO-CLASSICAL SYSTEM
Opener
Points Opening Bid
Points Opening
Bid
Balanced Hand Balanced
Hand
3-Strata -------------------------------------- 4-Strata
--------------------------------------------
13-15 1 in a minor,
then bid 1NT 13-14 1 in a minor, then bid
1NT.
16-18
1NT
15-17 1NT
19-21
1 in minor then jump to 2NT
18-19 1 in minor,
then jump to 2NT
20-21 2NT
End of
Strata -------------------------------- End of Strata --------------------------------------
22-24 2NT
22-24 2C followed with 2NT rebid
25-27 3NT
25+ 2C followed by strong bid
28+ 2C .
Unbalanced Hand
Unbalanced Hand
6-11 2 or 3 pre-empt with long
suit Same as
Classical
3-Strata
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13-15
1 in a suit
Same as Classical
16-18
1 in a suit, then
give a jump raise, a jump rebid, or a
strong reverse bid.
19-21 1 in a suit, then give a jump shift or a
strong reverse bid.
End of Strata
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22+ 2C Same as Classical
3. Bidding Basics.
a. The Opening Bidding System For the
Opening pair.
1. Opener; If you have 5 or more cards
in a suit or suits, open your highest ranking suit first, unless you have 6
clubs and 5 spades, then
open 1 club, follow with
spades on 2nd round, & follow with spades on 3rd round. Do not open in a
major suit if you have fewer than 5
cards in it. If you do not
have a five card major or better, then
open a convenient minor or stubby club.If playing the stubby club,
you promise a 4-card diamond suit
when you open 1D. Without a 4-card diamond suit, open 1 club even it only has 2
cards.
If your partner ( responder) has not previously passed & he
bids a new suit, you are forced to bid again. Remember, you will be forced
to bid each time if partner
has not previously passed & bids a new suit.
2. Responder; for your first bid keep in mind, that if you have not
previously passed & you bid a new suit, you are forcing opener to
bid again (unless you have an agreed upon a convention for the
situation). Try to keep your bidding at the low levels. Don't take up
bidding room unless you have to. In
choosing your suits, try to bid the longest suits first. If you don't have a 5
card suit, then bid up-the-line.
If
your partner opens 1S & you bid 2H, you are promising at least 5 hearts
& 10 points. If your partner opens in 3rd position,
remember that your partner may have a weaker than normal opening hand,
so work extra hard to keep your first bid low. The Drury
system is especially useful when partner is 3rd hand and has opened in a
major suit. With 3+ card support in the major suit & 10-11
points, a bid of 2C asks partner
if he opened light. If he did, he will respond by rebidding his major at the
2-level. To which you
should “pass”. Otherwise he will
make a more aggressive bid, probably jumping in his major..
If
your partner gives a jump shift on his 2nd bid, then you are forced to bid again, unless
playing the COMPRESSED SYSTEM.
3. First Round Bidding.
Opening Responses
Balanced hand (ie, at least
2 cards in each suit)
28+ 2C
25-27 3NT
4C 6+ pts. Gerber asking for aces.
4N 6-7 pts. Invites
opener to 6N:
6N 8-9 pts. Directs opener to pass.
5N 10-11 pts. Invites
opener to 7N.
7N 12+ points. you have 37+ for slam.
22-24 2NT Respond with 3+ pts
3C (Stayman) with 4 card major.
3D (Jacoby Transfer) with 5 or
more hearts,
3H (Jacoby Transfer) with 5 or more spades.
3S
means nothing
3N limit raise with 3-8 points, denies 4 card
majors,
4C 9+ pts. can use Gerber asking
for aces.
4N 9-10 pts, no 4
card major. Invites opener to 6N
6N 11-12 pts, no 4 card major. Directs
opener to pass.
5N 13-14 pts, no 4 card major.
Invites opener to 7N
7N 15+ points.
Directs opener to pass
19-21 1 in minor then jump in
NT Responder
is forced to bid on 2nd bid
16-18 1NT Must
have at least 7 points.
2C (Stayman) with 4 card major.
2D (Jacoby
Transfer) with 5 or more hearts,
2H Jacoby Transfer) with 5 or more
spades.
2S means nothing
2N limit raise with
7-8 points, denies 4 card major,
invites opener to 3 N.
3N jump limit raise with 9-14 pts, denies
4 card major, directs opener to pass
4C 15+ pts. can use
Gerber asking for aces
4N 15-16 pts, no 4
card major. invites opener to 6N
6N 1 7-18 pts,
no 4 card major. Directs opener to pass
5N 19-20 pts, no 4 card major. Invites opener to 7N
7N 21+ points.
Directs opener to pass
12-15 1 in a minor Up-the-line
with 6+ pts & 4 card major, (unless you also have 5+ card major)
Stay at 1 level with 6-9 pts & new suit
1N with 6-9 pts, no 4+ card major;
& no 5-card support.
Simple limit raise with 6-9 pts, no 4+ card major, but 5-card support.
2N
with 10-12 pts, no 4+ card major. invites opener to 3N.
Jump limit raise with 10-12 pts, no 4+card major, but 5-card support.
With 13+ pts, stay
low, but force via new suit.
Unbalanced hand
22+ 2 Clubs 2D Waiting or 2D
Bust.
19 -21 1 in a
suit then jump shift. Responder is
forced to bid again
16-18 1 in a
suit then jump raise. Not forcing
12-15 1 in a major suit Simple
limit raise with 6-9 pts & 3+ card support.
Jump limit raise with 10-12 pts & 3+ card support
Bid 1N with 6-9 pts & no
support & no other major.
Jump to 2N with 10-12 pts &
no support & no other major.
12-15 1 in a minor suit Bid Up-The-Line unless you have a 5 card
suit.
Bid 1NT with 6-9 pts & no major.
Bid 2NT with 10-12 pts & no major.
5-11 2 or 3 pre-empt with long suit Bid 2N or raise opener
if you have at least three.Quick Tricks
3. The table below summarizes the opening bids
and subsequent bid sequences for
the CLASSICAL system as it stood through the 1980’s.
This table is also good for the NEO-CLASSIC
system, excluding the balanced hand initial openings..
CLASSICAL BIDDING SYSTEM REFERENCE SHEET
=====================================================================================================
BALANCED HANDS (At least 2 cards in every suit abd no more
than one doubleton)
To Open
|| To Respond when No Contention Bid | To
Respond after A Contention Bid
---------------| ----------| Vul || | With No
4 card Maj & | With 4 Card
Major, |With 5+ card suit |
BID |
Points | is ||
Points | No 5+card suit, BID |
BID |No
4 card maj, BID |
---------------|--------- -|------- ||----------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------|
---------------------------------------
7NT | 39-40 |
any || | PASS
<--------------------|same <------------------|--same
<----------------|<------same
3NT | 25-27 | any || 12+
| 7NT (close out) | 7NT(closeout) | 7NT(close out) |
| | ||10-11 |
6NT(close out) | 4C(stayman) | 6NTclose out) |
| |
|| 8-9 | 5NT(invites to 7NT) | 4C(stayman) | 5NT(invites to 7NT) |
|
| || 6-7 | 4NT(invites to
6NT) | 4C(stayman) | 4NT(invite to 6NT) |
An
Overcall is not
2NT | 22-24 | any ||
15+ | 7NT(close out) | 7NT(close out)
| 7NT(close out) | likely over your
| | || 13-14 | 6NT(close out) | 3C(stayman) | 6NT(close out) | partner’s 2+
opening.
|
| || 11-12
| 5NT(invites to 7NT) |
3C(stayman) |
5NT(invites to 7NT) |
| |
|| 9-10 | 4NT(invites to 6NT) | 3C(stayman) |
4NT(invites to 6NT |
|
| || 3-8
| 3NT(closeout) |3C(stayman) |
Jacoby (3D or 3H) |
Suit at 1
| 19-21 |
any ||SEE BELOW - Opposite
Opener with 13-15 pts | |
level, then
| | || Then after partner’s
2nd bid: (you are forced to bid once
more.) |
jump shift
| | || 18+
| 7NT(close out) | No Stayman. | 7NT(close out) |
to 2NT
| | || 16-17 | 6NT(close out) | Partner does not | 6NT(close out) |
| | ||
14-15 | 5NT(invites to 7NT) | have 4 card major. |
5NT(invites to 7NT) |
| |
|| 12-13 | 4NT(invites to 6NT) | He would have | 4NT(invites to 6NT) |
| | || 6-11 | 3NT(close out) | shifted to it. | Rebid your
suit. |
1NT | 16-18 | any ||
21+ | 7NT(close out) |7NT (closeout) | 7NT(close out) |
| |
|| 19-20
| 6NT(close out)
|2C(stayman) |
6NT(close out) |
| | ||
17-18 | 5NT(invites to 7NT) |2C(stayman) | 5NT(invites to 7NT) |
| | ||
15-16 | 4NT (invites to
6NT) |2C(stayman) | 4NT(invites to 6NT) |
| | ||
13-14 | 3NT |2C(stayman) | |
| | ||
9-12 | 3NT(closeout) |2C(stayman) |
2H(jacoby xfr to S) |
| | || 7-8
| 2NT(invite to 3NT) |2C(stayman) |
2D(jacobyxfr to H) |
Minor at 1 | 13-15
| any || 13-15 | 3NT
|Do not show new | Bid
normally. With
level , then | | || 10-12
| 3 of PS (partners suit) | |suit at 2+ level | 6 to 9 pts, be careful of going
make min | | || 10-12 | 2NT if no support
|
|without 10+ pts. | beyond
the 1 level. “DOUBLE”
bid.
| | ||
10+ | 2D over 1H or 1S | To find 4-4 fit, bid |Must have 5+ H | with 4 card unbid major.
| | ||
10+ | 2C over 1D,1H or 1S | UP-THE-LINE, |for 2H over 1S. |
Otherwise, bid 5-card suit.
| | || 5-9 | 2of PS with suppor t
| unless you have |With under 10 pts, |
Realize that yours is a FREE
| | ||
5-9 | 1NT if no support | 5+ spades over |1 in your longest
| BID & may be intrepreted as
| | ||
<5 | PASS
<-----------------------|--same <---------------- |--same | having 10+ POINTS.
=====================================================================================================
UNBALANCED HANDS
To Open || To Respond when No
Contention Bid | To Respond after A
Contention Bid
---------------|------with -----------| Vul || | With No 4 card Maj & | With 4 Card Major,
|With 5+ card suit |
BID | Dist |Points |
is || Points | No 5+card suit, BID |
BID |No
4 card maj, BID |
---------------|----------- -|---------|--------
||----------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------|
---------------------------------------
2C | Unbal | 22-38 | any
|| 11+ | 2D Waiting on to slam | <------same <----
----|<-----same ---------->|
| |
| || 4-10
| 2D WAITING on to game |
“ | “ |
| | | || 0-3 | 2D Waiting. Do not bid | “ | “
|
| | | || |
voluntarily passed 2NT. | “ |
“ |
4H | 7+H | 22-24 |
any || 0- 8
| PASS <------------------- -|-------same <------
|--same |
---------------|-------------|---------|--------||-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------
| | | ||
| A
Suit at 1
| Unbal | 19-21
| any ||SEE BELOW - Opposite Opener with 13-15 pts | | |
level, then
| | | || Then after
partner’s 2nd bid: (you are forced to
bid once more.) |
With 10+ points, you can bid
jump shift
| | | || | If
partnr shfted to minr | If partnr
shfted to | | thru the 3 level. If you have 4
to new suit
| | | || |
you may have 4-4 fit. | maj,
possible 4-4 fit | Rebid your
suit. | card unbid
major,”DOUBLE”.
or reverse
| | | ||
| If you have protected stop in
| | | ||
|
opponent’s suit, try NT. If you
| | | ||
| have
protected stops in all unbid
| | | ||
| suits,
give WESTERN QUE in
| | | ||
| opponent’s suit to tell
partner
| | | ||
| to bid NT if he has opp’s suit
| |
| ||
| stopped. Otherwise, use
Suit at 1
| Unbal | 16-18
| any || SEE BELOW - Opposite Opener
with 13-15 pts | | EASTERN
QUE to show you
level, jump
| | | || Then after
partner’s 2nd bid: (you are not forced
to bid again.)
| have opp’s suit stopped to
in prev suit
| | | || 7+ |
Look for game or better.
| invite partner to bid NT. If
or reverse
| |
| || <7
| PASS <-------------------- |-- same <------------- |--same | none of the above, then ignore
|
|
Longest
| UnBal | 13-15
| any || 13-15 | 3NT
|Do not show new | Bid
normally. With
Suit at 1 level| |
| || 10-12 | 3 of PS (partners suit). | |suit at 2+ level | 6 to 9 pts, be careful of going
(Highest rank| |
| || 10-12 | 2NT if
no support . | |without 10+
pts. | beyond the 1 level.
“DOUBLE”
if equal) BUT | |
| || 10+
| 2D over 1H or 1S. |
To find 4-4 fit, bid |Must have 5+
H | with 4 card unbid
major.
not MAJOR if
| | | || 10+ | 2C over 1D,1H or 1S. | UP-THE-LINE, |for 2H over 1S. | Otherwise, bid 5-card suit.
under 5 crd.
| | | || 5-9 | 2 of
PS with support. | unless you
have |With under 10 pts, |
Realize that yours is a FREE
| | | || 5-9 | 1NT if no support. |
5+ spades over |1 in
your longest | BID & may be intrepreted as
No subsqn | |
| || 5+
| 1D over 1C.
| 4 card heart suit. |(hi rank if =) suit. |
having 10+ POINTS.
jumps | |
| || <5
| PASS <---------------------|--same <----------------
|--same | |
V
=====================================================================================================
WEAK HANDS
To Open || To Respond when
No Contention Bid
| To Respond after A Contention Bid
---------------|------with ------------| Vul || | With No 4 card Maj & | With 4 Card Major,
|With 5+ card suit |
BID | Dist |Points |
is || Points | No 5+card suit, BID |
BID |No
4 card maj, BID |
---------------|------------|----------|-------
||----------|-----------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------- | ---------------------------------------
Weak 3 |7+Cards | 10-11 | we
|| Partner says he’s going down
1, 2 or 3 tricks depending on relative |
or | or | 8-11
|equal || vulnerability.
Therefore count QUICKTRICKS (not points) to cover |
Weak 2 |
6 Cards | 5-11
| they || loss plus extra quicktricks for each new
level. 2NT asks for features.
|
Opener s Note:1st rebid of a minor ||
Responders Note: IF YOU HAVE NOT
PREVIOUSLY PASSED,
|
shows 5 card suit. Each unbroken || THEN EACH
TIME YOU SHOW NEW SUIT, THE OPENER IS |
rebid shows 1 more card in the suit, ||
FORCED. Keep yoir bidding low to give opener room. Between the |
be it a major or minor. ||
2 of you, the one who does not limit their hand first is in
control. |
=====================================================================================================