SAYC
Standard American Yellow Card was created by the ACBL many years ago. Its purpose was to conduct sanctioned games in which all players were required to use the same system. While now outdated, SAYC has continued to survive in some fashion. It's sometimes used as a baseline, natural 5-card major system upon which partnerships add their own modifications.
Bidding Notes (86 pages, PDF) by Paul F. Dubois
A thoughtful breakdown of Standard American and 2/1 as these systems are generally played today. It also offers introductory material for newer players, including hand evaluation and educational resources.
Short Club Variant (59 pages, PDF) by Mark Abraham and Griff Ware
A natural 5-card major bidding system with a 15-17 1NT. Its name derives from the 1 opening, which can show an 11-14 balanced and only two clubs.
A Standard American System (60 pages, PDF) by the Eastern Contract Bridge Centre
From a club in Melbourne, Australia. This system uses generic 5-card majors, a 15-17 1NT, and a strong 2 opening. There are a couple wrinkles, including the choice to play either Benjaman or Multi Two-Bids.
2/1 (Two-Over-One)
Bridge World Standard by The Bridge World
A natural 2/1 system devised over the years by The Bridge World. It employs 5-card majors, 15-17 1NT, and a strong 2 opening. BWS is also the de facto system for The Bridge World's "Master Solver Club" bidding contests.
2/1 System Notes (383 pages, PDF) by Eric Kokish and Beverly Kraft
A 2/1 game-forcing system by two longtime Canadian experts and teachacoers. Presented as a modified Kaplan-Sheinwold system, it features 5-card majors and frisky 11-14 1NT. A 2/1 response by an unpassed hand is always game-forcing.
Eastern Scientific by Richard Pavlicek
A version of the original Eastern Scientific bidding system from the 1970s that incorporates 2/1 game-forcing responses.
Pavlicek System by Richard Pavlicek
An "almost-always" 2/1 game-forcing system with 5-card majors and a 15-17 1NT by American expert Richard Pavlicek. A 2/1 response is game-forcing unless responder rebids his suit. Also of interest is the wide-ranging 6-14 1NT forcing response to 1/.
The Two-Over-One Game Force System (657 pages, PDF) by Neil H. Timm
This 7th edition is a massive treatise on 2/1. It describes the intrinsic 2/1 methods as well as optional gadgets. Neil also touches on topics like declarer play, defensive carding, and competitive bidding against Precision opponents.
Kaplan-Sheinwold
Kaplan-Sheinwold Updated by Edgar Kaplan
The Bridge World states that these were the last notes written by the late American expert Edgar Kaplan. Kaplan-Sheinwold was a popular system invented in the 1960s by Kaplan and fellow writer-expert Alfred Sheinwold. It features natural 5-card major openings, a weak 12-14 1NT, and weak two-bids.
KS+ — A Modification of KS (113 pages, PDF) by Moty Katzman
Moty has modernized the original Kaplan-Sheinwold system with a Multi 2 opening, RKC 0134, detailed 2/1 sequences, and much more. The opening 2 and 2 bids have also changed to 8-8.5 playing tricks.
Acol
Standard English Acol
System File (24 pages, PDF) by the EBU
A modernized Acol system with 4-card majors, a 12-14 1NT, and a strong 2 opening. The remaining 2-level suit bids are weak. Benjamin Two Bids are not included.
SEF
SEF 2024 by the French Bridge Federation
Le SEF 2024 (Système d’Enseignement Français) is the most common bidding system played in France. The FBF's latest book on SEF is available for sale on their website.
Strong Club
Big Club Standard by Howard Schenken
The late great Howard Schenken (1903-1979) helped raise interest in the United States for strong club systems. Based on prior systems developed by Italian teams, the Big Club featured an artificial 17+ club opening and gadgets that were innovative for their time.
Blue Team Club (106 pages, PDF) by Arturo Franco and Marco Pancotti; translated from Italian by Daniel J. Neill
A modernized approach to the strong club system played by the famed Italian Blue Team in the 1960s and 1970s. Cornerstones include a 17+ 1 opening, 4-card majors, and a 15-17 1NT.
The Caroline Club by Scott Benson and Doug Bone
A 16+ club system with aggressive openings otherwise. Includes 4-card majors, a 10-12 1NT and 10+ openings in first or second seat.
An aggressive, bludgeony club system. 1 = 15+ points, 1/ = 8-12, and 1NT = 10-14 in the first three seats. As described by Neill in his short story "The Lost System of Jigger Johnson."
A strong 15+ 1 that's paired with an artificial 1 showing a weak hand with 4+ spades.
Imprecise Precision (26 pages, PDF) by Paul F. DuBois
A summary of the author's Precision system. It skews toward lighter (and more frequent) bids, including a 12-14 1NT, weak two-bids, and an Unusual 2NT opening.
J-Moscito (30 pages, PDF) by Jari Böling
A variation of the Moscito bidding system as originally invented by Paul Marston and Stephen Burgess. The 1 opening shows 15+ points while the 1-2 openings show 9-14.
The Modified Cottontail Club by Daan van der Meij
A strong club system featuring a 15+ 1 opening, 4-card majors, and 5-card weak two-bids. Based on Jan Eric Larsson's original Cottontail Club system.
MUTOS (Multi and Transfer-Oriented System) (92 pages, PDF) by Eugeen Vannuten
A 16+ 1 opening with other artificial 1-level bids. 1 = any 5+ card minor, 1 = any 5+ card major, and 1 = weak and balanced (or 4441).
Volmac Precision
A variation of the Precision bidding system created by Benito Garrozzo in 1978.
Variable Club
An Unassuming Club (AUC) by David Goldfarb and Don Varvel
A 5-card major system based on the Polish Club. The variable 1 opening may show many different hand types. With 11+ HCP, opener might have any 4-4-1-4 hand, or 5+ clubs with a 4-card major. Strong hands include 15+ balanced without 4+ diamonds, or 15+ points with 6+ clubs, or any 18+ HCP balanced, or any 19+ unbalanced.
Arctic Club by Gordon Bower
A variation of the Polish Club with 5-card majors and a 14-16 1NT. 1 shows a balanced hand (11-13, 17-20, 24+ points), 5+ clubs (13-18), or any strong unbalanced hand (19+).
Incision (36 pages, PDF) by Aviv Shahaf
A forcing club system with very light opening bids. In first or second seat, 1 shows 13+ HCP. In third or fourth seat, it shows 18+ HCP.
Polish Standard (106 pages, PDF) by Krzysztof Jassem; translated from Polish by Daniel J. Neill
"Wspólny Język 2005" aka "WJ05" is the second version of the author's Polish Club system. It features a variable 1 opening showing 3 hand types (12-14 balanced, 15+ with clubs, or any 18+). Other aspects include a 15-17 1NT, Precision 2,Multi 2, and Polish 2/ bids showing two-suiters.
Tangerine Club (20 pages, PDF) by Jan Eric Larsson
A 1 opening that shows 8-9 HCP balanced or any 15+. 1NT shows 12-14 HCP. Other suit openings through 2 are made with 10-14 HCP.
Relay
Relay Club (60 pages, PDF) by Erik Sjöstrand and
Håkan Johansson
A 15+ 1 opening combined with an 11-14 1NT. Other 1-level openings are an airy 10-14 points. Detailed relay sequences after any 1-level opening.
SCREAM by Mark Abraham
"Strong Club Relay Excessively Accentuating Majors." A strongish club system whereby 1 shows 14+ HCP. The remaining opening bids are light and aggressive, starting with 9+ HCP. As its name replies, the system makes a robust use of relays.
Symmetric (51 pages, PDF) by Andrei Sharko
A relay system in which 1 is 16+, 1/ are 5-card majors, and 1NT is 12-15 balanced. The response structure is highly artifical, encouraging opener to describe his hand through a series of relays.
Toad Club (114 pages, PDF) by Jim Griffin
A 16+ club system based on Precision.
Transfer-Oriented Symmetric Relay (48 pages, PDF) by Mark Abraham and Josh Sher
A 15+ club system with aggressive 1// openings that show 10-14 HCP. 1NT shows 12-14 HCP.
Forcing Pass
Forcing Pass System (21 pages, PDF) by Don Allen and Trevor Fuller
A relay system in which an opening Pass shows 13+ points. All other opening bids are highly aggressive, showing 12 or fewer points. This includes a 9-12 1NT and a 1 "fert" bid with 0-8 points, any shape.
SPREAD by Mark Abraham
"Strong Pass Relay Ever Avoiding Defending." An opening pass shows 15+ points. The "fert" bid is 1 which indicates 0-8 points. And 1NT is 11-14 balanced.
Other
AmBIGuous DIAMOND (26 pages, PDF) by Marvin French
A 4-card major system designed for matchpoint play. A 1D opening is strong and artificial, showing a balanced 16-22 HCP or a natural opening bid in diamonds.
EHAA+ (13 pages, PDF) by Jari Böling
Based on the original, natural system "Every Hand an Adventure." The primary difference is that 1 shows either a natural bid with 4+ clubs, or a completely artificial 19+ points. All other 1-level suit bids are natural with 4+ cards, and all 2-level suit bids are natural with 5+ cards. For good measure, 1NT is a balanced 10-13 HCP. See also Eric Landau's EHAA FAQ. Good times.
Magic Diamond Light (67 pages, PDF) by Sven-Olov Flodqvist and Tomas Brenning
A simplified version of the Magic Diamond bidding system. 1 is artificial and strong, while 1/ are extremely light: 8-11 HCP with a 4+ card suit.
Nightmare (52 pages, PDF) by Andrea Buratti and Massimo Lanzarotti; translated from Italian by Daniel J. Neill
A fairly artificial system devised by the authors for the Italian junior bridge team. The 1,1, and 1 openings all have multiple meanings. These are complemented by an 11-14 1NT. It should be noted that Buratti and Lanzarotti were found guilty of cheating at the 2005 European Transnational Teams Championship. They were subsequently banned from the ACBL, although Lanzarotti was readmitted in 2018.
The Optimal Modified 2/1-Club System (247 pages, PDF) by Neil H. Timm
A hybrid 2/1 system with a strong club. Based on Patrick Darricades' Optimal Point Count (OPC) Method of Hand Evaluation.
Recursive Diamond (36 pages, PDF) by Adam Meyerson and Sam Ieong
A 5-card major system using 1 as a strong, artificial 16+ HCP. 1NT is 10-12 not vulnerable in first or second seat, or 12-14 otherwise.
SKELETON (23 pages, PDF) by Marvin French
A 4-card major system with a weak no-trump and "bare bones" conventions.
Bridge Bidding Principles
Bidding principles and hand evaluation rules including basic point count, The Law of Total Tricks, Losing Trick Count, and more.
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