Talk:Standard American

Changes since Goren

Duplicate bridge players assemble their own bidding systems from a variety of treatments and conventions that have been devised over the past 50 to 70 years.

Social/rubber bridge players need a standard system because they frequently mix and change partnerships. Besides, the use of complex, uncommon conventions is not compatible to a social game environment.

The early Goren Standard American is obsolent, thus we need a modern standard for the social/rubber bridge game.

Conventions should be kept to a minimum, including only those that have broad recognition and are clearly beneficial in the context of rubber bridge play and scoring.

FIVE-CARD MAJORS: Opening a major suit promises at least five card in that suit. If the hand does not contain a five-card major, you should open a minor (usually longest)unless the hand qualifies to open in notrump. Holding two four-card majors, the longest minor will be a three-card suit. However, roughly 90% of the time, the minor will be a four-card suit or longer.

LIMIT RAISES

THE NOTRUMP STRUCTURE

THE STAYMAN CONVENTION

THE JACOBY TRANSFER CONVENTION

(list to be further developed)

A separate page for SAYC

It seems to me that the system described in this article is quite different from the system known as Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC). Should searches for "SAYC" be redirected to this page, or would it be better to create a separate page that describes SAYC?

Offhand, I'm against a separate page. I didn't thoroughly check the contents of this article, but if you feel that it should be improved, go ahead. SAYC should redirect here. Duja 06:43, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

A separate article might be a good idea. For the moment, I'll add an ext link to the ACBL's page about SAYC. This article seems to have been heavily influenced by a John Thomas fan who overemphasizes Thomas's book. JamesMLane t c 11:49, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

Did Goren himself name Standard American

We need a reference for the statement that Goren was the one who named the system Standard American.