most valuable addition(s) to SAYC

[RuflRabbit]

I'm interested to read the various suggestions, but I think I still like what is very close to the Washington Standard treatment.

 

After 1D-2C, 2M or 2NT shows more than a bare minimum (i.e., enough to accept an invitation to 3NT when responder has a hand worth ~ 11). With a bare minimum, opener rebids 2D (it can even be a 3 card suit). If responder then bids 2NT (showing the 11 count) or 3C (showing a minimum 2/1 with 6 clubs), opener can pass. 2C still promises a rebid and we can stop in 2NT when it's right and go on when that's right.

 

Thanks to those who have pointed out that the SAYC booklet leaves a little gap here. Either way of handling the problem will work (2NT shows enough to accept and is forcing or 2NT doesn't show enough to accept and isn't forcing), but as it's written, a bare minimum opener opposite 11 would wind up in game. Maybe that was even intentional, since it says that the minimum opener is 13, but we all know most people aren't going to wait for 13 to open. :)