View source for Säffle Spade

{{Short description|Forcing pass-opening system}}
{{Main|Contract bridge|Bidding system|Bridge convention|Glossary of contract bridge terms}}
In the game of contract bridge, '''Säffle Spade''' (or ''Säfflespader'' in Swedish) is a [[forcing pass-opening system]] developed by Einar Bergh and Pontus Svinhufvud; [[Säffle]] is a small city in Sweden where they once lived. There are at least three variants of the system: Super Säffle Spade (most advanced), Small Säffle Spade, and Small Happy Säffle Spade (simplest).

==Treatment==
;Opening bids of Pass and 1{{Clubs}}
While the opening bid of Pass is forcing for one round, it does not promise a very strong hand. The basic idea is that all hands (except certain pre-emptive ones) with 8 or more [[Hand evaluation|high card points]] (HCP) and 4+{{Spades}} are opened with a Pass (may also contain a longer side-suit). If one has 8 or more HCP and no {{Spades}} suit, but 4 or more {{Hearts}}, one opens 1{{Clubs}} (may also contain a longer [[minor suit]]). 

The general rationale is that when you open very low, you want to hold and show the major suits, so opponents cannot easily pre-empt against you. Another advantage is that when you have 8 or more HCP you often tell partner immediately which [[major suit]](s) you do not have, and when he sees that your side cannot have any major-suit fit, if appropriate, he can quickly pre-empt with a minor-suit bid.  

;Other opening bids in the system
* 1{{Diams}} is used on all weak hands, 0-7 HCP.
* 1{{Hearts}} shows 8 or more HCP and an unbalanced hand with no major (or 22 or more HCP, a balanced hand with no major).
* 1{{Spades}} is "mini-notrump" with 8-12 HCP — denying a 4-card or longer major
* 1NT shows 13-18 HCP — denying a 4-card or longer major
* 2NT shows 19-21 HCP — denying a 4-card or longer major.
* 2{{Clubs}}/2{{Diams}}/2{{Hearts}} show 4 or more cards in the suit bid plus a 5-card or longer major side-suit.
* 2{{Spades}} shows any solid suit (AKQxxxx).
* Higher openings are normal pre-empts.

Today, the system is illegal in most competitions, since a "Pass" opening now may not be used to indicate strength.
In the 1970s/1980s when it was invented and actively played, such regulations were rare.

==External links==
* http://www.bridgefederation.se/landslag/obs/obs00-01/humsystem/lillasaffle.PDF ''The Small Säfflespader''
* http://www.syskon.nu/system/002_lgs_01.pdf  (in Swedish) ''Lilla glada Säfflespadern''

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[[Category:Bridge systems]]
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