Modified Version showing Both Minors and One Major

Presented by Mike Savage

    

      Three-suited hands are almost always hard to describe. Roman Two Diamonds was created to describe strong 3-suiters. Some players realized that it could also be a useful tool for light to minimum opening hands with three suits and so Mini Roman Two Diamonds was born.

     In its original structure, Mini Roman Two Diamonds showed a three-suited hand, usually 4-4-4-1, and a light to minimum opening hand with a stiff or void in any suit. As time went on, some players wanted to always guarantee having one particular suit. Others, including the Kirkhams, thought that if you always guaranteed both minors, you could accurately describe these three-suited hands and also quickly find a minor fit, bid pre-emptively to the 3-level or even higher and make it difficult for the opponents to enter the auction when it’s their hand.

2D = Shows a three-suited hand: 10-13 HCP with both minors and one major, usually 4-4-4-1

         distribution but also could be five-four in the minors with a 4-card major.

          Responses:  2H = Shows three or more hearts with no interest in game.

                                       Opener must Pass with four hearts and bid 2S if he doesn’t.

                              2S = Shows three, usually four spades with no interest in game.

                                       Opener must Pass with four spades and bid 3C if he doesn’t.

                           2NT = Shows at least interest in game and asks opener to clarify his hand.

   Responses:   3C = Minimum hand (10-11 HCP) with four hearts.

          3D = Minimum hand (10-11 HCP) with four spades.

                     Responses to 3C/3D: 3 of major shown = To play.

                                               3H = Maximum (12-13) and four spades (“right-siding”).

                                                3S = Maximum (12-13) and four hearts (“right-siding”).

                                                Responses to all above: 4C/4D = Roman Key-card for that suit.

                                                                                         4NT = Roman Key-card for the major. 

                       3C/3D = Shows four or more of the minor and no game interest.

                            3H/3S = Game forcing with five or more in the major. Opener bids 3NT

                                      when short in the major and with support, cue-bids or bids game.

                          3NT = To play; with game going values, stoppers and no major-suit fit.

                           4C/4D = Pre-emptive, to play with at least four-card support.

After your 2D opening and the opponents interfere with:

2-level overcall: Dbl (by partner) = Negative/take-out. Opener will pass if it’s one of his suits

                                              and bid the next higher suit if it’s not.                    

                           2NT(by partner) = Still asks opener to clarify his hand (see above).

3-level overcall: Dbl (by partner = Penalty

2S overcall Dbl P: 2NT shows a singleton ace or king of spades. Without that, opener will

                               bid 3C with spade shortness and will Pass with four spades.

Suit bid at the two-level, followed by two passes.

                                  Dbl (by opener) = Shows good defense with shortness in the suit bid.

                                   Bids three of a minor = Shows a maximum and a good five-card suit.

2D-P-2NT-overcall: Pass is always forcing; Dbl of a major = That’s your 4-card major.