Mini-Roman 2 Diamond

History

The Roman Club system, developed in the 1950s, included a treatment of these three suited hands with 2 showing a weaker hand and 2 a stronger hand. A response by partner of 2NT was forcing to game.

The Blue Club system of bidding was developed and became widely popular in the 1960s and included a 2 bid to show a 4-4-4-1 hand with 17-24 HCP

Description

An opening bid of 2 shows one of two distributions: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 (the five card suit is usually not a major suit) and 11-15 HCP

The Mini-Roman 2 opening is a forcing bid. Responder has the following options.

• 2: Pass or correct and non-forcing;
• 2: Pass or correct to 3 and non-forcing;
• 2NT: Forcing, asking opener to bid his short suit.
• 3 or showing a long suit and interest in game in that suit or notrump if Opener is near the top of the bid.

Opener's rebids:

• Over 2: pass or bid 2;
• Over 2: with hearts, bid 3, pass with spades;
• Over 2NT bid the short suit: The advantage to the system is the power of the short suit. The hand lends itself to a cross ruff.

A disadvantage is the loss of the 2 bid for other purposes including a weak 2, a Strong two or a Multi 2.

Variations

There is a wide range of variations available to this convention (usually subject to partnership agreement) and these include:

• The singleton or void will always be in a minor suit. This allows for an easy exit at the two level, should responder not have many points.
• The opener shows the singleton or void by bidding the suit under it (3N = ). This is sometimes referred to as the submarine treatment.
• The convention is not used when holding a singleton spade

References

References

1. "Roman Club".
2. "MIT Draper Lab Bridge Club".
3. "Mini Roman convention". Bridgehands website.