The Original Version and a Variation that Shows Two Minors and One Major

Presented by Mike Savage

Three-suited hands are almost always hard to describe. Roman Two Diamonds was created to describe very strong three-suiters. Some players realized that it could also be a useful tool for marginal 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. Here is the original version:

2D = Shows a three-suited hand with about 10-13 HCP (some play 11-14). It usually has three 4-card

suits with any singleton. In some partnerships, you can have 0-4-4-5 shape with a 5-card minor.

Responses: 2H = Shows a hand with no game interest and at least three hearts. Opener must pass

with four hearts and bid 2S with a singleton heart (4-1-4-4 shape).

2S = Shows a hand with no game interest, usually with four spades (but at least three)

Opener passes with four spades and bids 3C with a singleton spade (1-4-4-4).

Some play that with a stiff spade, you can bid 2NT and transfer the play to the

unknown hand - or 2NT could be used to show a singleton high spade honor.

2NT = Shows at least interest in game and asks opener to bid his short suit.

Rebids by opener:

3C, 3D, 3H or 3S = Shows the opener’s short suit.

Continuations by responder:

3NT = To play over any response, must be passed.

Over 3C: 3D = To play (you could play this as invitational).

3H = Invitational to four hearts.

3S = Invitational to four spades.

4D = Invitational to five diamonds (you could play this as forcing).

4H = To play.

4S = To play.

Over 3D: 3H = Invitational to four hearts.

3S = Invitational to four spades.

4C = Invitational to five clubs if opener has a good maximum.

4H = To play.

4S = To play.

Over 3H: 3S = Invitational to four spades.

4C = Invitational to five clubs if opener has a good maximum.

4D = Invitational to five clubs if opener has a good maximum.

4S = To play.

Over 3S: 4C = Invitational to five clubs if opener has a good maximum.

4D = Invitational to five diamonds if opener has a good maximum.

4H = To play.

A Variation Showing Both Minors and One Major

As time went on, some players wanted to always guarantee having one particular suit, usually spades. Knowing opener always has one particular suit can be very helpful in hand exploration, especially when the opponents overcall or make a takeout double. Others, including the Kirkhams, thought that if you always guaranteed both minors, you could accurately describe these 3-suited hands and also quickly find a minor fit, bid preemptively to the 3-level or even higher and make it difficult for the opponents to enter the auction when it’s their hand. Here is the structure used by the Kirkhams:

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 – however if he

has the ace or king singleton in spades, then he can bid 2NT instead.

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, making opener the declarer.

3S = Maximum (12-13) and four hearts, making opener the declarer.

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

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 he is short in the major and when he has 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; normally with at least five-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 (optional bid) = 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 defensive winners and shortness in suit bid - very rare.

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