Mini-Roman

Our Favorite. We use a special minor suit opening, Mini-Roman, which is one of our favorite special bids and the one which comes up far more often than any other.

It shows three suits - any three suits - usually with a 4-4-4-1 distribution, but sometimes with 4-4-5-0 or 4-4-0-5.   The HCP range is 11 - 15. The opening bid is 2¨ and it's alertable, of course. (This is the reason we can't use the standard 2¨ Flannery opening).

Example. Here's an example Mini-Roman hand: (Note that it's also a perfect takeout double hand if RHO had opened 1§ .

ª Axxx         We open this hand 2¨'s
© KQxx
¨ Axxx
§ x

Too Hard Any Other Way.  Not using the Mini-Roman opening, you can open One Diamond, but then it takes you two more bids to tell partner what you have. In duplicate, there's often not room or time to do that. With the Mini-Roman bid, it's all done with the opening call.

It shows any three suits and no five card major, of course. Some play it always guarantees Spades or guarantees Spades when vulnerable, but we play it straight.

---

Responses to Mini-Roman

With a game going hand

If responder can visualize game given the distribution and points in the Mini-Roman opener, he responds 2NT (alerted), asking for the stiff or void. For example, if opener has a stiff Club, this is a good try for game in Hearts. Opener would bid 3§ and responder can bid four Hearts.  If opener shows a stiff in Hearts, 3ª , 3NT or 4 Clubs will play better.

N	E	S	W
2¨*	P	2NT*	P

South's Hand

ª Qxx
© Axxx
¨ KQ
§ Jxxx    If North's stiff is Clubs, there's a decent chance for a Heart game.                       If it's Hearts, then bid 3 Notrump or three Hearts

---

Without a game going hand

Without a game-going hand, responder should bid four card suits up the line.

Opener will pass when a four card suit fit is found. If opener has a stiff in the first suit bid by responder, he will bid the next highest suit - he has four of them. Then responder can pass or bid any higher suit, knowing where there is a sure fit.

N	E	S
2¨*	P	2©	A natural bid by South.
2ª	. . .		North is showing a stiff Heart and 4 Spades.
P	3§	. . .	South preferring to Clubs with a known 8+ card fit.

Often, responder can pass the openers next higher suit. In any case, the whole hand distribution is known, so it's easy to figure out and to predict.

Opponents' Can Hear. Unfortunately, the opponents have an exact reading of the opener's distribution. It is best to have the opener be the dummy if possible, as his HCP count and distribution is known.