You should be aware though, that according to the mathematics of the game a 4441 pattern hand only occurs about 3% of the time. There are probably better uses for an opening bid of two diamonds than Mini-Roman.
Most people prefer to play this bid as promising a four card spade suit and no more than 15 HCP, but you may find some opponents who do not have this requirement, so if you play against others who use this you should ask. I would recommend that if you decide to use this bid that you promise spades.
Precision Club players have a more narrow definition where the singleton must be specifically a diamond with 11 - 15 HCP. With 16+ HCP the singleton can be in any suit. Although the convention is useful when it occurs, it has a low frequency of occurence.
Still a third way is to agree that the bid always promises a singleton club, thereby allowing responder to pass immediately.
Note that when you always promise a particular suit, as spades, or always promise a specific singleton such as either clubs or diamonds, the frequency of this bid drops below 3%.
All of these methods work well with a Forcing Club system. You and your partner will have to discuss this opening bid and decide how to use it.
Responder's Bids
The discussion below is for the version that promises a four card spade suit. The singleton/void can be in any of the other suits.
Responder Bids a Suit
Any suit bid is non-forcing and opener may pass.
If responder bids anything except 2NT, it indicates under 10 HCP and a desire to play in that suit. A pass would indicate length in diamonds.
Responder Bids Two Notrump
This is the forcing response. "Partner, where is your singleton or void?"
Opener should then show the short suit. After that, responder is the captain and is responsible for placing the final contract.
Comment
I think this convention solves a minor problem and presents the partnership with a major problem. It's very descriptive, but you often find yourself at the three level where the rest of field is playing at a comfortable two level. Although I play it with partners who like it, I would prefer not to use it.
If you don't use it, the only problem that arises is when you hold a singleton diamond and partner jumps to 3
. Avoiding this auction
is about the only problem that Mini-Roman solves.
For example, With any hand such these, you can open 1
and you will have a comfortable rebid over partner's
response. You really don't need Mini-Roman.
 KJTx |
KJTx |
x |
 Qxxx |
x |
KJxx |
|
KQxx |
KQxx |
Axxx |
 x |
KJxx |
KJxx |