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Play bridge: The Roman two diamonds

Tips and tricks for bridge players new to experienced.
29762traildailytimesmarch4Deal178-Roman
North south vulnerable

The Roman Bid: So far, we have seen a two diamond opening showing a weak hand with six diamonds, an intermediate hand with six diamonds, a one-and-a-half notrump (Mexican) and a Flannery hand (five hearts and four spades.)

Some people feel that those bids can be shown by bidding naturally and that the Roman hand is a difficult to bid using standard bidding.

Therefore, a two-diamond opening shows a hand that is 4-4-4-1 or 4-4-5-0 with shortness in any suit and no five card major. A mini-roman is such a hand with 11 to 15 high card points.

The bidding: North and South have agreed that they play a two diamond opening as a mini-Roman. North opens two diamonds, and with 10+ points, South bids two notrump asking North to bid the suit below his singleton or void. Three spades shows club shortness.

South then cuebids the short suit saying he is interested in slam. North does not know the suit yet, but cuebids the ace of diamonds. South asks for keycards and places the contract in seven spades.

The Lead: 9 or 7 of hearts. The opponents are in seven, a lead of a singleton is not correct.

The play: South wins the king of hearts and draws two rounds of trump, ruffing clubs and one round of hearts at the same time. When the queen of hearts falls (which is likely from the opening lead), declarer draws the last trump and claims seven.

Result: 7S by South making for +2210

Do You Have The Basics?

Q8: Against four spades, Partner leads the Ace of diamonds from Ace King and you have Q3, what do you play? See column 178 at watsongallery.ca for the answer.