[Vilgan]

Playing precision and mini roman, with 2♦ being 11-15 points (can be 10 at favorable), my partner and I agreed that 2♦ <something> X is always penalty. I think this is reasonably standard.

However, we appear to disagree as to the meaning of 2♦ <something> P P X. I believe it should remain as takeout. Aka, partner I have a very good mini roman hand (top in values, no wasted honors in their suit), however I also have defensive tricks if you convert. He insists our agreement should be that it is penalty. We had a hand earlier that went 2♦ 3♣ P P to me, and it was a hand where having X available as takeout was correct since we can make 3 hearts and they can make 3♣ but not 4♣. We haven't had a hand ever come up yet where the mini roman opener can X for penalty in the passout seat, and tbh it seems a hand like that would be rare to nonexistant.

%wise, what is the better treatment of double in the passout seat for matchpoints? For imps?

Anyways, might be a bit too basic for this forum but would appreciate any insight from those who also play mini roman

Eric

[Gerben42]

Do you play 2♦ as short ♦ or any shortness?

If any shortness it should be TO. If only ♦ shortness the Dbl should not exist, pd can double.

[Free]

I think it's unplayable to see one player's double as penalty and the other player's double as takeout. I've tried something similar, it just doesn't work. So either you both play takeout doubles, or both play them for penalties. Since you play penalty in direct seat, it looks logic to play penalty in balancing seat as well.

[mike777]

This is only a short summary, if you have detailed questions you can PM, message me.

I play 2clubs as mini roman(11-16) but assume you can still play this over your style:

1) If the interference is a two level overcall, X is negative showing 10 or more pts and support for at least one unbid suit: 2c=(2h)=x
KJ75...86...A973...Q84
and he is sufficiently balanced to accept a penalty pass if the overcall is not Opener's short suit.

At matchpoints, the penalty pass by opener may occasionally be costly, but in the long run it should be profitable. The double promises only invitational values.


2) 2NT by responder instead of X shows an unbalanced hand uninterested in a penalty action at this level. It is game forcing: 2c=(2h)=2nt
KJ753...void...KQ732....Q84
Opener bids his short suit as usual. Subsequent bidding is the same as in an uncontested auction.

3) A three level double is forcing to game:
2c=(3D)=x
Normally opener bids the next suit if he has singleton in the overcalled suit. He bids his 5 card suit if void.

4) Three-level bids by responder are invitational, showing the bid suit and another.

5) If responder has a long suit in the overcalled suit he has the option of passing and opener can reopen with X if that is his short suit.