•Investigated romantic competence (RC) in established relationships.•High RC participants viewed relationships and their partners more favorably.•Partners characterized high RC participants as more supportive.•The RC levels of participants and partners were systematically correlated.•Results highlight multiple mechanisms linking RC to relationship functioning. Romantic competence (RC) may benefit relationships, but the mechanisms responsible for such links have yet to receive sufficient attention. The present investigation assessed RC levels among participants and their romantic partners (171 couples) using a recently-developed situational judgment test and the design of the study permitted the examination of multiple pathways through which RC could benefit relationships. High RC participants generally viewed relationships in more positive terms and they were also more satisfied with their current relationships. They contributed to the relationship satisfaction of their partners through behavioral pathways and the RC levels of participants and partners were systematically correlated. Altogether, the research highlights multiple mechanisms that link romantic competence to relationship functioning.