DONT - Disturbing Opponents' No Trump

The convention DONT is used to make it difficult for the opponents when they open 1NT to find their contract.  It's main aim is to interfere with the normal responses to a 1NT opening. ie. Stayman and Jacoby (Transfers).

Here are a few examples of an interfering bid:

Interfering bid

What cards are held by the DONT bidder

Double

One-suited hand - 6+ suit or a solid 5 card suit to bid at your next turn. With min. 8 pts.

2 Clubs

2 suits (5/4 or better) - Clubs and higher (Diamonds, Hearts or Spades). With min. 8 pts.

2 Diamonds

2 suits (5/4 or better) - Diamonds and higher (Hearts or Spades). With min. 8 pts.

2 Hearts

2 suits (5/4 or better) - Heart and Spades. With min. 8 pts.

2 Spades

Natural bid with 6 Spades and 8-12 HCP points

The continuation of the DONT bid and their possible responses:

After our

Continuation of the DONT responses

Double

First, partner of the DBL must bid 2 Clubs if the partner of the 1NT opener passes. This 2 Club artificial bid relays back to the DONT bidder to continue with the following 5 possible responses.

  1. Pass - with 6+ Clubs
  2. 2 Diamonds - with 6+ Diamonds and minimum 8 HCP points.
  3. 2 Hearts - with 6+ Hearts and minimum 8 HCP points.
  4. 2 Spades - with 5 Good Spades and 13-15 HCP points.
  5. 3 Spades - with 5 Good Spades and 16+ HCP points.

2 Clubs

The following are 3 possible responses by the partner of the DONT 2 Clubs bid.

  1. 2 Diamonds - relays back to partner with a minimum of 3 Diamonds, 3 Hearts and 3 Spades
  2. Pass - with 3+ Clubs.
  3. 2 Hearts or 2 Spades - with 6+ Hearts or Spades and minimum 8 HCP points.

2 Diamonds

The following are 3 possible responses by the partner of the DONT 2 Diamonds bid.

  1. 2 Hearts - relays back to partner with a minimum of 3 Hearts and 3 Spades
  2. Pass - with 3+ Diamonds.
  3. 2 Spades - with 6+ Spades and minimum 8 HCP points.

2 Hearts

The following are 2 possible responses by the partner of the DONT 2 Hearts bid.

  1. 2 Spades - relays back to partner with a minimum of 3 Spades
  2. Pass - with 3+ Hearts.

Examples of the DONT Double and possible continuations:

1. East Doubles

West must bid 2 Clubs.
East will now Pass if he/she is holding 6+ Clubs and a min. 8 points.

2. East Doubles

West must bid 2 Clubs.
East will bid 2 Diamonds if holding 6+ Diamonds and a min. 8 points.

3. East Doubles

West must bid 2 Clubs.
East will bid 2 Hearts if he/she is holding 6+ Hearts and a min. 8 points.

4. East Doubles

West must bid 2 Clubs.
East will bid 2 Spades if he/she is holding 5 Good Spades and 13-15 points.

5. East Doubles

West must bid 2 Clubs.
East will jump to 3 Spades if he/she is holding 5 Good Spades and 16+ points.

Examples of the DONT 2 Clubs and possible continuations:

1. East bids 2 Clubs

West relays to partner, bidding 2 Diamonds with a min. of 3 Diamonds, 3 Hearts and 3 Spades.

2. East bids 2 Clubs

West should Pass without the min. of 3 Diamonds, 3 Hearts and 3 Spades and holds 3 Clubs.

3. East bids 2 Clubs

West bids 2 Hearts if he/she is holding 6+ Hearts and a min. 8 points.

4. East bids 2 Clubs

West bids 2 Spades if he/she is holding 6+ Spades and a min. 8 points.

Examples of the DONT 2 Diamonds and possible continuations:

1. East bid Diamonds

West relays to partner, bidding 2 Hearts with a min. of 3 Hearts and 3 Spades.

2. East bid Diamonds

West should Pass without the min. of 3 Hearts and 3 Spades and holds 3 Diamonds.

3. East bid Diamonds

West bids 2 Spades if he/she is holding 6+ Spades and a min. 8 points..

Examples of the DONT 2 Hearts and possible continuations:

1. East bid Hearts

West relays to partner, bidding 2 Spades with a minimum of 3 Spades.

2. East bid Hearts

West should Pass without the minimum of 3 Spades and holds 3 Hearts.