From kwalker@prairienet.org Wed Apr 10 10:56:46 CDT 1996
Article: 35195 of rec.games.bridge
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: DONT convention summary

   Interest in the DONT convention seems to be fairly high of late, and
I've received mail from some people who wanted to know where they could
find a complete description of the convention.  It's mentioned in Larry
Cohen's *To Bid or Not to Bid* books, but the most detailed write-up I've
seen was the one Bergen wrote for *Bridge Today* magazine when he
introduced the convention in 1989. 
   Since many r.g.b. readers don't have access to old issues of *BT*, I've
summarized the DONT convention below.  Bergen's 7-page article is quite
detailed and includes lots of example hands, but the summary below covers
all the basics.  I've included a few of Bergen's examples to clarify some
of his recommendations, plus a couple of explanatory notes of my own [in
brackets] that describe some other popular agreements and modifications. 
 
                       * * * * * * * * * * * * 
 
       The DONT ("Disturb the Opponents' Notrump") CONVENTION
 
     Introduced by Marty Bergen in the September/October 1989 issue 
     of *Bridge Today* magazine, pp. 23-29.
 
     Used in the direct or balancing seat after an opponent opens 
     a strong notrump (14+ HCPs).  [ Also used over a 2NT opener. ]
 
 
ONE-SUITED HANDS --  decent 5+-card suit  (may be 5-4 if the 5-card 
================     suit is a strong major)
 
       2S = Spade one-suiter, 6-card suit or strong 5-carder
   3-bids = Long suit (7+ cards), preemptive
   Double = Unspecified one-suiter, relays responder to 2C
 
AFTER THE DOUBLE:
   Responder bids 2C to let the doubler show his suit.  The doubler can 
pass (if his suit was clubs) or bid 2D, 2H or 2S.  If the doubler holds a 
strong hand with game interest, he can jump to 3 of his suit.
   Responder is not forced to take the 2C relay if he has his own suit (a 
6-card suit or good 5-carder), especially when he is "afraid" of one of 
the unbid suits.  One of the examples Bergen gives is Jxxx, x, KQJ10x, 
xxx -- he would bid 2D over partner's double.
   After the overcaller shows his suit, 2NT by responder shows a good 
game invitation.  A raise shows a fit, but not enough for a "serious" 
invitation.
   Bergen warns that the since the doubler could be light in high cards, 
responder should "never" leave the double in.
   If the doubler bids 2S over responder's 2C, it generally shows some 
extra values because he could have bid 2S directly over 1NT.
   [ A slightly different agreement is that a direct 2S overcall shows
     longer, stronger spades.  Since the double gives responder room to
     show his own suit, the double-then-2S auction tends to show a more
     balanced hand.  This isn't discussed in the article, but many 
     players are now using this treatment. ]
 
TWO-SUITED HANDS -- usually at least 5-4, but a strong 4-4 is okay
================
 
    2C = Clubs and another suit
    2D = Diamonds and a major
    2H = Hearts and Spades
 And very rare:
    2NT = Major-minor two-suiter, monster hand (6-5 or better) 
          (This relays partner to 3C, over which opener identifies
           his two suits via a fairly complicated code.)
    3NT = Major two-suiter, monster hand
 
AFTER THE 2C, 2D OR 2H OVERCALL:
   Responder can pass or he can ask for overcaller's second suit by 
bidding the cheapest suit (2D over a 2C overcall, etc.). 
   If responder "skips" the cheapest suit to bid another suit (i.e., 2H 
over a 2C overcall), he's showing his own 6-card suit or strong 5-carder.
   2NT by responder (rare) is a strong game invitation and asks opener to
bid his other suit at the 3-level.  If responder asks for the second suit
and then bids 2NT, it's a strong game invitation in the second suit. 
   Raises of minors tend to be preemptive.  Raises of majors are mildly
invitational, since 2NT is available to show a good invitation. 
   In general, if you're responder, assume that partner's second suit is 
probably the one where you have shortness.  As Bergen notes, if partner 
overcalls 2D and you hold QJ10x, A, xx, QJ109xx, "dream on" if you think 
his second suit might be spades.  He recommends bidding 3C.
 
OVER OPPONENTS' INTERFERENCE
=============================
 
   If the opponent bids or doubles directly after your DONT overcall or
double, responder never "guesses" which suit his partner has.  The *only*
way to get the overcaller to bid his unnamed suit is to double or redouble. 
   The general meanings of responder's bids are:
   Pass = he's content to play in the current contract
   Redouble (over a double) = he wants you to bid your second suit
   Double (of a natural bid) = he wants you to bid your unnamed suit. 
     This double shows some high cards and tolerance for all unbid suits.
   Double (of an artificial bid) = lead directing
      [ Some players forego the lead-directing definition and agree that
        a double of an artificial bid is the same as the double of a 
        natural bid -- it shows values and encourages partner to bid 
        his unnamed suit. ]
   Any suit bid = he's showing his own long suit
 
DEFENDING AGAINST DONT
======================
 
Over DBL:      Play "front of the card" (Stayman, transfers, etc.)
Over 2C:       Same as above, except use double for Stayman.
Over 2D & 2S:  Treat as natural.  (Jacoby transfers off, Lebensohl on.)
Over 2H:       Double = "Cards", 2+ hearts, often a raise to 2NT
               2S = Minors, weak or strong
               2NT = Lebensohl
               3C or 3D = Invitational
               3H or 3S = Shortness, game-forcing
               3NT = To play, but with no major-suit stoppers
    [ Most people play Texas transfers are "on" over any DONT overcall 
      or double. ]
--