DONT ("Disturb Opponents' NoTrump") is a defense to a 1NT opening in which double shows a one-suited hand, 2♣ shows clubs and a higher suit, 2♦ shows diamonds and a major, 2♥ shows both majors and 2♠ shows spades. Every bid is at the two level, so you compete cheaply and often.
DONT was developed by Marty Bergen, a well-known American writer and player. It is built for matchpoints, where pushing the opponents out of a comfortable 1NT is worth a lot, and it is popular in North American club bridge against strong (15-17) notrumps.
How the DONT Convention Works
| Call over 1NT | Meaning |
|---|---|
| X | A one-suited hand (advancer relays with 2♣) |
| 2♣ | Clubs and a higher suit (diamonds, hearts or spades) |
| 2♦ | Diamonds and a major |
| 2♥ | Hearts and spades |
| 2♠ | Spades, a one-suited hand |
Shape. The two-suited bids show at least five-four, either way round. The one-suited double shows a good six-card suit or a strong five-card suit in a hand with no second suit. With a spade one-suiter, bid 2♠ directly; so in practice the double shows clubs, diamonds or hearts. Some pairs double first with a strong spade hand. Robots may play a different defense to 1NT: you can see what 2♣ over 1NT means in every system.
Strength. DONT is about shape, not points: about 8-15 HCP is normal, less at favorable vulnerability. With a strong balanced hand there is no penalty double; you pass and defend, or you bid your suit.
Rule of ThumbDONT shows the lower suit first. With two suits, bid the lower one; partner passes with support or bids the next suit up to ask for your second.
Advancer's Responses
After the double (one suit)
- 2♣: the relay. Overcaller passes with clubs or bids the long suit: 2♦, 2♥ (or 2♠ with a strong spade hand).
- A long suit of your own: with six or more cards and no interest in partner's suit, bid it.
- Pass: for penalty. Rare, you need real values and expect to beat 1NT doubled.
After 2♣, 2♦ or 2♥ (two suits)
- Pass: you have support for the suit partner bid, usually three cards (two is often enough at the two level).
- The next suit up: "tell me your other suit." After 2♣, a 2♦ bid asks; partner passes with diamonds or bids 2♥ or 2♠. After 2♦, 2♥ is pass or correct: partner passes with hearts or bids 2♠.
- A jump or a raise: invitational, with a good fit.
- 2NT: a strong hand, asks for more information.
After 2♥ (both majors), you choose: pass with hearts, 2♠ with spades, or jump to invite.
After 2♠
Pass is normal. A raise to 3♠ is invitational or competitive with a fit.
DONT Example Hands
East opens a strong 1NT. You hold ♠7 ♥KQ1074 ♦82 ♣AJ963: 10 HCP, five hearts and five clubs. Bid 2♣: clubs and a higher suit.
East opens 1NT. Your 2♣ shows clubs and a higher suit. Partner asks with 2♦ and you show hearts.
2♣ = clubs and a higher suit. 2♦ asks. 2♥ shows the hearts.
Partner has only two clubs but three hearts, so partner bids 2♦ to ask for your second suit, and you show hearts. Partner passes.
Double dummy, 2♥ makes with an overtrick: +140. If you had passed, East would have played 1NT, which goes one down on best defense for +50. DONT turned a small plus into a bigger one, and that difference is worth many matchpoints.
More hands over a strong 1NT:
- ♠AQ965 ♥74 ♦KJ83 ♣92: 2♦, diamonds and a major. Partner passes with diamonds, or bids 2♥, and you correct to 2♠.
- ♠83 ♥42 ♦AQJ1064 ♣K73: double, a one-suited hand. Over partner's 2♣, bid 2♦.
- ♠KJ864 ♥Q10953 ♦A4 ♣7: 2♥, both majors.
- ♠KQJ1074 ♥93 ♦82 ♣A105: 2♠, a one-suited spade hand.
East opens a strong 1NT. You play DONT. Your call?
East opens a strong 1NT. You play DONT. What do you bid?
Your hand:
Judgment and Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the order. DONT names the lower suit first. With hearts and spades, bid 2♥, not 2♠.
- Passing partner's two-suiter with a misfit. If you do not like the first suit, bid the next one up to find the other. Do not leave partner in a 5-1 fit.
- Bidding with a weak suit. A one-suited double with ♥876532 is risky: you play the suit with few honors at the two level.
- Expecting a penalty double. In DONT, the double is a one-suiter. With a strong balanced hand, pass and defend.
- Ignoring vulnerability. Vulnerable, doubled two-level contracts cost 200 for the first undertrick and 300 for each one after that.
Variations and Alternatives
DONT is one of several modern defenses to 1NT. The main differences are what the double means and how many single-suited hands are covered:
| Convention | Double | 2♣ | 2♦ |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONT | One suit | Clubs + higher | Diamonds + major |
| Cappelletti | Penalty | One suit | Both majors |
| Landy | Penalty | Both majors | Natural |
| Meckwell | Minor or both majors | Clubs + major | Diamonds + major |
Some pairs play DONT only against a strong notrump and switch to a penalty double against a weak (12-14) notrump, because a weak notrump is easier to punish. Others play "DONT in the balancing seat," keeping natural bids directly over 1NT.
The Full DONT Tree
(1NT) ?
- X: one suit. 2♣ relay; overcaller passes or bids the suit.
- 2♣: clubs + higher. Pass with clubs; 2♦ asks for the other suit.
- 2♦: diamonds + major. Pass with diamonds; 2♥ pass or correct.
- 2♥: both majors. Pass or 2♠ to choose; jump to invite.
- 2♠: spades. Pass, or raise to invite.
Second round: the overcaller with extra shape or strength may bid again after a simple preference, but in most DONT auctions the bidding stops at the two level.
Practice: DONT
DONT wins most of its points in close partscore battles, which are hard to judge without seeing many hands. In the BridgeDummy bidding puzzles you sit South over the opponents' notrump and choose a call; each option is solved double dummy over many deals that fit the bidding, so you see how often competing beats passing.
To test a decision you met at the club, set up the hands in custom simulations and compare defending 1NT with playing your two-suit fit over many dealt hands.
Related pages: doubles in bridge, bridge scoring: matchpoints vs IMPs and the Law of Total Tricks.