By Val Rhead
DONT – Disturb Opponents No Trump
Sometimes it seems as though every second bid made by the opposition is One No Trump. There are good reasons for this. Opening One No trump bids are particularly valuable in helping players place hands that have strong values in the minor suits. A Three No Trump game can be easier to make than a Five Diamond or Five Club game. Also, the One No Trump opening bid, with the use of Stayman and Transfer conventions, helps players find major suit contracts.
The One No Trump bid quickly and accurately describes the hand of a point count 15 to 17 points with stoppers in at least three suits, balanced or semi-balanced. This description has been liberalized continuously. Recently, ACBL announced that a singleton can be included in a One No Trump bid if the singleton is an Ace, King or Queen. So this bid will become even more common. Now, what is the best way for you to defend against this prevalent opening bid. One convention devised to do this is DONT (Disturb Opponents No Trump).
Your DONT bid is a competitive convention over a No Trump opening. There are five possible bids by you in the DONT convention. Each of the five possible DONT bids that follow require partner to respond with the respective choice:
DOUBLE – I have a LONG SUIT (six or more). Unless opponent bids, partner must bid Two Clubs to find out your long suit. If your long suit is Clubs, you just PASS. Otherwise you correct to your long suit (unless opponent bids – then you are off the hook).
TWO CLUBS – I have a TWO SUITED hand (five – five) – Clubs and a higher ranking suit. Unless opponent bids, partner may PASS if he likes Clubs or bid Two Diamonds to find out your other suit. If your other suit is Diamonds, you just PASS. Otherwise you correct to your suit (unless opponent bids – then you are off the hook).
TWO DIAMONDS – I have a TWO SUITED hand – Diamonds and a higher ranking suit. Unless opponent bids, partner may PASS if he likes Diamonds or bid Two Hearts to find out your other suit. If your other suit is Hearts, you just PASS. Otherwise you correct, in this case to Spades, (unless opponent bids – then you are off the hook).
TWO HEARTS – I have a TWO SUITED hand – Hearts and Spades. Unless opponent bids, partner must PASS Two Hearts if he likes Hearts or bid Two Spades if Spades is his better suit (unless opponent bids – then partner is off the hook).
TWO SPADES – I have a good Spade suit. The bid is lead directing telling partner to lead Spades when on lead. Partner must PASS.
The DONT bid is not designed to get you to a game contract. After all, if the opener has a 15 point hand and the responder has a little something, there aren’t usually enough points left over to get your side to game. However on occasion, miracles can happen. The primary purpose of this convention is to disturb the accuracy of your opponents’ bidding so that they might go down, or to get your side to a competitive part-score contract.
CONTINUE YOUR PLANS FOR THE LONGEST DAY JUNE 21
REMINDER: Now is the time to book your partner for THE LONGEST DAY Bridge Event in Orillia Wednesday, June 21, 2017 AT 1PM and 3PM. Two short games (12-15 boards) raise money to fight Alzheimer’s.
Guardian Angels Church
115 West Street North
Orillia, Ontario L3V 5C4
More information will follow here and on Orillia’s website www.orilliabridge.com
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club are Tuesday 7:15 start, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Susan Marshall 705 787-5454 or email [email protected]
Spring party June 13 at Grandview Golf Club (Mark O’Meara)
at 5PM, bridge in the dining room. $20 per person
No game at the church on June 13
The following winners are for Tuesday, Jun 6 with 16 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Beryl Clayson and Paul Clayson; 3. Chris Karn and Jinty Stewart; 4. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen;
East-West 1. Fay MacDonald and Yvonne Cox; 2. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 3. Susan Marshall and Mary Whitehead; 4. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Jun 5 with 26 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Susan Marshall and Mary Whitehead; 2. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 3. Jinty Stewart and Jane Insley; 4. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 5. Carol Anne Robinson and Nancy Barber; 6. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Pat Davies and Sue Scott; 3. Fay MacDonald and Yvonne Cox; 4. Art Insley and Don Evans; 5. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard; 6. Anna Wilson and Gil Little
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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