Defense against balanced 1NT openings

Strong in direct seat (DONT)

• DBL: 1-suiter. If followed by 2NT shows 20+ balanced (all following bids at level 3 are transfers).
• 2C: 4+4+ in clubs and a higher suit
• Raises: Pre-emptive
• Pass: 3+ clubs
• 2D: 0-2 clubs
• Other suit: Natural
• 2NT: Game interest
• 2D: 4+4+ in diamonds and a higher suit
• Raises: Pre-emptive
• Pass: 3+ diamonds
• 2H: 0-2 diamonds
• Other suit: Natural
• 2NT: Game interest
• 2H: 4+4+ in hearts and spades
• 3/4H/S: Pre-emptive
• 2S: Preference
• Other suit: Natural
• 2NT: Game interest
• 2S: Weak spade 1-suiter
• 2NT: Very offensive 5+5+ in any suits

If the DONT 2C/D/H bid is DBLed by the opponent, RDBL is the only “pull-out” (all suit bid are natural own suits). If opponent bids a suit over our DONT, DBL is Negative and 2NT is strong.

Balancing seat or Weak/Mini direct seat (Cappelletti)

• DBL: Business. If followed by 2NT shows 18-20 balanced. If opponent RDBLs for business:
• Suit: 5+ suit, weak
• Pass: otherwise. If opener passes:
• 2C: Baron
• Other suit: To play
• 2C: 1-suiter. If followed by 2NT shows 21-22 balanced.
• 2D: major 2-suiter. If followed by 2NT shows 18-20 balanced.
• 2H/S: heart/spade-and-a-minor 2-suiter
• 2NT: minor 2-suiter

1NT(Weak)-pass-2C(Stayman)

• Pass followed by DBL: Negative
• DBL: Takeout, no short major
• 2NT: Offensive 2-suiter
• Other: Natural

1NT-pass-2D/H(Jacoby)

• Pass followed by DBL: Negative
• DBL: Natural
• Cue-bid: Michaels
• 2NT: 4+4+ in minors

1NT-pass-2S(transfer to clubs)

• DBL: Natural
• 2NT: 4+4+ in diamonds and hearts
• 3C: Takeout

1NT-pass-2NT(transfer to diamonds)

• 3D: 4+4+ in majors
• DBL: Takeout