MAF uses a convention for the 2ª and 2© openings which is well known. The names, by which the convention is known, are different: "Tartan", "Dutch Two", "Polish Two" and in the Netherlands "Muiderberg". If one of these names looks familiar to you, it it still possible that you have a different convention in mind, because sometimes completely different conventions live under the same name. We do not therefore consider it superfluous to explain the convention, for the two level opening of the major suits that is applied in MAF.
Moreover I have added a few maffe properties to the convention, you never have heard of before, like I also did with the multi-colored convention. Of course you should be informed about these extensions.

The convention I drive at, is meant for weak two suited hands. These hands must have a 5,4- distribution, of which the 5-suiter has to be a major suit. As addition to the well known convention ,not only one but, both 5,4 major suit have assimilated into the convention now.

Before proceeding I must tell you that the 2© and 2ª openings are so very similar, even more similar then the 2§ and the 2¨ openings are, that only one description will be given for both opening bids together. As a result of this, the texts under the pair of accompanying link-buttons are identical.

Before we start explaining the convention, something must be said about weak two suited openings in general.
In the meantime you must have become accustomed to my way of explaining, exploring and analyzing. So here is another table again:

2©/ª  weak, not forcing *   pass weak, fit 2+card ©/ª  or: very weak: <=8 <12   if forced: rebid is 3 in second suit 2ª Sohl on 2© : no support, weak, non-forcing, 4-card ª ** 8-12 a: 5-card ª 4-card © 8-11    2NT FAKE-Sohl : strong, forcing 4-cardª or fit in © **   b: 5-card ª 5-card §/¨ 8-11                p: fit: >=3-card ©/ª, ..... 3 or 4©/ª? >=12 c: 5-card ª 4-card §/¨ 8-11               q: no fit ©/ª, 4-card other major, .... 3NT or 3/4?? >=12 d: 5-card © 4-card ª 8-11               r: no support, any very strong 5-suiter  >=16 e: 5-card © 5-card §/¨ 8-11    3§ no support, weak, non-forcing, 3+card § >=8 f:  5-card © 4-card §/¨ 8-11   3¨ no support, and also no clubs, non-forcing, 4+card ¨ >=10 type frequency of 2ª % absolute relative a: 0.601 28.64 b: 0.383 18.26 c: 1.113 53.10 total: 2.097 100.00 type frequency of 2© % absolute relative d: 0.601 28.64 e: 0.383 18.26 f: 1.113 53.10 total: 2.097 100.00   3©/ª fit, 3+card, after 2©/ª   14-15      3ª/© 6+card, no fit in ©/ª, ..... pass, 4ª/© or 3NT ? 12-15   4©/ª 3+card ©/ª, to play >=16         * If there is no fit in opening suit, the opener's rebid generally is his second suit. He has to pass to a 2ª response always, if he holds 4 spades. ** With weak hands, holding a 4-card spades, 2ª is the compelled response to a 2© opening bid if there is no fit in hearts. With strong hands, 2NT may only be responded if the hand allows for a 3 or 4©/ª contract through the opener's rebid. The latter is not required if a 4© contract is easily achievable.

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If you arrived here because you wanted to read about the "sohl principle" then we give you the opportunity to link to various other paragraphs where remarks are made about "sohl":

1§-Sohl	1¨-Sohl	1©-Sohl	1ª-Sohl	1NT-Sohl	2NT-Sohl	3NT-Sohl
the SOHL overview

This looks very simple, compared to the 2§/¨ diagrams. However don't mistake yourself. Under certain conditions it can get rather complicated.
The answers can be arranged in various groups.

• Answers that show a fit in the opening suit:
  • pass: weak with a 2+card, ask the opener to pass, also after a possible intervention.
    Having very weak hands it is not wise to try to find a better fit, not even when only having a singleton. The lower the bidding the bigger the chance of being delivered by the opponents.
  • responses in the opening suit: limit and game bids showing hcp's and at least a 3-card support.
• responses, that deny support in the opening suit:
  • 2ª, only possible after 2© opening bids, ask the opener to pass with a 4-card spades and else to show his second suit
  • 3§, weak, no support, 4+card clubs, (singleton) in the opening suit, non-forcing, also denies spades after a opening in hearts, The responder must be prepared for any rebid in a new suit.
  • 3¨, weak, no support (singleton)in the opening suit, no 4-card clubs, non forcing, also denies a 4-card spades and so is 6+card after an opening in hearts, very hazardous after an opening in spades without a 4-card in hearts (in hearts and diamonds together 9 cards at least).
• multi-responses, which are not clear about the possible support in the opening suit:
  • There is only one of this type of responses the 2NT-FAKE-Sohl response
    On one hand it looks like the 2 NT responses to the 2-level minor suit opening bids, it's strong and forcing. On the other hand it the response is multi and forcing. We call the response, because of this ambivalence, a FAKE-Sohl. The opener has to show his second suit, even when this suit happens to be spades after an opening in hearts. (the latter is done through a trick, on which we'll return a little later on).
    The responder commonly has to be well prepared for any possible rebid. the possible 3ª rebid can be very annoying when there is no fit in spades. In something is done to overcome this disadvantage.
    It appears to be necessary for the opener to show the spades after a opening in hearts by bidding 3ª. There is another way. You could call 3©. This enables the responder to apply the FAKE-Sohl also without a 4-card spades but with a doubleton in hearts. As with such a hand the responder could pass after 3©. So we agree on the next convention:
    

    MAF-fe Muiderberg Extension: MME
    

    A rebid of 3©
    after a forcing 2NT or a 3§/¨ response to a 2© opening bid,
    shows a 4-card spades.
    In the diagram three types of hands are described which are suitable for responding 2NT. Having established the convention there are a few more. As a matter of fact it isn't necessary at all to specify the alternatives. The opener never can understand what's meant by 2NT. All the responders wants is to learn the opener's second suit, and he determines all by himself in which circumstances he'll ask the 2NT question. On his next turn the responder will determine the nature of the contract. This may be anything. This next bid is with exception of 4NT never forcing, though it may have a limiting character. All the opener has to know about the FAKE-Sohl, is that direct rebids in major suits are 6-suiters.

This looks very simple compared to the 2§/¨ diagrams, but we will see that after all it may get rather complicated under certain circumstances.
The responses can be arranged in groups of different types:

• response showing a fit in the opening suit:
  • pass: weak, asks the opener to pass also after any intervention.
    With very weak hands it does not seem wise to try to find a suit with a better fit. Keep the bidding level as low as possible to enlarge the chance for the opponents to intervene and liberate you out of your bad position.
• responses (commonly) denying a fit in the opening suit:
  • 2ª, weak Sohl response always on the 2©, opening bid, asks the opener to pass if he holds spades and else to call his second suit.
    
  • 2NT: this is a fake-sohl response because it is done with a strong hand. It is similar to the responses on the 2-level minor suit openings and shows interest in a game contract in the opening suit. The opener must bid his second suit even when this is a 4-card spades . The 2NT response is always forcing like the real Sohls.
    The responder, applying the 2NT-sohl-response, must be prepared for all possible rebids including 3ª, and have all his possible next responses ready, before making the sohl-bid.
    After the opener's second bid, the responder knows all there is. He must proceed to his goal now.
  • 3§, weak Sohl response only on 2ª, is non-forcing and again, it must allow for a "pass" by the opener. Here also it is necessary to anticipate for any rebid: pass as well in each of the two remaining suits.
  • 3¨, weak Sohl response only on 2ª, is a very hazardous. You need considerable strength to cope with a possible misfit. The odds are about 50/50, and there will be no return chance. This response is also non-forcing and once more, it must allow for a "pass" by the opener too.
  • The responses beyond 2NT, which will occur very seldom, all are commonly final bids and deny a fit in the opening suit as well as the remaining suits. As such a response does not exclude a fit in the suit called, The opener is allowed to raise this commonly final bid in case of a fit.
    
  
  
  

  If the opponents do an overcall, than it is generally better to continue with passes, unless there is a nice fit in the opening suit.
  If the opponents double your bid, than you should, according to the general MAF-points of departure, disregard this double and carry on the bidding as planned.
  

  If you want to see examples of bridgames in which the matter, treated in this section, is practiced you should click on examples and choose for the appropriate convention or for any typical opening bid.