Handling Opponent's OVERCALLS & DOUBLES
Analyzis of situation in which a Negative Double is done and when it is done

In this section the problems are discussed which may arise when the opponents come into the bidding after your partnership has opened the auction. These "class B problems" are different from the opposite "class A problems" which may arise after the opponents have opened the auction. The main defence page, under next button treats these last kind of situations.

DEFENSE: several CONVENTIONS explained
The conventions to combat "class B problem" are very few compared to the attacking conventions of class A.
As a matter of fact by far the most frequently used convention in class B is the so-called:
NEGATIVE DOUBLE,
This is a double done directly after an opponent's double of an opening bid. The meaning depends on the kind of opening bid and on level and kind of the intervention. This is all specified in two of the overviews that are mentioned a few lines farther down.
In MAF in class A a variety of about 20 conventions exists.
While the class A conventions all are very simple, the "negative double" class B convention alone is more complicated then all 20 class A conventions together. Besides the negative double MAF comprises the next class B defensive conventions.
Lebensohl    Truscott    Lead Double    Sohl Double    D0p1-R0p1    Psychedelic Double
For that matter a few of the conventions mentioned in the main defense page (and the accompanying double/redouble page) belong to class B. Truscott and Lebensohl are also far more complicated then the average 'class A convention' is.
The kind of opening suit and the kind of overcall (1-level, 2-level, jump or double) give many different 'negative double situations'. This is illustrated by the last two concise overviews:
overview DEFENSE class A: after OPENING by the OPPONENTS
overview DEFENSE class B: after OPENING by your PARTNERSHIP
overview DEFENSE DEFENSE class B: after OPENING by MAF-fe 1§/1¨ openings
The responder always tries to neglect (without forgetting of course) the opponent's interventions over his partners opening bid. If, the bid planned by the responder, has become impossible, a problem has originated. Sometimes this is resolved by special agreements
Interventions after 1 NT openings e.g. are rather awkward, but then the old "Mean Awkward Filibuster" called Lebensohl may be put into action. On the other hand, if the opponents overcall the 1NT opening with e.g. 2¨, the meanings of the bids beyond 2¨ keep their common conventional meanings, they are not lost.
Also opponent's interventions do enlarge your bidding power, as always a double or a redouble is added to the remaining possible responses. The 1NT-redouble convention is an example of such an application. Another trick is to change the meaning of your responses after certain interventions, which is done very applicably by the Truscott convention. I am convinced that more conventions can be developed while using these principals. I do not try this now. Maybe I will come with a new website about a generalised concept of these principles for disturbed bidding sequences, comparable with the sohl-concept for uninterrupted auctions.

Continuing the discussion of the overviews we must acknowledge that the class B situations simply exist. You have to cope with them. Their great number is partly caused by the MAF-concept. MAF was designed to solve problems but you never can evade the "Law of Conservation of Misery". This law comes up everywhere after you have taken some wonderful measures.
In the overviews distinction is made between 61 different situations (24 class A- and 36 class B-situations). The situations are ordered systemetically. Solutions are indicated and links to the applied conventions are provided. In this way MAF's complete defense system is compactly and orderly described.
The most trivial solutions were chosen, trying everywhere to maximize MAF's power. The result is reproductable by reflecting logically. So it is also easily memorizable. As a matter of fact you just have to memorize some principles.
I suggest that you study the second and third overview, which are within the framework of this section. Try to grasp the general principles and look if you can reproduce it too. I do not think that an abstract description of these principles will benefit you much, so I will not try to do it either.
I did not yet try to analyze the frequency of occurrence of of the various situations. I did not even try to investigate, if my 61 situations describe all the imaginable situations. I have the feeling in the practice of playing bridge that time and again about the same situations arise. I observe also many players getting into trouble in rather common situations. I will keep reflecting about this matter. May be I will start a new project on situations during the auction. Anyway my other planned project as an environmental philosopher will not occupy me heavily



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

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