This page enables you to link to descriptions of various conventions that are use in MAF for the defense. In all the pages where you link to buttons are available, which enable you to return to here.

Ghestem

de MAF-fe tuinman

Truscott

superMAF

Opponent's Overcall

Opponent's Double

DOUBLE

Take Out Double

Lebensohl

MAF-fe Multi-Landy

Common Overcall

Jump Overcalls

REDOUBLE

Most of these conventions are well known. All conventions used, are described on this side, because they come in different tastes.

Defensive conventions never can be applied arbitrarily. Each convention needs it own bidding situation. The bidding situations were ordened. The result is presented in the next three overviews:

overview DEFENSE DEFENSE class A: after OPENING by the OPPONENTS

overview DEFENSE DEFENSE class B: after OPENING by your PARTNERSHIP

overview DEFENSE DEFENSE class B: after OPENING by MAF-fe 1§/1¨ openings

When discussing defensive actions, two classes of situations must be distinguished. In this section the situations will be discussed, which may arise after an opening of the opponents: class A. By means of the next button you are enabled to read the discussion regarding the opposite class, i.e. when you or your partner have opened the auction, of these defensive problems: class B.

DEFENSE: the NEGATIVE DOUBLE

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COMMON OVERCALLS:
Without jumping overcalls can be made in the 2nd and 4th position. For both positions the same rules are applied, also if the opponents called both.
If the opening bid is not (or cannot be) preemptive (for preemptive openings counts a convention: superMAF), sometimes you are allowed to make a overcall:

• on 1-level
  the hand must meet two+ conditions
  • the suit to be mentioned must hold 5 cards at least
  • the hand must hold 6 HCP's at least
  • for the conventional 1NT overcall ("de MAF-fe tuinman") exceptional rules are applied because this overcall is only made with exceptional hands.
• on 2-level
  again the hand must meet two++ conditions
  • the suit to be mentioned must hold 5 cards at least
  • the hand must hold 10 HCP's at least
  • for the conventional jump overcalls: cue=2«, 2NT and 3§ (Ghestem) exceptional rules are applied.
  • for other jump overcalls also special rules are applied; generally such overcalls are weak.

Generally jump overcalls are weak, also when they have conventional meanings (Ghestem).
Take solid cognizance of it, that jump bids, which are not overcalls or opening bids,so rebids and responses to opening bids, generally are strong e.g.: limit bids, game jumps,   Weevandedree,  splinters,  WHa?,  SHiD+++,  MaD+++ and maybe still some more (nota bene: on these links are no return buttons!).

Overcalls over preemptive bids or bids that frequently have a preemptive meaning, are always conventional ("superMAF") and special rules are applied.

Overcalls over a strong 1NT opening bids are conventional too (MAF-fe Multi-Landy). All 2- an 3-level overcalls have roughly the same meanings as the equally named opening calls.

The double of an opening the so-called Take Out double has a conventional meaning which is comparable with the other defensive conventions mentioned in this section.

The problems with handling hostile overcalls are part of separate class. They occur in situations where your partnership has opened the auction. For this reason they will be discussed in the section class B problems.

For most of the possible occurring situations, the agreements are written down in the concise overviews that were mentioned earlier. In the overviews distinction is made between 61 different situations (24 class A- and 36 class B-situations). The situations are ordered systematically.
Solutions are indicated and links to the applied conventions are provided. In this way the description of the defense system has been structured.
I suggest that you study the first overview, which is 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 so either.

I did not yet try to analysis 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 the 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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