jamegumb

Those are useful, though probably not as useful as just going through this thread. I'm still chasing Leo's record. Got 16670 just now, which is my all-time best. And I missed 2 grand slams in that one (stopping in 6 both times), and also blew two vulnerable games (misbidding one, misplaying another). Most everything else fell into place, though (as it has to if you're going to score this high). Needed most of those points - jakisjacek scored 14410 and finished second.

You can run BBO on an iPad using iSwifter as noted here: http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/41934-bbo-on-iphone-or-ipad/page__st__20

It has a different definition of "twice rebiddable" than I do. (BTW, doesn't "twice rebiddable" mean that it can be bid three times? I think that's a programming error.)

Were the robots updated recently? They seem a bunch faster, but coincidentally my internet connection improved. Is it just me, or are they speedier now?

Thanks. That's a bit better, but they're still too close together for my chubby fingers.

Following up what I wrote in the other thread like this, I tried iSwifter this morning, and played a robot duplicate BBO tournament. Worked ok, except: 1) No mouse-overs; 2) No information as to what bids mean; 3) A bit of a lag (and this on an excellent internet connection) that makes clicking the right card a bit difficult. Otherwise, it's quite usable. Definitely beats having no access to BBO. And a stylus would probably help/solve the third point (though if BBO had an alternate layout where the cards were a bit farther apart, that would help too). And I think they moved the iSwifter (which, again, I am in no way affiliated with) price up from $.99 to $2.99; the extra $2 is supposed to be going to Japan to assist in tsunami relief.

Also, I think we're limited to the number of characters we can use in explaining a bid. I think that's a mistake as well - some of us not familiar with all of the proper shorthand can get a bit longwinded in our explanations, and lose some important details when truncating the explanation for space.

http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?lin=pn|jamegumb,~~M33936,~~M33934,~~M33935|st||md|4S2THKD7TQC478JQKA%2CS6789KAH59QDAC239%2CS3H2678TAD459KC5T%2C|rh||ah|Board%206|sv|e|mb|p|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203%2B%20C%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%201|mb|1S|an|One-level%20overcall%20--%205%2B%20S%3B%208-17%20HCP%3B%209-19%20total%20points%20|mb|d|an|Negative%20double%20--%204%2B%20H%3B%207%2B%20total%20points%20|mb|3S|an|Unbalanced%20--%204%2B%20S%3B%205-7%20total%20points%20|mb|4C|an|3-%20H%3B%2021-%20HCP%3B%20twice%20rebiddable%20C%3B%2018-22|mb|4S|an|5%2B%20S%3B%208-17%20HCP%3B%209-19%20total%20points%20|mb|p|mb|p|mb|5C|an|3-%20H%3B%2021-%20HCP%3B%20strong%20rebiddable%20C%3B%2018-2|mb|p|mb|5D|an|4%2B%20H%3B%202-%20S%3B%20biddable%20D%3B%207%2B%20total%20points%20|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pc|D3|pc|D7|pc|DA|pc|D5|pc|SK|pc|S3|pc|S5|pc|ST|pc|SA|pc|D4|pc|SQ|pc|S2|pc|D9|pc|D8|pc|DQ|pc|C2|pc|HK|pc|H5|pc|H2|pc|H3|pc|C4|pc|C9|pc|CT|pc|C6|pc|HA|pc|H4|pc|CJ|pc|H9|pc|HT|pc|HJ|pc|DT|pc|HQ|pc|CA|pc|C3|pc|C5|pc|DJ|pc|S4|pc|CQ|pc|S6|pc|DK|pc|H7|pc|D6|pc|CK|pc|S7|pc|D2|pc|C7|pc|S8|pc|H8|pc|SJ|pc|C8|pc|S9|pc|H6| Link to hand is here if that's too small Down 4. Really, GIB? (I'd have bid 6♣, but couldn't bear the thought of winding up in an eventual 7♦.)

You're misinterpreting the strategy. The proper strategy is: avoid *opening the bid* on hands that are likely to be part score battles. Once the bid has already been opened by one of your three opponents, you just got to do what you can to try to find the best result possible. Which likely will be in playing or defending a part score.

Everyone - try iSwifter. It actually works (it's a bit slow, so you won't be able to do robot races, also it looks like a stylus could be useful) for iPad. Free download to try; if you like it apparently it costs $.99. (And I am not connected in any way to iSwifter.)

While playing with a new partner recently, I discovered that our favorite "system in common" was Bridge World Standard. But this isn't offered as one of the standard convention card templates (there are about ten of them, including two different SAYC cards). Can it be added? EDIT: A link to the Bridge World Standard convention card can be found here: http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=bw_standard&f=bwstandardmainpage.html And I should let it be known that I've got no ties to the magazine other than being a subscriber.

If you are just interested in watching VuGraph, Puffin ($.99) is an iPad browser that loads flash with limitations. The limitations are that it is a bit slow and doesn't seem to allow you to type in the dialog boxes. So you have to log in as a guest, but you can view bridge tables that are in play (you cannot comment on the bridge, though).

I'd add overcalling hands with 12-18 HCP, 5♥, and 3+♣ to the simulations.

I tried Skyfire two nights ago without success; I didn't look into it much more than "this doesn't work" that night, but just now noted Skyfire's FAQ which states "No. Our focus is on enabling video playback. Currently we have no plans to enable Flash games and applications." -- http://www.skyfire.com/support/faq/skyfire-faq-for-ipad/ I also tried Cloud Browser ($.99), which *does* work, but is slow and doesn't let you resize, so the BBO screen doesn't all fit and needs to constantly be moved around. I think Cloud Browser works by them hosting your internet session and letting you view it, so any typing you do (say, entering your user name and password) is theoretically hackable by your host. Also, unless you pay even more, the sessions are limited in time; I didn't look at how much these plans cost as it didn't seem like a viable solution.

I admittedly have little idea how these things work, but would it be possible to get BBO to work with this iSwifter thing? See article below: http://venturebeat.com/2010/11/08/iswifter-app-launches-flash-content-on-the-ipad-with-apples-approval/ It looks like iSwifter hosts a certain number of flash games that it then allows to be accessed in an html browser. Could it do the same for BBO?

No, it doesn't. Is it impossible to add techniques to its repertoire?

GIB would be much more powerful if, in addition to the double dummy simulations it runs to determine plays, it utilized proper techniques as "tie breakers" for determining play lines. When in doubt, GIB should: 1) Not block suits 2) Not cash stoppers assuming other suits will break 3) When drawing trumps or cashing long suits, do so in a manner to allow later transportation between hands etc.

Wouldn't partner have bid the same way with, say, Qxxx in spades and AQx in clubs instead of his actual holdings? Not seeing how this is more than a guess.

Finally scored above 10,000 (actually topped 11 as well). Still not quite sure what to open with 18-19 points and no five card major or four card minor. Seeing 1D passed out on those hands is depressing. BTW, I think it's flawed to announce the tournament as 25 hands when the hands are actually unlimited. This was influencing my strategy before I found out better.

I remember this hand. Partner opened a natural 2♣; over 2♠ I raised to 3♣; partner eventually carried on to 5♣ over 4♠. We weren't doubled and somehow were allowed to make it. In the auction given, yes I think East could do more.

Well I don't know why I came here tonight, I got the feeling that something ain't right, I'm so scared if I bid a suit that's nowhere, 'Cause I'm wondering if he'll just leave me there, Robot to the left of me, Robot to the right, here I am, Stuck in a cue-bid with you.

It is right to duck with Kxx or Kxxx in dummy. The question was about which card GIB plays from dummy on the Opening Lead from this combination: KJx, KJxx. You're right, of course. I'd just never seen GIB duck with King empty before today. I thought it had learned something.

Held arguably the best hand I've ever seen: ♠ - ♥ A4 ♦ AKQJ ♣ AKQJT87 RHO opens 1♠. I figure I'll never know whether partner has the card I need, so I overcall an unscientific 6♣. Of course I get corrected by GIB to 6NT. His hand: ♠ JT742 ♥ QJT862 ♦ 7 ♣ 5 6NT went off three. I didn't have the heart to go to 7♣ so that I could end up in 7NT doubled. Oh, well. Next hand.

Has this been fixed? On two occasions yesterday I noticed GIB duck with Kxx(x) in dummy facing a singleton in hand on the opening lead.

1) If partner has two non-ace spades, even a small slam isn't going to happen. I'll try 4♦ and 5♥ over 4♥. 2) 6♦; I'll assume partner had a different bid last round if he had a two (or three) suited hand.