Yu18772

I didn't think 4♥ is far from making (assuming partner has 4 hearts) - I was thinking more like mikeh in this case. Dont remember partners hand exactly, but he had ~13 HCP with Q♠ single, QJTx ♥, (wasted) !♦ values and the K♣. It wasnt a great hand for play but 4♥ was pretty much laid down. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gifYu

Partner doubled because 2 passed hands reached game and trump are breaking badly.Tricks in ♦ are not running anywhere, but ♠ may go on ♦. So ♠ for me. Yu http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

partner doubled as passed hand showing both majors I presume - 4♠ or 3♣ (cue) and correct any number of ♥ to ♠ look ok to me. Yu http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I would not consider 1S, both other options are valid choice imo. If I bid 1NT and partner transfers to ♥ and then bids 2NT or 3NT (showing only 5 of them) I will choose to play the 5-2 heart fit. Yu http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Thank you all - at the table I didnt leave it in because of vulnerability (I figured that game is very likely and making 1♠ go down 4 essentially means limiting declarer to AKQ♠ (and that is assuming they dont run to ♦)) we reached 4♥ which made. Partner had single Q♠ at the other table AK♠ were the only tricks declarer took in 1♠ doubled...the winner is Jlogic http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif Yu http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Sorry - I dont get something about kenrexfords post :Why would pass be forcing? All we showed is a minimum opening opposite limit raise, surely 2♦ is not forcing to 5♣ vul ? Also I really dont understand how 4♥ can be passed - yes opener may hold 5-6 hand, but even then playing 11 card trump fit with side suit for discards should be better than playing 8 card trump fit without side suit discards? I would bid like Phil (except the 6♣ to 5♣ part http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif Yu

Team match against good opponents, with a good partner, red versus white you hold: ♠ JTxxxx, ♥ A9xx ,♦ - ,♣ AJx Your RHO, the dealer opens 1♠: 1♠ - P - P-X P- ? If you pass what would you lead? Would you decide differently at equal vulnerability (red vs red or white vs white)? Yuhttp://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I am not an expert, but that would be my thinking: W started out with 3:3 in majors, thus with 4:3 in minors, meaning that E started with 2 or 3 diamonds. E first discard was a ♦, which doesnt make sense if he held an Hxx after the ATxx, so I would play W for both honors - i.e run the Q, and finesse the T. Yu http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Sorry but partners pass on the first round makes it a clear pass for me. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

http://tinyurl.com/7pq5x4y ..... http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

3 posts bellow yours there is a detailed discussion about a particular type of such auction by awm http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/50111-raising-after-1d-1h-uncontested/ As you can see - there are a lot of different opinions, ranging from people who raise almost always to those who never and every flavor in between, this is also much dependent on you other agreements. Most people dont bypass spades, and seem to have some requirements about honor position, this seem to be pretty representative of of all the auctions of this type. You will also find major regional differences between US and Europe in the approach. Doesnt mean one is better - it is more about what would your p expect than what is right in general. Personally my p and I raise on 3 cards only if no other legitimate bit is available, and the 3 in major are at least KJx. When playing with new partners I explicitly ask not to raise on 3 unless absolutely necessary. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I am with Fluffy on this one. Does everyone play 4NT as asking specific aces? http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I dont think its about paying or at least for me its not. I play with GIB for several reasons, but the main one is my own curiosity - how good a computer program is or can be? Not being a complete stranger to computers or statistics I can more or less imagine, and I do think that ultimately a computer will be able to make a good player or even a great one. That being said - for computer to become a good partner someone needs to develop it as such - and at this point it seems that the GIB team is not aiming there. My understanding of barmars post is that he seems to think that GIB experience should mimic as closely as possible the worst of real bridge experiences - a pick up random partnership......too bad, I actually thought this forum was about improving GIB not making excuses. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I dont discuss it with pick up partner on bbo -but the first time he does it I ask him not to do it again. The second time he does it he stops being my partner. With GIB I dont have the luxury of asking anything, discussing anything, or have any say at all. So I at least deserve the courtesy of having as full description of GIBs preferences - the same info my GIB opponents have? In real life, since I much prefer European style and I am aware that it is common to support on 3 card in US I ALWAYS discuss it with a partner. Just like I discuss skipping diamonds, style of preempts and openings in 3rd seat, potential responses to reverse sequences and other things that may or may not be on convention card. I dont see the benefit of intentionally hiding info from humans about GIBs preferences - with all due respect most problems with GIBs rise from misunderstandings, so I dont get the idea behind making it worse partner than it actually is by augmenting them. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I guess formally it just shows a max hand for the raise and willingness to compete (unless partner can penalize). It is pretty rare that you want to compete with 9 points and 3 cards in opponents suit, so I dont remember when was the last time I (or my p) bid it with more than doubleton, especially forcing partner to 3 level over ♠. This agreement always made more sense to me than waiting for the hand that has a singe raise only, but can penalty double a suit sitting in the finesse at 2 level opposite potentially minmum opener. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

1) Partner has longer ♦. Dont rescue him - he had the chance to ask you and he didnt, probably for a good reason. 2) I like 1♥, 3♥ seems an ok bid, and I dont think its sch a great hand given the position of K♣ 3) Sorry, but I really dont like 3♠ - it very unilateral imo :). Usually at 3+ level X is not necessarily 3 cards, it just shows short ♦ and a competitive hand. I would prefer double because a lot of good things can happen - partner may leave it in for a 4 digit score, partner may be able to rebid ♥ or bid ♠, and if he choses 3NT over my dbl it is an easy pass, now its a bit of a problem. Passing is not a good option imo as partner likely holds at least 3 diamonds and will not be able to reopen. Yu http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

2♥ and X are like sandwich 1NT and X in similar auctions : P-1♣-P-1♠ X/1NT Typically X shows more strength and less distribution, while the suit/1NT bid shows more distribution (really 5-5 minimum) but may be very weak, and totally doesnt like the prospect of defense. I would be worried to overcall ♠ for the same reasons, however if you play that 2♦ is majors, then you have no choice with this hand, unless you are really willing to burry 5 card ♠ in MP competition for a partscore.... http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I just wanted to say thanks - it is very interesting discussion and I think such posts are great idea. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Ok, sorry about B- I didnt know that GIB plays it as actual spades rather than maximal hand with shortness (seems not very practical to me, but good to know). http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Pls pls pls dont hate 6:5s! :) they are fun.......playing mandane fits with 27 points is not something to write about. Anyway, on a more serious note - to pass or bid a 6-5 bad suit hand very much depends on your agreed style with partner. Mine is that 6-5s are an excellent reason to bid NV, and with all the drawbacks of this hand I bid 2♦ (♠+♣-gestem for me) first round to get it off the chest, also because I am afraid that the next time the auction gets to me it will be even harder to get in, and 6-5 with spades in MP is not something to be ashamed of. With the auction as is I am with MrAce - 2♥ is a good choice http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Not that it matters much - but I menat 5H as strong two-suiter, not 3 suiter :) http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

The most direct option, that would probably happen at the table is what Bradley62 kindly posted. Another option : 1♦-1♠ 2♣-2♥!* 2♠-2NT 3♥**-4♠.......... **I hope that it shows singleton now with GIB - dont know. or 1♦-1♠ 2♣-2♥!* 2♠-3♦ whatever denies♥stop-4♠.......... and there at least a couple of others I could do with a good human partner that will end in 4♠ and not 3NT. I dont think GIB bids support here because that fits the drawbacks of its bidding over 4th suit forcing. Barmar - your explanation is a bit self-contradictory - either this is an explicit rule in a partnership, then it should be stated to the partner, or GIB considers this bid a necessary lie - than it has a truthful alternative, and the bid should be fixed. Good human partners are expected to lie only if there is not truth available, or the truth is most likely to cause a bigger lie in the near bidding future, otherwise they expect a partner to consider it as one of possible hands. Just to make it clear - OP is not a criticism of the bid, as of the explanation given by GIB - this support style is ok; although not to my taste, many players that I consider much better and smarter than me advocate it. However, as an explicit style of bidding it has implications on many constructive as well as competitive auctions. Support with 3 on HHX is very common in US, but not necessarily in other parts of the world. A lot play that support is 4 cards unless no other bid is available (which makes it negligibly rare, and partner indeed assumes 4). If this support bid is made on any HHX with 3154 than it becomes a viable option and requires slower and more cautious bidding on other hands. Also, regardless of this specific issue - imo anything that is an explicit style by GIB is something his partner deserves to know, just as one would if they could have a prior to game discussion with any new human partner. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Your partner has 6 ♥ and weak/preemptive hand. He saw the dbl of 5♦, and really there is nothing extra in your hand - if at all doubleton ♠ is a minus (partner might hope for single when considering sac). Opps on the other hand are bidding a game hoping to make - I am not sure they will. I am just glad we pushed them to 5, pass and hope for a plus score. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

You mean GIB cant count tricks at all? http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Looks like big double with spades for me, 5+ spades and 17+ HCP. 3♠ would be self sufficient spades and absolute GF, but this doesnt look like something to pass either. For all your partner knows you could be single spade and AQ♣ as your only honors. http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif