Antrax

I don't understand the 3NT rebid after 3♣. Given that things didn't go differently earlier, what's wrong with denying three spades, while showing the 6-4 in the reds? Is Jxxx such a hot stopper anyway?

Cyberyeti, that's what I had in mind but what happens if E ruffs in? You lose a heart, a spade and a ruff.

To spoiler text, do this: [spoiler]Hidden text goes here[/spoiler] I know this is the N/B but this really looks like a trump coup :( I can't get over my entry problem if E wins the spade hook and return a spade though. So either I'm overthinking it or this is not a N/B problem.

The community response when I started out was the same. Back then it seemed to me that it was because they only had the one hobby. Talking to the local experts*, who also played Golf and Poker respectively, confirmed this suspicion. IOW, Bridge doesn't seem different from other hobbies requiring some brain effort and discipline. * not WC players, but frequently win national tournaments. Which is odd because we do have some WC players here and they also participate in the nationals. Go figure.

Is 2♣ forcing here? I was hesitant to recommend it because as a N/B I was taught "all strong hands start with redouble" so 2♣ was encouraging but NF, 9-11 or so.

Fluffy, what's with the lack of negative double then?

Advanced bots are much better than basic bots, that much is guaranteed. However, you have a lot of complaints about GIB's system, and that won't change. Just the quality of card play and its bidding "judgment".

Advanced bots are much better than basic bots, that much is guaranteed. However, you have a lot of complaints about GIB's system, and that won't change. Just the quality of card play and its bidding "judgment".

Solitaire bridge is a basic bot. I guess it's possible it never simulated E with a ♦ singleton so all trumps seemed equally valid to it.

I think it ruffed with a random card. lycier was it a basic bot or advanced?

Whoops, you're right. I was thinking of Michaels.

Probably a limitation of the system, I don't think W has a bid to ask for the minor after 3♥. A human would take a lot of clubs to be P/C but in GIB's system it probably shows some huge hand with self-sufficient clubs.

To be honest, I'm not sure what problem we're trying to fix. Let's say you all have a million bajillion rep and I have zero. What is the damage? The forum software can filter by score, but it does so in increments of 10. I've rarely seen a post with rep 10, and when I have, it's usually a really good zinger. If you really want more Bridge-worthy posts to stand out, just have stars on the forums as well. It's the same username in any case.

GIB saw you complained when it responded with 4 HCP, so now it's afraid.

I think balancing on the 4-level with a lot of defense and a bad 4-card suit wasn't ideal. Supporting with support and a shortness in the opponents' suit seems okay. You may lose a heart fit or play in a 4-3 fit, but at least you get your hand off your chest and partner won't be tempted to overbid.

In general your mistake seems to be not reading bid descriptions before making them. For GIB, the 5♦ bid showed "22 total points", combined with its 14 TP GIB figured slam is a good bet. GIB doesn't understand when you place the contract. Tactical bids like leaping to 5m or 3NT make it think you have a ton of HCP, so it often raises where a human wouldn't.

For #1, not sure what you want the bot to do. You bid 2NT which you clearly intended as scrambling, but GIB doesn't play that so to him you showed 6+ HCP and a spade stop. Opposite his prime 18 count, you're very likely to have game, so it cue bids to hear more. Then you bid 4♣ so GIB bids your only 8-card fit at the lowest level. I think GIB bid perfectly - what you would have done differently? For #2, you're just showing the problem with not playing scrambling 2NT here, but again, do you expect GIB not to double with this hand?

I agree with the former, but surely you know how to calculate a rolling average, barmar.

helene, in GIB's weird system the second double actually shows a desire to penalize and 4+ spades.

[edit] Learned to count to 13

Long hearts, diamond values, unbalanced? That hand can't overcall NT, can't double for takeout and maybe expects it to be more profitable to penalize?

Fluffy: my auction was 1♥-(1♠)-2♥-(p) Then we both passed throughout and the opponents continued: X-3♣; 3♥-3NT To me it seemed most likely partner has a diamond entry.

E is probably okay, but W balancing on a balanced 10-count and a four-card suit is odd.

I tried leading a high diamond, it forced me to lead a heart. Is that really clear on this auction? Isn't it likely there's AQ on my right?

Easier than your usual hands, Fluffy. I wonder how though.