jmunday

I don't need to say anything other than this. https://tinyurl.com/y6rtoxk6 I had something similar happen many years ago (GIB passed 2N with an even better hand) How is this even possible?

I use the Deal Archive feature quite a bit on BBO. A while back, there was a bug introduced where new folder names were not maintained. I could rename them and they would stay during the session, but then revert to Untitled Folder at my next log in. I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in another thread, but this problem still exists so I'm posting here just in case. Jim Munday jmunday

I've accepted that GIB bids poorly (on good days), plays unevenly with the more cards / information known the better play. But I've never seen GIB do this: http://tinyurl.com/ho8m6kk The defender mis-cashes the N/S tricks and GIB ruffs in at trick 9 and can claim with a trump in hand and running diamonds. How is it possible that GIB exited with a spade to go down 2?

Two hands from a recent robot race game defy explanation (and not just my bidding). http://tinyurl.com/pqxysgh Our auction: 1!C-3N-6!S!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even worse, i've seen this a couple times of late. The old non forcing partscore call followed by a slam try. 1N-2!C-2!H-2!S-4!S-5!S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://tinyurl.com/pwyehss

I've seen this auction a couple times now. Like many GIB sequences; it should not exist. (can't find most recent hand link but in last day or 2) 1N 2C 2D 4S P As ill-advised as the bid is, every time it's happened it has not been with anything resembling the proposed description. It has been with 54(40) hands that are not even strong enough to Smolen like QJxxx QJxx Jxxx ---- I open 1N to give GIB a chance to follow a simple path; now it can't even do that. Found latest -- here is link http://tinyurl.com/of89evs

Just going to post the auction. If this sequence is somehow comprehensible at some vulnerability; our side is vul only. You can guess my complaint. (1S) P (2S) X (4S) P (P) X (P) 7H (X) AP Not a misprint, SEVEN HEARTS. Can we please do away with the ridiculous 32+, 25+ sequences that do not involve our side opening 2C?

I thought GIBs responses to takeout doubles had been improved; removing some of the ridiculous definitions (raises to game showing 25+ etc) but today the robots have reverted to lunacy. 2 sequences that came up that i thought had been improved but now seem even worse than before. (1H)-X-(P)-2D-(2H)-X Holding a big 4243 hand (but not heart stop), i doubled again to "learn" more without looking at the description. The robot bid 3C over which i bid 3D. Then i happened to roll over the bidding and found the following stupendously impossible description: X # of HCP i was supposed to have (which was close), EXACTLY 2H (bingo) and EXACTLY 1D (WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!). This was not a triumph. That was about the 3rd criminal action in 8 board tourney so i exited (which i rarely do) and thus may not be a record of it in the board history. (i did finish the board). Next was the following: (P)-P-(2D)-X-(P)-2H-(P)-4H (no way i am cuebidding now)-7H!!!!!!!!!! 4H showed that 25+ description (just get rid of that and you'll be better off) which i nearly had. I thought these stupid jumps to slam had been solved. Especially when GIB can at least check for keycards --- certainly should do anyway whether 37 HCP or not expected but here GIB had a 9 count with an ace, 2 qs, and a jack ). Slam was indeed cold but could not avoid losing the trump ace. Even with the 25 count opposite, GIB should be checking for aces before jumping to 7. These 2 boards may have been in the same tourney. Bidding can be tough but these unnecessary blunders are hard to stomach. I now can neither cuebid, double a 2nd time, or raise after making a takeout double without GIB assigning me a 0% or -12 IMPs.

Seeing "errors" from GIB of late that have not occurred before, have the latest fixes introduced other problems? Most egregious example: I've played enough to know most of GIB's potholes but came upon a trivial example today where GIB made an inexplicable choice on a routine sequence that i've never seen before. Holding QJ752 A8 JT94 K3 I opened 1N in 3rd seat, GIB transferred to spades (via 2H) and over 2S instead of a routine 3N bid (or even a poor 3D choice) he bid 3S!

A common problem that seems eminently fixable is when GIB is planning to bid a grand slam (usually after a 2N opener or rebid) as responder but doesn't bother to check if we have all the aces. This is not a matter of "knowing" we have 37+ HCP -- it is a matter of an ace not being missing in the random deals it uses to make its decision. Having decided to bid 7; seems easy enough to check for aces on the way.

GIB's hand evaluation is awful but this one defies understanding: 5-28-14 (tourney 8371 board 10) KQTxxx Q Qxx KT9 (2H) 2N (P) 3H (GIB) (P) 3S ALL PASS!!!! I'm sure some players that start with a weaker action than 2N (such as pass) will reach game. Is GIB catering to psyches? If it can't even do basic NT responses and evaluation anymore what chance does it have?

Countless times I make a normal bid without checking the description only to see GIB lose "his" mind and later find out the I've shown 33 HCP or some such nonsense. This was a recent example. (2S)-3H-(4S)-5H-6H-7H After making a NF 3H bid, GIB played me for a 28 count and raised to 7 (still didn't have his raise but ...). Seems prudent to either remove the possibility of 28+ hands or at least remove them after a NF call has been made.

GIB's responses to 2C and 2N openings are typically one of the weaker threads. GIB should be prohibited from bidding 2N over 2C --- just ban it. I've never seen the bid made at the table, and GIB certainly is not in a position to supersede that. It wrong sides contracts, and prevents any intelligent strain determination. I've seen some abominations over 2N as well. I thought these had been improved by some of the recent changes. Until recently when holding 9 solid diamonds, 3 small clubs, and a side ace, GIB found the ingenious response of 3S MSS to 2N and actually allowed me to play in clubs on a 4-3 fit with 17 tops in NT. This is only the 2nd worst bid I have ever seen GIB make responding to 2N. I once witnessed GIB holding AK 7th and a side AK pass my opening bid of 2N.

Anyone else dislike the addition of sections to the robot tourneys? This punishes the winner of the overall event by reducing the top award and distributing it among section winners. The live pairs use this format but at least there is an overall award issued.

I'm accustomed to GIB's occasional flights of fancy but every once in a while I see an auction that blows me away. Holding --- Jxxxxx --- JT98xxx, GIB pulled out the green (pass) card after I opened 2N.

I normally don't submit GIB trouble reports; if I did, I'd be on here all day. However, a recent hand has pointed to a trend I have noted for some time with awe. I consistently note that I open/rebid with an action stronger than others, yet somehow wind up at a lower level. Case in point: GIB held A Txxx Jx AJT98x I opened 2C and over 2D (side note - why does GIB only bid a new suit over 2C when completely inapprorpriate?) rebid 3N showing 25-27. GIB invited with 4N, which is indefensible of course. With 24, I nearly accepted but ultimately passed. Lose 9 IMPs. My rebid should have gotten us to 7 (at least 6), not 4. This is nowhere near the worst I've seen. My personal record is GIB holding AK 7th of a minor and a side AK PASSED my opening 2N bid.