slar

You can always see the bidding. Click on the contract on the left side.

http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=st||md|3SQ82HJ65DAQ9CAJ53,S7H72DKJ7653CQ984,SAKJ9HQT3DT842CKT,ST6543HAK984DC762|sv|N|ah|Board%205|mb|1D|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!D;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|2D!|an|Michaels%20--%203-%20!C;%203-%20!D;%205+%20!H;%205+%20!S;%209+%20total%20points;%20forcing|mb|D|an|Penalty%20double%20--%2010+%20HCP|mb|P|mb|P|mb|2H|an|3-%20!C;%203-%20!D;%205+%20!S;%20rebiddable%20!H;%209+%20total%20points|mb|D|an|2+%20!H;%2010+%20HCP|mb|P|mb|3D|an|11+%20HCP;%20rebiddable%20!D;%2012-14%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|4D|an|3+%20!D;%202+%20!H;%2015-16%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|5D|an|11+%20HCP;%20rebiddable%20!D;%2012-14%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|HK|pc|H5|pc|H2|pc|H3|pc|HA|pc|H6|pc|H7|pc|HT|pc|H9|pc|HJ|pc|D6|pc|HQ|pc|S7|pc|S9|pc|S3|pc|SQ|pc|C3|pc|C8|pc|CK|pc|C2|pc|D2|pc|S4|pc|DA|pc|D3|pc|CA|pc|C4|pc|CT|pc|C7|pc|C5|pc|C9|pc|D4|pc|C6|pc|SA|pc|S6|pc|S2|pc|D7|pc|DK|pc|D8|pc|H8|pc|D9|pc|D5|pc|DT|pc|S5|pc|DQ|pc|S8|pc|DJ|pc|SK|pc|ST|pc|CQ|pc|SJ|pc|H4|pc|CJ| GIB managed to bid a Txxx not twice but three times. I honestly thought I won this hand until I saw declarer's hand. For GIB to pull the penalty double to its terrible suit then raise me to game is just mean. Why do I play this game?

http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=ZZ%7C%7Cpn%7Cslar%2CRobot%2CRobot%2CRobot%7Cst%7C%7Cmd%7C2SKJ2HAQ7D864CKQ76%2CSA754HJ6DA52CAT92%2CSQT86H9853DKQJTCJ%2CS93HKT42D973C8543%7Csv%7C0%7Cah%7CBoard+8%7Cmb%7C1C%7Can%7CMinor+suit+opening+--+3%2B+%21C%3B+11-21+HCP%3B+12-22+total+points%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CD%7Can%7C3%2B+%21D%3B+3%2B+%21H%3B+3%2B+%21S%3B+9%2B+HCP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C2S%7Can%7CJump+new+suit+--+4%2B+%21S%3B+9-15+total+points%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C2N%7Can%7C2-5+%21C%3B+2-5+%21D%3B+2-4+%21H%3B+2-4+%21S%3B+19-21+HCP%3B+stop+in+%21C%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C3D%7Can%7C4%2B+%21D%3B+4%2B+%21S%3B+9-15+total+points%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C3N%7Can%7C2-5+%21C%3B+2-5+%21D%3B+2-4+%21H%3B+2-4+%21S%3B+19-21+HCP%3B+stop+in+%21C%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cpc%7CCT%7Cpc%7CCJ%7Cpc%7CC3%7Cpc%7CC6%7Cpc%7CDK%7Cpc%7CD3%7Cpc%7CD4%7Cpc%7CDA%7Cpc%7CC9%7Cpc%7CH3%7Cpc%7CC5%7Cpc%7CCK%7Cpc%7CSK%7Cpc%7CSA%7Cpc%7CS6%7Cpc%7CS9%7Cpc%7CCA%7Cpc%7CH5%7Cpc%7CC8%7Cpc%7CC7%7Cpc%7CC2%7Cpc%7CH8%7Cpc%7CC4%7Cpc%7CCQ%7Cmc%7C10%7C After LHO opened 1♣, I balanced with a double because I was too strong for a balancing 1NT which GIB calls 11-14. After that pard correctly jumps to 2♠. After that, the continuations are all wet - 2NT is alerted as 19-21 and 3NT is 22-25. Those ranges are all wrong - 2NT should show 15-18, 3NT should show 19-21, and if you really have more than that (come on!) you can cue bid. At least GIB didn't leave me out to hang but it would be nice if its descriptions were accurate.

It is still better than repeating a 4-card diamond suit. At least you give GIB a chance...

Isn't life easier if you bid 4♣?

And that is why psyching a conventional bid is forbidden in most organized play.

Then transfers are off and 2♠ is to play. That is absurd with Qxxx. GIB must pass with that hand.

Okay, I completely read this wrong. According to the card, GIB can make a 1NT overcall with 15-18 HCP and a stopper. If this is done then there are no issues. It is not clear to me why GIB did not make this bid in the first place. After that the continuations are easy.

In this scenario, would a double of 2♦ show diamonds or hearts? It would be a good thing to know whether they are stolen bid doubles or penalty doubles.

Thank you for educating me on how GIB works here. I don't like it but at least I understand it.

This would be the perfect time for GiB to make a cue bid, something it does too infrequently. Over 4♣, a bid of 4♠ or even 5♣ keeps you out of trouble.

http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=slar&s=SA82HAQT9DJT7CQT5&wn=Robot&w=SKQ965H653DAQ4C86&nn=Robot&n=SJT73H4D9653CA974&en=Robot&e=S4HKJ872DK82CKJ32&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=1H(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20%21H%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P1S(One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20%21S%3B%206+%20total%20points)P2C(Opener%20two%20rebid%20--%204+%20%21C%3B%204-%20%21D%3B%205+%20%21H%3B%203-%20%21S%3B%2011-16%20HCP%3B%2012-18%20total%20points)P3H(Correct%20back%20--%203+%20%21H%3B%204+%20%21S%3B%2010-12%20total%20points)PPD(16-%20total%20points)P4D(4+%20%21D%3B%2020-%20total%20points)PPP&p=S4S8SQS3C8C4CKC5C3CTC6C7D7DAD3D8SKS7D2S2C2CQD4C9S9STDKSACJDJH3CADTDQD5H2S6SJH8H9&c=6 http://tinyurl.com/j4bhzyh I passed twice and the opponents invited. I have a trump stack and my double is alerted as 16- points. In many instances GiB will alert a double as takeout, even when the level is quite high. For the most part I've learned to sit back and take my plus in these cases. However, this time there was no indication that GiB would take out the double (especially with a mere 4 cards) so I went ahead and tried it. Well, GiB took it out anyway and turned +300 into -400. (Sure, I could have declared differently but it was still a bottom either way.) If I can't trust GiB's explanations, the game is very difficult and frustrating to play.

Since a balancing NT is 11-14 HCP, 4th seat GiB should bid 2NT over 2♦. From there things are easy.

I can live with that explanation. You're already in a game force. Responder should go to game (either 3NT or 4♠).

Nice psych! Psychs do seem to give GiB trouble.

http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=st||md|4SA2HATD753CA97632,SKT54H65DA8642CQT,S86HKQ842DKT9CK84,SQJ973HJ973DQJCJ5|sv|E|ah|Board%206|mb|P|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|1D|an|One-level%20overcall%20--%205+%20!D;%208-17%20HCP;%209-19%20total%20points|mb|1H|an|Free%20bid%20--%204+%20!H;%206+%20total%20points;%20forcing|mb|1S|an|4-%20!D;%205+%20!S;%2011-%20HCP;%207-12%20total%20points|mb|2C|an|Opener%20rebids%20his%20C%20--%202-%20!H;%203-%20!S;%2011-15%20HCP;%20twice%20rebiddable%20!C;%2012-16%20total%20points|mb|3S|an|5+%20!D;%204+%20!S;%208+%20HCP;%209-14%20total%20points|mb|D|an|4+%20!H;%2012+%20HCP;%2013+%20total%20points;%20forcing|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|HA|pc|H5|pc|H4|pc|H3|pc|C6|pc|CT|pc|CK|pc|C5|pc|HK|pc|H9|pc|HT|pc|H6|pc|D9|pc|DQ|pc|D3|pc|D6|pc|S9|pc|SA|pc|S4|pc|S6|pc|CA|pc|CQ|pc|C8|pc|CJ|pc|D5|pc|DA|pc|DT|pc|DJ|pc|ST|pc|S8|pc|S3|pc|S2|pc|D4|pc|DK|pc|SJ|pc|D7|pc|H7|pc|C2|pc|S5|pc|H8|pc|D8|pc|H2|pc|HJ|pc|C3|pc|D2|pc|C4|pc|SQ|pc|C7|pc|S7|pc|C9|pc|SK|pc|HQ| I really like GIB's double here. Too bad it followed up with an inexplicable play on trick 4. Playing a diamond there can only cost a trick. Any other suit would have been better.

Then GIB should. There is no situation where you ask for key cards with a minor as trump where you can't accept a 5♥/5♠ response. Correcting to 6♦ with 3 key cards is standard RKCB. If you aren't going to play the convention completely you shouldn't play it at all. On the other hand (no pun intended), asking for second round controls isn't that hard a thing to do. I know I am being aggressive here, but second round controls come in many flavors. If partner has a singleton or KQ it is a very good slam. With the bare K it is not quite 50/50 but it is still reasonable. I don't like bidding 4NT on the second round because a 5♦ doesn't tell me what I need to know. If the expert play is to throw caution to the wind and just bid 6 then tell me and I'll drop it. From here it looks like another case where support for the convention (cue-bidding) is incomplete and should either be dropped or fixed.

Bad slam bidding by the robots is frustrating the heck out of me. Look at these two hands. http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=st||md|1SAK742HJDT8CAKJ95,S653HQ98DKJ93C843,SQJ98HA5432D76CQ7,STHKT76DAQ542CT62|sv|B|ah|Board%207|mb|1S|an|Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!S;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|3S|an|Limit%20major%20raise%20--%204+%20!S;%2010-12%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|4C|an|Cue%20bid%20--%205+%20!S;%2021-%20HCP;%20!CA;%2020-22%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|4H|an|Cue%20bid%20--%201+%20!D;%204+%20!S;%20no%20!DA;%20!HA;%2010-12%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|5C|an|Cue%20bid%20--%205+%20!S;%2021-%20HCP;%20!CAK;%2022%20total%20points;%20forcing|mb|P|mb|6S|an|1+%20!D;%204+%20!S;%20no%20!DA;%20!HA;%2010-12%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|D3|pc|D6|pc|DA|pc|D8|pc|D5|pc|DT|pc|DJ|pc|D7|pc|C4|pc|C7|pc|C2|pc|C5|mc|11| Here I'm clearly looking for second round control in diamonds and the bot goes to slam without one. Sure I could just close my eyes and bid 6 but I would never do that with a human partner. In the other hand (which I can't find at the moment) I went to Blackwood. The robot bid 5♣ showing 0 or 3 key cards and 0 was still plausible on the bidding. I sign off but the robot actually had 3 and failed to correct. I've had this scenario come up before from the other direction and the bot signed off, knowing that I would raise if I had the extra key cards.

That's disappointing. Get what you pay for, I guess. It just doesn't make for very good competition when you have a CHO.

I love the free daily tournaments, but the bots seem to be erratic at best during them. Can we have the "send robot report" during those just like other tournaments?

I've looked at all of the pinned posts and can't work out how to create a simple diagram so here is the link to the hand as played. http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=st||md|2SKJ2H82DA62CAJT83,S874HKJ97DKT95C97,SAQT9653HT643DQ3C,SHAQ5DJ874CKQ6542|sv|0|ah|Board%208|mb|P|mb|3S|an|Preempt%20--%207+%20!S;%2010-%20HCP;%20!SQ;%206+%20total%20points|mb|4C|an|6+%20!C;%2016-19%20total%20points|mb|4S|an|1+%20!S|mb|D|an|10-11%20HCP;%2012-%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|R|an|1+%20!S;%2019+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|5C|an|Cue%20bid%20--%207+%20!S;%2010-%20HCP;%20!CA;%20!SQ;%2012+%20total%20points;%20forcing|mb|D|an|6+%20!C;%2016-19%20total%20points|mb|R|an|1+%20!S;%20!CA;%2019+%20total%20points;%20forcing|mb|P|mb|5S|an|7+%20!S;%2010-%20HCP;%20!CA;%20!SQ;%2012+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|D|an|1+%20!C;%2010-11%20HCP;%2012-%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|D4|pc|DA|pc|DT|pc|D3|pc|CA|pc|C9|pc|DQ|pc|C6|pc|H8|pc|HK|pc|H3|pc|HQ|pc|S8|pc|SA|pc|D7|pc|S2|pc|H4|pc|H5|pc|H2|pc|H9|pc|S4|pc|S3|pc|C2|pc|SK|pc|D2|pc|DK|pc|S5|pc|D8|pc|H6|pc|HA|pc|SJ|pc|H7|pc|D6|pc|D9|pc|S6|pc|DJ|pc|SQ|pc|C4|pc|C3|pc|S7|pc|ST|pc|C5|pc|C8|pc|C7|pc|S9|pc|CK|pc|CT|pc|D5|pc|HT|pc|CQ|pc|CJ|pc|HJ|

In a daily tournament, I was 3rd hand and the bidding went 3♠(4♣)4♠(X);p(p). I had a decent hand and thought we would make it so I decided to redouble. GIB inexplicably pulled the redouble to 5♣. The explanation is that the bid shows a first round control (it happened to be a void). This is a terrible bid. There is only one scenario where playing a redoubled contract is worse than bidding on - 7♠ vs. 4♠XX nonvulnerable. As if +1480 vs. +1510 makes much difference in any form of scoring! Of course the hand only makes 4♠ so this was about an 18 IMP swing. Ouch. GIB should never pull a redouble that shows values.

No, ACBL Robot Duplicate. The point of me posting the traveller is so that you could see that a number of players got different bidding sequences.

I was surprised to find that the robots in the robot duplicate don't bid consistently. I don't know if this link is viewable by you guys with the new security rules http://www.bridgebase.com/myhands/hands.php?traveller=4454-1435802041-33713758 but what happened is that I was dealt 26 HCP and opened 3NT. For whatever reason, my bot with 1HCP and 5 hearts transferred to hearts. Most of the bots passed the 3NT opener! Since this was a matchpoint game, it led to a fairly big swing. How about making actions more deterministic? I understand that the bots run some kind of simulation before acting. However, I'd like to think that in a robot tournament, these actions could be cached somehow so that everyone plays under the same conditions. For each unique situation, run the simulation once and provide the result upon request. It seems to me that it would save computing power as well.