DGoldfarb

In the US at least, standard is that double and then bid shows a weaker hand than bidding directly at the 2-level. It's possible to play it the other way (look up "negative free bids") but that isn't standard and requires prior discussion.

[hv=pc=n&s=sj97hkdakq43cqt86&n=skt84haj963d8ckj2&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1hp2dp2hp3cp4c]266|200[/hv] Why on Earth is GIB raising my second suit on 3-card support when the obvious bid with spades well stopped is 3NT? Thanks to a lucky lie in the spade suit, 5C did make, but 3NT is much easier.

This was hand #22 in the $1 Robot Reward #8910 today (8/24/2014). [hv=lin=pn|DGoldfarb,GiB,GiB,GiB|st||||st||md|4S4TKAH48KADTQAC5J,S267H57QD27KC79TK,S38H2369JD589C236,|rh||ah|Board 22|sv|e|mb|p|mb|2N|an|Two NT opener. Could have 5M. -- 2-5 !C;|mb|p|mb|3D!|an|Jacoby transfer -- 5+ !H |mb|p|mb|4C|an|Superaccept; doubleton; support -- 2 !C;|mb|p|mb|4D|an|5+ !H; !DA; 9+ total points |mb|p|mb|4N|an|Blackwood (H) -- 2 !C; 2-5 !D; 4-5 !H; 2|mb|p|mb|5C|an|Zero or three key cards -- 5+ !H; !DA; 9+ total points |mb|p|mb|5D|an|? queen -- 2 !C; 2-5 !D; 4-5 !H; 2-5 !S;|mb|p|mb|5H|an|No queen - H trump -- 5+ !H; !DA; 9+ total points |mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pg||pc|D3|pc|DT|pc|DK|pc|D5|pg||pc|C7|pc|C6|pc|CQ|pc|C5|pg||pc|CA|pc|CJ|pc|CK|pc|C2|pg||pc|HT|pc|HA|pc|H5|pc|H2|pg||pc|HK|pc|H7|pc|H3|pc|D4|pg||pc|H4|pc|HQ|pc|H6|pc|D6|pg||pc|D7|pc|D8|pc|DJ|pc|DA|pg||pc|SA|pc|S2|pc|S3|pc|S9|pg||pc|DQ|pc|D2|pc|D9|pc|S5|pg||pc|SK|pc|S6|pc|S8|pc|SJ|pg||pc|S4|pc|S7|pc|HJ|pc|SQ|pg||pc|C3|pc|C8|pc|H8|pc|C9|pg||pc|ST|pc|CT|pc|H9|pc|C4|pg||]400|300[/hv] Notice that the 4♦ bid is given the explanation of being 9+ points and the ♦A: I knew GIB didn't have the ♦A, but I figured it did have slam interest. Clearly GIB intended the bid as a retransfer. The explanation on this auction needs to be changed. Naturally if I'd known it was a retransfer, I wouldn't have gone to the 5 level.

Board 36 of $1 Robot Reward #2038 today. GIB held: Q53 J54 T954 Q85 Its LHO opened 1H and I bid 2H, Michaels. It jumped to 3S, which is described as 7-12 points. Yes, it has the SQ, and yes, it has a fit for my second suit, but it's square and is all queens and jacks. This hand is not worth 7 points IMO.

Unfortunately not. It was right near the end of the tourney, and I was leading. I opted to simply stop playing rather than score -1700. (This decision was successful, as I did win the tourney. Taking the -1700 would have knocked me out of the money entirely.)

A few days ago in a Robot Reward - Best Hand tourney, I held a 2=5=2=4 17-count and opened 1♥. The GIB on my left doubled. The GIB on my right bid 1♠. I figured it couldn't hurt to throw in a 2♣ bid. The GIB on my left doubled that; the double was passed out. Dummy came down with a 0-count...I guess not too surprising...with two clubs and FIVE hearts. Okay, this kind of situation is rare, but whatever kept GIB from going back to hearts in that situation needs fixing.