iandayre

Not unreasonable, but 2S isn't that far off. Bigger problem is South not then bidding 2NT. There are so many situations where GIB does not appropriately focus on reaching 3NT in minor suit auctions.

A couple of things for JDonn on 2C opener hands: 1) Will the new release make it safe for the strong opener to pass interference with appropriate hands? At least in the sense that responder will not pass the hand out? 2) Why does GIB need to bid 2D on this hand, why not pass?

2D would be my choice, but either 1NT or 2NT would be much better than the cuebid.

Best solution IMO would be eliminate SJS to the 3 level. Not enough room to make them very useful. A good and uncomplicated substitute playing 2/1 would be 6 card suit, game invitational.

For starters the Kokish Convention is far superior to jumping to 3NT after opening 2C. Still, short of a relay system, it's hard to imagine finding the perfect red suit fits with side Aces.

I think you are at fault. Over 3D, GIB can't bid 3NT with no D stopper. So rather than bid 4C it shows a S suit. Now you needed to check the meaning of 4D before making that call. I suspect it did show Spades. Mind you, your original cuebid in a minor suit auction should deny a 4 card major, so GIB should not get the wrong message. The description of the 3D cue should be changed to indicate no 4CM. So saying you are at fault is an overstatement, since several GIB problems led to the final poor result. Unfortunately if you make one mistake that misleads GIB, it is usually impossible to recover.

Thank you, obviously many here are not familiar with the sources. If you want to agree that the jump is forcing, you may, but it is NOT standard.

Actually the description fits the bid! Of course the description, and the bid, are utter nonsense. We all know that GIB's originator wasn't an expert bidder, but this is one of the more bizarre and extreme examples of that. Especially given that partner obviously has no idea what to do over the call. It is also true that 2D should show a weak distributional opening bid, making a 2H preference clear-cut. The double of 1NT already showed cards. 2S bids the same values again, and inaccurately.

You're right BB it has been mentioned before. To my knowledge, no one from BBO has ever commented on it. Since JDonn has said that a new revision is pending, I thought another mention might be timely. Of course you jump at every possible opportunity to criticize anything I say here, I'm used to it.

There is at least one aspect of the game of Bridge that GIB does perfectly - I will not accept incorrect or unproven claims - even if the claim succeeds as the cards lie. But isn't it time to fix the other side? If I hold a 13 card suit and claim as soon as the dummy hits, I am conceding down 13 - and GIB cheerfully accepts. Same later in the hand if we have all winners and/or high trumps - it will accept any concession even if it impossible to lose a trick on any line of play. The Laws do not permit concession of tricks that cannot possibly be lost - GIB should not either.

Exactly. Cuebid is how GIB bids.

First hand, 1NT 100% correct. Good luck finding a sensible rebid after a 1C opener and a 1 of a Major response. Over the 2D interference, an easy and automatic pass. You have described no 4 card major and no strong holding in D - a good description I must say. The second hand is not a takeout double, it is a 1S overcall. Obviously the auction would have gone quite differently had that call been made.

Not sure how to fix it bidding S before H, but surely it can't be that hard to program forcing passes after a 2C opener.

Agree. Open 1M on weakish 5-6 hands unless major is very weak.

I guess that's one reason why the ACBL Masterpoint tournaments are all human best hand.

I think I know the problem here. The auction in the OP does not exist in the game of bridge. You bid a NF 2D, partner bids a NF 2NT, and you jump to slam? GIB tends to short-circuit in these situations and just passes. Of course some fail-safe ought to be programmed in so that GIB's default action when confused is to take preference rather than pass.

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I doubt if very many Souths passed 3S. 4C certainly isn't a strange choice.

He means 1C-2D or 1D-3C. Now that GIB is playing 1D-2C as forcing to 3NT, 1D-3C should probably be redefined a 6 Clubs, game invitational.

Haven't seen this topic before, but it's a frequently recurring problem. You open 1m with 18-19 balanced and partner raises to the 3 level. Should you pass or bid 3NT? With the existing range, you have no idea. The hand can be strong enough to make game easily, or so weak there is little or no play. I would say it is best that the range be the weak one where you should generally pass, but I would prefer either as long as opener has a fair chance holding this common hand type.

BBO has eliminated a lot of these sorts of situations, and re-defined cue bids in many auctions like this as being for the majors or unbid suits. They obviously have missed this one so far. Hopefully JDonn will point it out to the programmers.

I often use those tactics as a 3rd/4th seat opener as well. You have to be more careful when partner is unpassed, since "best hand" refers only to HCP. Partner can have an excellent playing hand, this being an example. I would not have dreamed of passing 2S here.

You are right. GIB defends as if there were a bonus for winning the last trick.

Of course use of Blackwood should not be based on point count, but on the ability to take 12 or 13 tricks if the necessary controls are present. And as far as priority goes, I would like to see GIB be programmed to sensibly use the information gained when it bids 5NT, well before having it more able to give specific information when partner is the one asking.