smerriman

I want to be in slam if and only if partner has a diamond control, which I can find out exactly by Texas followed by 4S.

It would work far better; Italian cuebidding is *significantly* simpler logic wise for a robot to understand. The majority of issues with GIB's cuebidding is because it leaves itself with no possible bid; after 1♠ - 3♠ - 4♦ it will bid Blackwood with xx in clubs but extra strength simply because it has no alternative. Yes, there is still plenty of complexity involved, but even the very basics in combination with Advanced GIB's ability to plan out the auctions would result in a huge improvement.

GIB has no idea how to cuebid. Avoid it wherever possible. Long standing problem that could only be resolved by switching to Italian style cues.

This may be of use, or this. Not necessarily the workarounds, but perhaps BBO requires a constant connection, and the fact that inactive tabs get suspended/throttled doesn't provide it. If so, there must be something BBO can do to prevent this (eg think Facebook chat).

Er, S opened, W overcalled.

It's all down to icycookie - can he deny GIB a landmark title?

The only thing I've ever seen bidding notrumps in response to 2♣ do is make it far harder for partner to describe their hand and find the correct contract. I would never do it.

[hv=https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SQJ9872HJ8D95CT73&wn=Robot&w=SKT653HQ5DAKJ84C5&n=S4HT642DQCAKQ9864&en=Robot&e=SAHAK973DT7632CJ2&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1S(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20%21S%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)2C2H(Free%20bid%20--%205+%20%21H%3B%2011+%20total%20points)P3D(New%20suit%20--%204+%20%21D%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)PPP&p=CAC2C7C5CKCJC3D8DADQD6D5D4C4DTD9H3H8HQH2S3S4SAS2D7S7DKC6S5C8D3S8HAHJH5H4H9S9DJH6STC9D2SJHKSQSKHTH7CTS6CQ]400|300[/hv]

2♥ is forcing (but not game forcing), since it's also what you'd bid with a strong hand with hearts. It was already referred to several times (at least indirectly), but playing Ingberman you still bid 2♥ with a weak hand with 5 hearts, not 2NT. If partner has hearts, you find a fit.. if not, you end up in the same place that you would by bidding 2NT.

What is your definition of 3♠? It seems one of the more common definitions is that it forces 3NT, after which you have ways of showing one or both minors with slam interest.

Assuming you're playing a standard approach over reverses (eg see primer), seems like a normal 2♥ to me. You could be making slam for all you know; pass isn't an option.

Commentating a match is much harder that I thought :) Haven't had much time recently so will just post the first two quarters here: GIB won 4 of the first 8 boards, winning the first quarter 9-7: https://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:d638488a.7e75.11e9.a064.0cc47a39aeb4-1558738018&u=cherdano&v3b=web#row- cherdano then bettered this by winning 4 of the first 5 boards of the second quarter: https://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:6774a27d.8016.11e9.a064.0cc47a39aeb4-1558916932&u=cherdano&v3b=web Half way score: cherdano 16.5 - 15.5 GIB

You can, and always have been able to? In the new version, click the pile of tricks on the left.

Indeed, congrats icycookie on an impressive score, GIB on proving all of the doubters wrong and commiserations to garant_7 for missing out on the semis by just a board and a half in his first tournament. Semifinals are icycookie vs twisterrz, and GIB vs cherdano - 4 challenges of 16 boards each. cherdano, perhaps PM me the results instead of posting them here, and I may attempt a brief commentary. Am looking forward to this one :)

GIB's bidding is also rudimental; since 2S shows a bad hand potentially with 0 points, it defines your 3NT bid as 25-32 points. Hard to blame it for trying to slam after that.

Yes - a priori the chances that partner has 3 or more diamonds is about 55%; when opener is known to have at least 5 spades, this increases to 65%. But I was more thinking that the hand will play well in diamonds due to the distribution.

I'm with pescetom, immediate 2♦ overcall for me. I consider the length in RHO's suit (without wanting to make a trap pass) a big plus factor.

I'm finding this far too exciting.

Round 1 is now complete - given the deadline requirements were clear on signing up, and nobody else made contact, I've advanced shuba and heart76 to the second round. The second round consists of 10 additional challenges. The deadline for this round is 11:59pm Friday, May 23 (EST). GIB is currently winning. Go GIB!

Whoops, thanks - something was going funny with my script that day.

If 4♠ is the right spot, it was the right spot last time. 4 of a minor is never a good score; let them play there.

smerriman 6.5 - 9.5 diana_eva https://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:4560db3b.6b2c.11e9.80b2.0cc47a39aeb4-1556617349&u=smerriman

The latter, the end of Sunday.

Too strong for 3♠ for me, I'm bidding 3♦.

Always read the description of your bid before making it. Seems odd - I would have assumed it showed 5 clubs and is competitive only - but 3♣ is described as showing 17-18 total points (along with 4+ clubs), so I guess GIB is interested in game. The description of 3♥ is also odd - says nothing about stoppers but 8-9 points and 4+ clubs. So odd bids, but reading the descriptions would have saved you.