zhasbeen

There are 3 Daylong ACBL matchpoint tournaments at 12-boards each and one 18-board . While it is true that all sections don’t play the same boards, they have a way of spreading them out so that a meaningful number of players play the same hand. In other words, If you are in a 15-table section of a daylong game there at least 4 times that many playing same hands that you play. I just checked a recent Daylong tournament (game) and clicked the “traveller” icon for each board of a 12-board ACBL Daylong. The traveller allows you to compare the boards you played with others who played them. For this game the number of players playing a particular board ranged from a low of 57 and high of 83. Not only do players in sections other than yours play the same you board played, but some players in your section will have played different board (s) than you did. I discovered this a long time ago when I wanted to see how some name player played the hand I did. If you can consistently do well in the ACBL robot tournaments, you probably have the card playing skills and decision-making ability to do well in pairs events. It just takes finding compatible partners and learning a few systems. As an obsessive record keeper, I have found that there is direct correlation between average scores in robot tournaments and pairs games. In fact, robot scores are a little truer to form since all players in those games have same partner, same opponents, and play the same convention card. A top pro has even more the best of it under those conditions. When playing in pairs games the elites are often playing with students or clients. If only BBO were to provide its customers with a modern robot. Apparently, GIB cannot be fixed or reprogrammed. If not for providing tournaments that allow the humans to play 75-80 percent of the hands it would be unbearable. I find that getting lots of practice playing interesting hands is enough to keep me going, at least for now.

There are 3 Daylong ACBL matchpoint tournaments at 12-boards each and one 18-board . While it is true that all sections don’t play the same boards, they have a way of spreading them out so that a meaningful number of players play the same hand. In other words, If you are in a 15-table section of a daylong game there at least 4 times that many playing same hands that you play. I just checked a recent Daylong tournament (game) and clicked the “traveller” icon for each board of a 12-board ACBL Daylong. The traveller allows you to compare the boards you played with others who played them. For this game the number of players playing a particular board ranged from a low of 57 to a high of 83. Not only do players in sections other than yours play the same board you played, but some players in your section will have played different board (s) than you did. I discovered this a long time ago when I wanted to see how some name player played the hand I did. If you can consistently do well in the ACBL robot tournaments, you probably have the card playing skills and decision-making ability to do well in pairs events. It just takes finding compatible partners and learning a few systems. When I refer to "you" I mean the collective you. I realize you are an advanced player. As an obsessive record keeper, I have found that there is direct correlation between average scores in robot tournaments and pairs games. In fact, robot scores are a little truer to form since all players in those games have same partner, same opponents, and play the same convention card. A top pro has even more the best of it under those conditions. When playing in pairs games the elites are often playing with students or clients. If only BBO were to provide its customers with a modern robot. Apparently, GIB cannot be fixed or reprogrammed. If not for providing tournaments that allow the humans to play 75-80 percent of the hands it would be unbearable. I find that getting lots of practice playing interesting hands is one thing that keeps me going. I also like competing and seeing how some of the pros bid and play some of the hands.

Thorvald, If you like playing against robots you should try one of the ACBL Daylong games. They have most elite players of any of the ACBL games I'm aware of, and the biggest fields. The ACBL Daylong MP(1) game usually has 1250-1350 tables. The (2) and (3) games have many of the same players but the overall field is smaller as the () numbers get higher. These are 12-board matches. There is also an one 18-Board ACBL game that has 350-450 tables. Weekdays have larger fields than weekends. To give you an idea you an idea of how strong the opponents can, Jeff Meckstroth "jjmech" started playing in the daylongs this month. There is a pretty big list of "name" players. Dan Morse of Denmark is another elite that plays in the ACBL games, but pairs only--no robots. That said, the average section isn't that strong. Scoring average for a section is usually close to 50% as you would expect. BBO does a good job spreading the elites evenly through the fields.

Actually, the 6-4 bar bid applies only after a minor opening and 1nt rebid. I like 1h-1s-1n-2d with this hand, showing a weak 5-4 or longer. It’s how everyone I know plays it; simple and logical. Ugh on passing 1n.

I thought I could trust GIB to have what it is supposed to for the 6-4 bar bid, but no more. Since my first robot tournament 5 years ago GIB has only gotten worse. Add another one to the pile of abused conventions. This hand bears no resemblance to the bar bid. In the past it had always had the 4 major, 6 minor distribution it is supposed to. Just respond Is and rebid 2d after open rebids 1nt. Opener can either pass or correct to 2 spades. Two diamonds is not forcing here. [hv=pc=n&s=sqj4hj9753daqjcq4&w=sahk642d842ca7632&n=skt873hdk97653c85&e=s9652haqt8dtckjt9&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1hp1sp1np3dppp]399|300[/hv]

My bid would be 4 spades on strength of 5th spade and ace in suit partner opened

Don't let me down, Gib...2S

Automatic opening at any form of bridge, and if you make a habit of passing hands like this in the robot games you have no chance of consistently scoring well.

This doesn't answer the "without a major suit fit" part of your question, but the hand you submitted is much too good for 2H rebid. I'd go with 3H, then run my cursor over the call and make sure it is forcing. If not I'd bid 4. I've had over a 1000 games of ACBL Daylong variety alone last 2 years, and still am never sure what Gib "thinks" I have. For the 2H rebid I'm 95% sure it's not forcing, which as about as sure as I can get with the Gibster. To answer last part of your question, you need to give some examples. However, you could do some trial and error by taking the same step of hovering your cursor over the call to see what it says. That would be on my top tips list for anyone who doesn't have a lot of experience with Gib. I have taken the meaning of some of Gib's bids for granted and not followed this advice too many times. The result has been an unexpected and unpleasant surprise that was unnecessary. Disclaimer: as most regulars know, Gib definitions are often wrong, but there is far more to be gained by checking what they say than not. The more you play the more you know when to be skeptical, and when not. However, occasional disasters are inevitable no matter what you do."Occasional" might be overly kind.

"robots and one human, there is one human - you, and one computer GIB! What is so difficult to understand." Yes, this absolutely true, and I have stated this to someone I know who is interested as recently as yesterday. In my own words: "We all have same robot partner and 2 robot opponents, while playing the same convention card. We don't have to alert or remember what all the bids mean. All we have to do is run our mouse cursor over any bid in the auction to see what the robots' bids mean, or what the robots expect us to hold for our bids." I go on to say: "While you are trying to outplay the robots while at the "table", your real opponents are the other humans that held your cards. At the end of the game your scores are match pointed and listed in the results. It all comes down to playing your cards and making decisions based on the info that's available to you and all the other players." So, I agree that Gib's antics probably don't have much impact on matchpoint scores. "It's the same for everyone", as the saying goes. However, it can still have a negative impact on the enjoyment that many players would experience otherwise, and sometimes it borders on painful. There is so much else I like about these tournaments, that I and many others put up with Gib. If only BBO would do something about this big elephant in the living room! And while I'm at it, for the past 2 years I've kept complete results of every ACBL Daylong Individual tournament at matchpoints since January 1, 2019. At the very least I can tell you number of games, average matchpoint score, and how any 2 players have fared relative to each other when in the same field. You are in there! I also have more detailed info such as masterpoints, power ratings, etc for those who include real name in profile and have average scores ranking in the upper 20%. I include my real name in player profile. So, with all the being said, you or anyone else who reads this can drop me a private email if your are curious, and I can tell you number of tournaments played, average score, and how your record compares with any other player(s) when you've been in same field. Pilowsky; are you curious?

Not that GIB doesn't make some good calls at times, probably more than some us give it credit for. However, it is poor overall, often making some of the worst calls you'll ever see. BBO sorely needs a new robot, or find a way to fix Gib, which apparently is impossible.

Thanks Stephen, johnu, I'll give a shot. I am a Prime member.

Currently you can select "Casual" from home page, then start a table with 3 robots. You can also remove one robot, north for example, and replace with human. However, they seem to be basic robots rather than advanced. I don't see a way to have same setup with advanced robots where 2 people can practice. Is it possible to have that setup? If so, how?

You got Gibbed. It says support double, right there in the definition. A good question about advanced robots. I don't know what they use for .39 games but I suspect they are basic. A couple times I rented a robot for .25 to play in pairs games against people. I'm virtually certain they were basic since their declarer play was terrible. The one part of the game that advanced robots are well above average in is declarer play.

Thanks merriman. It was kinda looking like that was the case. Seems like the ABCL's are best option with no restrictions and large fields at good price. However, there can be a fair amount of time pressure in those with 6 min per board and 4 humans at the table.