goldfolk

Has anybody else noticed that the robot bidding seems to be a lot worse recently; for example: Robot held x xx QJx AKQxxxx Robot opened 1 club, 2H overcall, double from me, pass 3C from robot, pass, 3NT from me, pass, 5C from robot. 3NT makes 10 tricks and 5C goes 2 off. On a second occasion I doubled a 3H pre-empt on my right and left robot bid 4H and the robot passed with a 4-2-2-5 12 count with 4S an easy make. Just wondering if anybody else has had similar issues because while I don't expect the robots to play like geniuses and they do have certain well-known foibles I do expect them to know the basics.

Lol OK so consensus is that psyches are part of 'normal' goulash bridge. I agree that goulashes aren't 'normal bridge but they can be quite fun.

On 2 or 3 occasions now I have experienced people making what I consider to be virtually risk free psyches in goulashes. For example one person opened 1H with 10 solid spades, Ax hearts and stiff J clubs when his partner bid 2D I was not inclined to compete with QJ to 8 hearts and KJxx of clubs so they had an unopposed auction to 6 spades which was absolutely cold with 7 Hearts being 3 off. On another occasion a person with 5 spades bid 2 hearts to his partners opening bid of 1 Spade and when his partner supported hearts he merely corrected back to spades. It does seem to me that when used on the right hands this is a virtually risk free psyche and especially in goulashes, there is a strong case for banning such psyches. Wonder what others think.

Is it me or the goulash tournaments getting a little too extreme. For example, I was playing in an individual tournament and in 8 of the 9 rounds one person held an 11 card suit. It just seems to me that hands with 10 and 11 cards have little skill to them and the only factor operating is luck. Generally, given how quickly any competitive auction reaches the 5 level people with the 11 card suit tend to bid 6 or 7 and just hope that partner has the required cards. Don't get me wrong I love goulash tournaments but the best goulash hands imho are the ones where judgement and skill are required so as not to get carried away and overbid. This to me means hands with 7 or 8 card suits where even making game requires help from partner and judging when to sacrifice and when you have pushed opponents too high already. Just wondered what others feel on this topic.