3NT overcall

[hanp]

Kx Kx xx AKQ10xxx

 

(1S) - ??

 

I wanted to bid 3NT but as that meant "25-27 points", I thought it better to double first. My GIB partner bid 2H. As 3NT now still meant something like 25+ points, I decided to bid 3C, which if I recall correctly showed 18+ points with rebiddable clubs. Over this GIB bid 3D on 109xx Jxxx Jxxx x which struck me as a little aggressive.

 

I wonder whether 3C is forcing for GIB, it shouldn't be but the open ended 18+ suggests it might be. This question reminded me about full disclosure, where features such as NF could be given to a bid. It would be nice if GIBs bids were alerted in this manner.

[pretender]

Yea this is one of the worst situations.

 

The first thing is to avoid takeout doubles as much as possible. GIB is horrible with takeout doubles. Even when it's used to show a strong single-suited hand, it assumes you still have support for unbid suits. It also has an annoying habit of always choosing the wrong suit when it has more than one.

 

Your best shot here is to either bid 2C and hope GIB has a response, or bid 2NT unusual followed by 3NT which GIB will usually pass if it does not have 5 or more of your "other" suit.

[jdonn]

Ari has explained this problem to me before. Apparently game bids that haven't specifically been defined show huge high card point totals like this because they automatically show game values. The solution is to redefine them on a case by case basis, but the problem is bids like this in competition don't have a clear definition a computer can understand.

 

I mean maybe Kx Kx xx AKQTxxx is a 3NT overcall, but Kx Kx Jx AKJTxxx isn't, but Kx Kx Kx AKJTxxx is, and what about Kx Qx xx AKQTxxx, etc etc, who knows?

 

Maybe it can be done but it's not easy. I think the easier problem to fix would be the other one you mention. It seems that Gib doesn't realize doubling then bidding a suit has a maximum (or else you must double again or cuebid or jump), not only a minimum.