The robots tournaments

[valicia]

I am sick of the robots in the BBO tourneys putting me into slams that cannot be made, when all I want to do is be in game. When the opposing bots have preempted, it is impossible to bid a makeable game, especially in the minor suits, without being put into a slam that does not make.

[gordontd]

I am sick of the robots in the BBO tourneys putting me into slams that cannot be made, when all I want to do is be in game. When the opposing bots have preempted, it is impossible to bid a makeable game, especially in the minor suits, without being put into a slam that does not make.

Of course everyone else will be in the same boat. I once got an above average score for 7S-4 - some other players had gone five off!

[Manastorm]

I think the problem at hand is that GIB likes to leave 4 minor in with 10hcp hands, but the same time raise 5 minor to 6 with a balanced QJJ - quite unbelieviable.

There is no remedy, pick your poison.

[lycier]

Would you tell your hand ?

[Manastorm]

3M - 4♣/♦ - pass - pass with 10hcp is not a freak accident. 5minor does not make always and that is why the pass is a reasonable option for GIB.

28+ QJJ sometimes makes 6, so GIB can raise. Yes, if the info box says 28+ you better take it seriously. Overall the issues aren't so bad, you just have to learn what are the pitfalls. All this has been discussed years before.

[Bbradley62]

When you pull a rock-solid 3N to 5♣, many human partners would raise to 6♣ also.

 

But, apparently the proper response to going down when you lose a two-way finesse is to stomp your feet and quit the tournament.

[guinnypoo]

I am sick of the robots in the BBO tourneys putting me into slams that cannot be made, when all I want to do is be in game. When the opposing bots have preempted, it is impossible to bid a makeable game, especially in the minor suits, without being put into a slam that does not make.

 

You need to be very careful about the bids you make and what you're showing your partner. The robots are very strict, if you show extra points that put it close to / into slam territory, it will try very hard to get you there. A traditional minor suit game requires 28 points; it's not hard to imagine how if you make a bid that you see as signoff but the robot sees as showing extra strength, that it might raise to slam.

 

I recommend turning on "confirm card plays" in the options; each time you bid, hover over your bid before you push "OK" and it will tell you what the robot will understand your bid to mean. Be very careful not to present extra points or length! Don't lie to the robots! If it means you have to pass a 7 card fit in some minor suit, so be it. Don't ever promise extra points unless you have them. Don't be afraid to look through the options you have available to bid. I'm far from an expert but sometimes I find a random jump bid or cue or something in a competitive auction that describes my hand perfectly. And unfortunately sometimes making the most descriptive bid puts you in the worst contract. That's bridge, not robots.

 

There are occasions in some more obscure auctions where I can't find any bid that describes my hand; when this happens lie the least, and lie showing less points/length than you have, not more. On the occasion where you did not overbid your hand and got forced into an unmakable game/slam anyway, relax. Most others will be too.

 

Oh, and ... preempts work. It limits bidding space so the opposing side has less chance to find a fit and figure out if you have points for game, slam, or neither. I mean, that's the whole point of preempting. As advice, I'd specifically say you should be looking for 3nt contracts more often against preempts than minor suit contracts. Minor suit games are hard to make. It sounds like you're overemphasizing those contracts to the AI, which is causing the AI to overestimate your strength, which is causing overbids and/or sets. Maybe you should look for more 3n contracts.