Cheaper Minor description

[DrFell]

Playing with GIB just now, I opened 2c, and the unopposed auction proceeded 2c - 2d - 3c - 3d. The 3d bid was described as "Cheaper Minor --- 11- HCP, 12- total points". This is utterly misleading (and I was utterly misled).

 

I take it that the bid is supposed to be a "second negative", showing a more-or-less bust hand. But the description covers almost everything below opening strength.

Is it really conceivable that GIB could bid like this with anything approaching 11 HCP?

 

(I realize that people better informed than me will recognize the "Cheaper Minor" convention, and won't be fooled. But that's no reason for the description to be plain wrong.)

[Bbradley62]

Was your partner a passed hand? If so, "11- HCP, 12- total points" was a simply a reflection of his opening pass, probably not having anything to do with the Cheaper Minor bid.

[jdonn]

Yes the whole "cheaper minor" convention has several major flaws as GIB plays it. BBO is aware, and I expect it to be fixed at some point.

[smerriman]

Is it really conceivable that GIB could bid like this with anything approaching 11 HCP?

 

Just played a hand and remembered this thread - this isn't 11HCP, but it seems GIB can still have a reasonable hand - according to its system, this has 7 HCP and 10 total points:

 

[hv=http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=pn%7Csmerriman%2CRobot%2CRobot%2CRobot%7Cst%7C%7Cmd%7C3SAJT6432HAKDCAK54%2CSQ9875HQ74DAQJ82C%2CSHJ82DKT63CQJT762%2CSKHT9653D9754C983%7Csv%7CN%7Cah%7CBoard%205%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C2C%7Can%7CStrong%20two%20club%20--%2019%2B%20HCP%3B%2023%2B%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%202N%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C2D%7Can%7C2D%20bid%20waiting%20--%2011-%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%202N%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C2S%7Can%7COpener%20s%20suit%20--%205%2B%20%21S%3B%2019%2B%20HCP%3B%2023%2B%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203S%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C3C%21%7Can%7CCheaper%20minor%20--%2011-%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203S%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C4C%7Can%7C4%2B%20%21C%3B%205%2B%20%21S%3B%2019%2B%20HCP%3B%2023%2B%20total%20points%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C6C%7Can%7C4%2B%20%21C%3B%2011-%20HCP%3B%209-12%20total%20points%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cpc%7CS7%7Cpc%7CD3%7Cpc%7CSK%7Cpc%7CSA%7Cpc%7CHA%7Cpc%7CH4%7Cpc%7CH2%7Cpc%7CH6%7Cpc%7CHK%7Cpc%7CH7%7Cpc%7CH8%7Cpc%7CHT%7Cpc%7CS2%7Cpc%7CS5%7Cpc%7CC2%7Cpc%7CC9%7Cpc%7CD4%7Cpc%7CC4%7Cpc%7CD2%7Cpc%7CD6%7Cpc%7CS3%7Cpc%7CS8%7Cpc%7CCT%7Cpc%7CD5%7Cmc%7C12%7C]400|300[/hv]

 

For once I think it actually did quite well here, though!

[lycier]

It is normal, no perfect convention in the world.

[ramal1491]

describe cheaper minor please

[pescetom]

describe cheaper minor please

 

Why necro an already rambling thread in this way?

Is your question 'how does GIB interpret cheaper minor'?

[thepossum]

Can someone explain the point of it, especially in GiB land

It's like a double negative???. You sign off in 3 and it goes to 4.

What's the point

Is it to stop you going to 6?

 

The last several times Gib has used it, it is only forcing to 3. So that's what I bid

We always end in 4. What is the point?

 

I found the hand. 8 points and a fit oppposite a 2C opening with a major. Why?

Why even the 2D let alone the cheaper minor?

Maybe it is to stop people getting excited and going to 6. We only made 5

Correction I only made 5. Many people made 4+2

Apologies to GiB. Double dummy only makes 4

 

I find it sad that anything more than 4 points is regarded as bust opposite 2C. I may be wrong the the expectations of responder are only 1 trick. Not much