Snatching defeat from the jaws of 4S

[svengolly]

Why oh why would GIB do this? My RDBL shows a spade fit, I hadn't promised any extra clubs. GIB pard only has 7 points. There's no slam try here. I'm fine in 4S (which makes).

 

In fact, GIB weirdness was all over tonight when I played in ACBL practice tourney #4. Several overbids by GIB even with minimum responses from me getting us one level too high.

 

5C Bid over 4S

[smerriman]

Redouble shows exactly 3 spades. Opponents showed 10 diamonds, so GIB knows you have at most a singleton. That leaves 9 cards in clubs and hearts, so you must have at least 5 clubs. You're going to be hard pressed to get GIB to prefer a Moysian spade fit over a 9 card club fit.

[svengolly]

Hmm, I've always played a RDBL in that sequence as general fit showing, not exactly 3 card support.

 

But why would GIB pull at the 5 level with such a weak hand after I've voluntarily bid 4S? That seems a bit much even for GIB. So what's a better bid on my part to avoid this?

 

FWIW, GIB really messes with my head a LOT.

[smerriman]

GIB plays support doubles, so double (or redouble in this case) is to show precisely 3 card support - you use spade raises to guarantee 4.

 

So I can't see how GIB has any choice but to pull to 5♣ - you showed strength for game, and a 9+ card fit surely has to be better than a 7 (and guaranteed not 8) card one. GIB knows you bid game without knowing about his 4 clubs after all!

 

GIB would bid 3♠ (4+ ♠, 16-18 total points), but you also have 4♠ (4+ ♠, 19-22 points) or 3♦ (4+ ♠, 1- ♦, 19-22) points to choose from if you want to force to game.

[manudude03]

Smerriman has explained it quite simply. When you play with GIB, you are playing its system, not your own. It's not making a slam try, it is just putting the contract where the fit is known instead of it's known 4-3 fit (if you hadn't misled it)

[steve2005]

Gib knows there is a club fit and thinks spades is 4-3 anyone who bid 5C

[pescetom]

Hmm, I've always played a RDBL in that sequence as general fit showing, not exactly 3 card support.

 

 

For the record, what was the purpose of showing general fit rather than just bidding to game over a passed hand with fit?

I'm not sure how GIB works, but your bidding probably messed with his head a LOT ;)

[svengolly]

For the record, what was the purpose of showing general fit rather than just bidding to game over a passed hand with fit?

I'm not sure how GIB works, but your bidding probably messed with his head a LOT ;)

 

OY, everyone's a critic. :P I asked in one post what my specific correct bid should have been to make GIB happy. No response. What's forcing in that sequence?

[svengolly]

GIB would bid 3♠ (4+ ♠, 16-18 total points), but you also have 4♠ (4+ ♠, 19-22 points) or 3♦ (4+ ♠, 1- ♦, 19-22) points to choose from if you want to force to game.

OK thanks! With my regular partners, they'd leave me in 4S. So after 1S - X - 3S forces? Jump to 4S is a signoff and there might be more there (which as the auction went, I had to anyway).

[smerriman]

All of your spade raises work exactly the same as if RHO didn't double - 2♠ is minimum, 3♠ is invitational, 4♠ is max. Your partner just has the additional information that you're not raising with a shapely 3 card support hand, which (without the interference) you would otherwise sometimes have to do.