[Bbradley62]

I'm declaring in an Express game... I make a claim... While the claim is still pending, I get a warning that I will be replaced by a robot unless I make my next move. Shouldn't the defenders be on the clock instead of me?

[barmar]

Often one will respond quickly, and the other is holding it up, so only that one should be replaced.

I assume that when the player is replaced, the robot will automatically accept the claim. If that's true, there isn't really any point in replacing the player, the software should just put a time limit on the claim response window. After 60 seconds, you're assumed to accept.

[Bbradley62]

I agree with you on what SHOULD happen, but what actually happens is that declarer gets replaced by the robot, not a defender.

[barmar]

Obviously. I wasn't disagreeing with you, just suggesting how they should fix it.

[EdmundB]

I'd try playing a card and then claiming.

[Bbradley62]

 EdmundB, on 2010-December-27, 11:48, said:

I'd try playing a card and then claiming.

That could get ugly... If South plays a card then claims, I think West gets locked into accept/reject and cannot play a card until the claim is either accepted or rejected. If West accepts but East is the one who is slow to act on the claim, West will get a "you will be replaced soon" message. If he's already accepted the claim, is he completely helpless to avoid being replaced.

[Rain]

Hi,

We cannot replicate this right now. Can you describe more what happened please? Email me, if possible, with screenshots if you can please.

Thanks much

[Rain]

I think we saw the problem Bradley described now. It looks like an unintended "bug". (In inverted commas because it's not clear this is a bug, but an unforeseen event)

It may make it to the list of things to fix, but perhaps not as soon as other more pressing things? Uday can comment on that.

For now, to prevent this from happening to you, don't claim before you make a play. Play a card, then claim. Hope this makes sense.

[blackshoe]

If it was unforeseen by the designer(s) of the program, then it's a bug.

[Gerben42]

It's not a bug, it's an undocumented creature.

[tbr]

If you're quick enough and not sleepy, why not play out?

[Bbradley62]

 blackshoe, on 2010-December-29, 22:38, said:

If it was unforeseen by the designer(s) of the program, then it's a bug.

At the computer center at school we had a big banner that read "It's not a bug, it's a feature".

[Bbradley62]

 tbr, on 2010-December-30, 06:30, said:

If you're quick enough and not sleepy, why not play out?

Because we're not playing at Shady Pines.

[cloa513]

Alternatively just have autoreject of claims after say 10 seconds at least then you get to play off the trick and try again on the next trick.

[barmar]

Last night I played a card from hand, LHO followed, and I claimed. While waiting for the opponents to respond, I got the time warning. So I cancelled the claim and played a card from dummy and claimed. But RHO got his card in before I was able to claim. I didn't get another time warning, but a few seconds later the board was cancelled and I got an average.

Which actually worked out OK for me, because I was in the wrong contract and the best I could achieve was 20%.