[iplaybridg]

Way too many times, after asking for keycards, I bid slam in something other than Robots suit, robot pulls it. Even worse, way too many times, after going through asking for keycard, I bid 6nt (top board, right?) and every single time, Robot pulls it to 7 of his suit.

My arguement, is the partner who does the Ace asking, should be the Captain of the ship and be the one who determines where the contract should be, since he's the only one who knows how many key cards (and or where the key cards are!).

I think that Robots are programmed to not allow a change from their suit, once keycard asking has taken place.

The most recent example, robot on my left bid 2h, pass, pass, double by me. (I have AKQxxxxx of clubs, Axx of d, x hearts, x of spades.) left robot passes, my pard robot bid 3 spades, pass, 4nt by me, pass by robot, 5h (2 key cards in spades) So I take a flyer and bid 6 clubs, immediately 6 spades by pard, I bid 6nt, 7 spades by robot. Down 2. My pard has AK 6 spades, kxxx 4hts singleton club and kx of diamonds. In clubs, and nt 6 is cold, in spades we lose the heart and two spades. So this is pretty frustrating. comments?

[Bbradley62]

Welcome to the BBO Forum.

Yes, it appears to be the general consensus that GIB pulls slam bids too often. However...

Is this the hand?

---

A similar hand was reported last year, leading to this response from the developer:

arigreen, on 2010-March-29, 00:58, said:

I wish I could tell that you there was a good reason behind GIB's decision to pull 6N to 7♠. However, this action was caused by a random rule that accidentally fired. I eliminated the bad rule, so starting with the next release GIB will usually pass 6N in auctions such as this.

So, while GIB is afraid of your 6♣ bid, he probably would not have been afraid of 6N, had you bid that. Note that North bid 3♥ to show general strength, not 3♠ to show his suit, so when he bid 6♠ he was showing you his suit for the first time.

Some of the other Souths bid 4♣ initially, showing solid ♣ and 19+ total points; they were also not allowed to play 6♣, so GIB does have a problem in trusting his partner to set the contract, and it would be nice if something were done about that.

[mgoetze]

Bbradley62, on 2011-August-16, 08:49, said:

So, while GIB is afraid of your 6♣ bid, he probably would not have been afraid of 6N, had you bid that. Note that North bid 3♥ to show general strength, not 3♠ to show his suit, so when he bid 6♠ he was showing you his suit for the first time.

I think you misread the auction you posted. 3♥ showed a strong hand. 4NT said, any suit is fine with me. 5♠ said, OK, spades is our suit then. 6♣ was a cuebid looking for a grand. 6♠ denied interest in a grand. 7♣ insisted on grand, offering any of 7♣, 7♠ or 7NT. GIB chose 7♠.

It really helps to read the explanations sometimes.

[Bbradley62]

mgoetze, on 2011-August-16, 09:27, said:

I think you misread the auction you posted. 3♥ showed a strong hand. 4NT said, any suit is fine with me. 5♠ said, OK, spades is our suit then. 6♣ was a cuebid looking for a grand. 6♠ denied interest in a grand. 7♣ insisted on grand, offering any of 7♣, 7♠ or 7NT. GIB chose 7♠.

It really helps to read the explanations sometimes.

Yes, you are clearly correct.

[iplaybridg]

I try to read the explanations, but there are just too many "exceptions" to what was listed and what was bid. So I just use them for guidelines. I still believe as strongly as I can, that the bidder who asks for controls, is absolutely the one who sets the contract. Sorry, can't convince me otherwise, LOL

[gwnn]

don't double if you have an 8 card suit, LOL.

[mtvesuvius]

Sooooo, if you make a takeout double with an 8 card suit, you don't play bridge (or even bridg).

[Bbradley62]

iplaybridg, on 2011-August-16, 18:07, said:

I still believe as strongly as I can, that the bidder who asks for controls, is absolutely the one who sets the contract. Sorry, can't convince me otherwise, LOL

That's a good policy. Unfortunately, as Goetze pointed out, GIB doesn't think you asked for controls. He thinks 4N asked him to pick a suit, since he did not bid 3♠ as you said, he bid 3♥. If you had bid 6N, as you said you did, you probably would have gotten to play there.

[cloa513]

Bbradley62, on 2011-August-16, 08:49, said:

Welcome to the BBO Forum.

Yes, it appears to be the general consensus that GIB pulls slam bids too often. However...

Is this the hand?

---

A similar hand was reported last year, leading to this response from the developer:


So, while GIB is afraid of your 6♣ bid, he probably would not have been afraid of 6N, had you bid that. Note that North bid 3♥ to show general strength, not 3♠ to show his suit, so when he bid 6♠ he was showing you his suit for the first time.

Some of the other Souths bid 4♣ initially, showing solid ♣ and 19+ total points; they were also not allowed to play 6♣, so GIB does have a problem in trusting his partner to set the contract, and it would be nice if something were done about that.

Why does GIB North not think it has enough to bid 2S over 2H?

[iplaybridg]

cloa513, on 2011-August-16, 20:10, said:

Why does GIB North not think it has enough to bid 2S over 2H?

Actually, I wondered why GIB North didn't double, and then correct to spades, He has 13 high card points and a void (18pts?)

No biggie, I just believe in "the captain of the ship" rule. Once you've limited your hand, the partner should be the only one to set final contract. Take care, appreciate your reviews

[manudude03]

A void isn't worth 5 points until you've found a fit, and even then it's arguable.

[pigpenz]

iplaybridg, on 2011-August-16, 18:07, said:

I try to read the explanations, but there are just too many "exceptions" to what was listed and what was bid. So I just use them for guidelines. I still believe as strongly as I can, that the bidder who asks for controls, is absolutely the one who sets the contract. Sorry, can't convince me otherwise, LOL

I had one the other day where on a slow auction showed delay support of hearts with KX hearts GIB bid 4 NT i bid 5diamonds which GIB passed. It bid was inv to 6NT not ace asking