[thepossum]

So sad
I went for a forcing rebid and look what happened.
Forced to pass a part score
So disappointing in the crowd I was trying to compete with
Small consolation it was a positive score lol - I think I can be proud of my hand judgement and bidding if not my MP%
Forcing to 3NT but no. I am sure it was my fault as always. After all nobody else made a force and they all ended in 3NT lol

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[Douglas43]

Hi Possum. Maybe stretch to 2NT rather than 3C? 3NT looks OK.

[thepossum]

Douglas43, on 2024-February-07, 04:09, said:

Hi Possum. Maybe stretch to 2NT rather than 3C? 3NT looks OK.

As I said sometimes the system gets me and I forget the simple 2NT lol

[helene_t]

3♣ is a bit of an overbid. It is GF so 4♣ is forcing. I am not sure if 4♣ is the best bid by north but yes, GIB bids that way.

The systematic rebid is 2♣ but I agree that 2NT is a good alternative and probably what I would have bid.

[shyams]

One of the techniques I have learnt when playing vs. bots is to open 1NT with most 15-17 hands that don't have a singleton. So all 5422s (except when 54 are both majors), many 6322s where the 6-carder is a minor, and an occasional 7222 when the 7-carder is a minor.

Not saying it always works, but my recollection is that it works more often than it blows up.

I don't find any issue with your 1♥ opening here and I would repeat it with all human partners. I think I would rebid 2NT (pretending it's a 18-count).

[helene_t]

IMHO this hand is much too strong for a 1NT opening, certainly playing with robots. Robots don't invite with 8 points so I upgrade almost all 17-counts. And this hand is at least worth 18.

[pescetom]

helene_t, on 2024-February-07, 06:20, said:

3♣ is a bit of an overbid. It is GF so 4♣ is forcing. I am not sure if 4♣ is the best bid by north but yes, GIB bids that way.

I agree that 3♣ should be an unconditional GF, but I'm not sure GiB defines it as such. The description only says Forcing to 3NT, FWIW.

[fuzzyquack]

If I want to be in 4N after a mishap like that with a bot, I cue and pass the expectant 4N

[kerkido]

Do you think you have a balanced hand?

If yes, then you either open 1NT (if you think it's worth 15-17), or open 1♥ and rebid 2NT (if you think it's worth 18-19). I would choose the latter.

If no, then you open 1♥ and rebid 2♣. This is used for both weak hands and stronger hands, but after partner responds, you bid again saying you have the stronger version - leaving partner perfectly placed to know what to do next.

Are you worried that partner will pass 2♣? Their goal is to bid wherever possible just in case you have the type of strong hand that you do. That's why e.g. they'll bid 2♥ even with a weak hand with only 2 hearts and 3 clubs. The only time they'll pass is when they have a minimum with a complete misfit, which is exactly when you want to stay low.

[harikannan]

"That's why e.g. they'll bid 2♥ even with a weak hand with only 2 hearts and 3 clubs"

Useful tip, thanks.