[Bbradley62]

http://tinyurl.com/2axqemc

I think GIB should preemptively raise ♠ over 2♦, but if he doesn't, he certainly should revert to ♠ over 3♣.

[barmar]

Today I opened 1♥ with a 4=5=1=3 hand, GIB bid a forcing NT, I rebid 2♣, and GIB took preference to 2♥ with Jx, despite holding something like ♣KJTxx.

The contract was makable double-dummy, but I didn't find it. 2♣ would have been easy. This was total points, not matchpoints, so there's no good reason to prefer the major.

[dennis708]

GIB's preferences are enough to turn a stomach (a strong stomach). I have repeatedly witnessed it taking a preference to a doubleton (occasionally with a jump) while holding 4 or 5 card support for a second suit bid freely at the 3-level.

In a similar vein, today it passed me in 4!c with a 12-count after I opened 1NT and we had already started cue-bidding.

I've been filing "robot reports" to the point that my mouse is getting tired.

[calm01]

This reply is of the form of tough love.

My experience is similar to that of dennis708. I can recognise no pattern in GIB behaviour in giving preference. The worst case is preferring a 4-1 fit in spades to a 6-5 fit in diamonds.

From what I have inferred from Ari and Barmar helpful responses is there is much hope for improvement in many areas of GIB bidding and play.

A small tweak here and tweak here and there could make a bid difference apparently.

But until a small group of programmers and bridge players take it in hand and put in the required effort to exploit the opportunities for substantive change - on a regular and structured basis - that potential change goes mostly unrealised.

My current approach is that i enjoy the 24 hour availability of playing with 3 robots as I can answer the 'phone or make a sandwich etc., without having to worry about upsetting three human players. So I accept the poor bidding, palooka defence and erratic declarer play.

I make adjustments to my bidding as I would with a poor/erratic human player.
I choose to laugh rather than to cry by making the best of my partners foibles.

But I would appreciate knowing when my palooka partner has improved in one area so I can stop compensating for his/her poor bridge education when he/she has learnt something new. I need to know when the version has changed and what has changed, This is essential feedback.

I also need to see some steady improvement not to lose heart.

The version number and bug fix list is essential feedback and appears to be missing for GIB changes.

Arigreen and Barmar please note is is not enough to try and improve the GIB program - you need to communicate the version and bug fixes as you implement them.

With this encouragement I hope that your obvious enthusiasm and commitment will translate into more achievement as the potential your imply is realised and communicated.

[barmar]

FYI, I don't work for BBO, I'm just another user, although I have a programming background and some idea of the problems facing the GIB programmer.

Ari is the GIB programmer.