[1eyedjack]

MP, Robot tourney, best hand South

---

GIB descriptions

1H: One over one -- 4+ H; 11- HCP; 6-12 total points
1N: 3-5 C; 2-4 D; 2-3 H; 2-3 S; 12-14 HCP
3H: Jump rebid; not forcing -- 6+ H; 11- HCP; 12 total points
3N: 3-5 C; 2-4 D; 2-3 H; 2-3 S; 14 HCP
4H: 6+ H; 11- HCP; 12 total points

Someone reached the optimum spot of 3N by reversing into 2D where I rebid 1N. Personally I think that 2D reverse is an abortion of a bid.
OK I get that systemically per GIB the 1N rebid promises 2 or 3 Hearts. But that is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Sure, I have 1 point in reserve but surely that it is the lesser lie? And anyway, had I a point less, would it suggest that I should rebid 2C???

Even if we have an assured 8 card Heart fit it is not beyond the realms of possibility that 3N is the right spot. Indeed, swap the D2 with the H2, and perhaps if you object to the point count swap the SJ with the S9, and then 3N is still a solid (and the last) making game.

Again we come to the question: Has GIB got anything NOT ALREADY DISCLOSED earlier in the bidding? I submit that it has not, and in such cases should be programmed to PASS non-forcing bids rather than feel obliged to second-guess whether there is a better spot when partner has already made that decision.

[mgoetze]

The systematic rebid, I am sure, is 2♣. If you don't like the system, I would suggest you consider opening 1♦ with this hand type.

[1eyedjack]

mgoetze, on 2013-September-01, 02:41, said:

If you don't like the system, I would suggest you consider opening 1♦ with this hand type.

That is one possible solution (not without its own potential for problems, I suggest). The other being to change the system. Which is superior may be contentious.

There appear to be three separate questions in play here:

1) How does GIB currently expect the hand to be bid, from both sides of the fence, and would that lead to 3N?
2) With a pliant human partner who would fit in with your preferences, how would you expect the hand to be bid?
3) Should North GIB convert 3N to 4H on the information available, given its expectation (flawed or otherwise) of South's hand and given the information he has already given which prompted South's 3N bid?

Of the three questions, I rate number 3 as the most significant. Partly because if GIB should be passing 3N then on this hand the answers to the first two questions are pretty irrelevant. But mainly because it is symptomatic of a general flaw that I have noticed in GIB's bidding, that it will bid again in a non-forcing situation when it has already described its hand completely, which flaw is demonstrated in numerous other situations having no similarity to this one. In an earlier thread, for example, I observed that with 5 Spades and 4 Hearts, having embarked on Smolen (after a 2D response to stayman), it will convert 4H to 4S with no extra shape to justify overulling partner's judgement.