[jwilkins]

Can someone explain what a "barbid" is that the robots use sometimes?

[steve2005]

A bar bid is a sign-off bid and is pretty final. Nothing is completely final but usually hands have been limited so...
Yes Gib uses bar bids it will say bar bid in description. There have been complaints that Gib bids 3♣ as a bar bid showing 6+♣ with only 5.

I have also seen Gib bids which to me should be bar bids as has other bids which show same suit and are forcing. Then Gib shows up with huge extra values.

[spotlight7]

Bar bids are used when you want to compete, however, you do not want partner to bid again.


1S-(2D)-2S-(3D)-people use game try doubles to invite game here and some also use 3H* here to invite game.

Bidding ...(3D)-3S when playing game try doubles or 3H* as a game invite would make a 3S bid here 'to play' bar bid.


Bar bids are used by people following the Law of Total Tricks, you bid to the level of your combined trumps.

With 6Ss and partner raises to show 3, opener can make a bar bid of 3Ss 'sign off.'

[barmar]

spotlight7, on 2017-July-19, 21:01, said:

Bar bids are used when you want to compete, however, you do not want partner to bid again.

Bit GIB doesn't describe the examples you gave as "bar bids".

I believe the only sequence GIB has where it uses this terminology is

1X - 1Major - 1NT - 3minor

where the final minor is an unbid suit. This is supposed to be a weak hand with 4 cards in responder's major and 6+ in the minor. Opener's hand is semi-balanced and limited to 14 HCP, so responder is captain and signing off here.

As steve said, sometimes GIB's bids are a card or 1 or 2 points off from the description, because it may use simulations to adjust its bidding.