[thorvald]

I got this difficult hand (In a World Bridge Challenge)

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Over 2♣ 2♥ might be better, but hoping for a penalty I selected the double.

Over 3♣ it is even more difficult, and 3♦, 3♥ and X is possibilities.

As my opponent and I once again selected the T/O double, knowing that GIB is not that clever after 2 T/O doubles.

Now the question is if we have one more bid on our powerhouse, so I hovered over 4 and 5 ♦.

4♦= 2-♣, 7-♦, 4+♥, 3♠, 20-21 HCP; twice rebiddable ♦; 22 total points; partial stop in ♠

5♦=2-♣, 7-♦, 3+♥, 3+♠, 21- HCP; biddable ♦, 16-22 total points


My opponent bid 4♦ and was left there to play

Almost the same description, but probably the small +-sign before the ♠ made the difference as the bot insisted on 5♠ and was left there to play.

As 6♦ was cold with this layout

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I lost 7 Imp and the match

[smerriman]

thorvald, on 2023-July-19, 10:09, said:

Almost the same description..

The descriptions are significantly different - 4♦ shows *twice rebiddable* diamonds and the description shows exactly 22 points as well as exactly the 3 spades that you mentioned; when you see a bid show exact values like that, it usually doesn't mean it actually thinks that, just that you're showing a impossible hand with conflicting ranges and the description is trying to resolve the contradictions.

GIB can't simulate a single hand that matches this criteria, and defaults to pass since you've shown such long diamonds and that's your best fit.

5♦ is also pretty much undefined given it shows nothing more than 4 cards in diamonds, but that results in it correcting to your best known fit in spades (minimum 8 combined, vs minimum 7 diamonds).

GIB rarely lets you get away with doubling when you have a long suit; you're never going to find any bids later that show what you have, so the first double is already playing with fire with GIB no matter whether it's the "right" bid or not.

[pescetom]

smerriman, on 2023-July-19, 14:26, said:

GIB rarely lets you get away with doubling when you have a long suit; you're never going to find any bids later that show what you have, so the first double is already playing with fire with GIB no matter whether it's the "right" bid or not.

Fits my limited experience of GiB

Robots aside, I'm not a fan of opening 2♣ with a strong minor in general, but now or never. Yes we're going to miss 4-4 hearts and yes we actually end up in 5♦+1, but still.