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GIB System Notes

GIB System Notes


We have created a standard convention card for GIB. Click here to see GIB's convention card.

In general, the GIB robots on BBO use the 2/1 system described below. You can click on any of GIB's bids for an explanation, and pause your mouse over a bid you plan on making to see how it will understand it.

*NEW* Click here for help understanding these explanations.

Please drop us a line at support@bridgebase.com if you spot any errors in this document.


Overview

2/1 Game Force with 5 card majors, strong NT, strong (17+) jump shift, weak 2 bids and a strong artificial 2C.

Gib leads 4th best when it leads from a long suit, and standard honor leads (K from AKx, A from AK doubleton). Uses standard signal for count (not attitude); however, if you lead a high honor on the opening lead, it will give attitude. Discard are usually in a short suit in a trump contract if it has trumps left, otherwise in a long suit that it thinks it can afford to shorten.

HCP vs Total Points

Gib uses both old fashioned HCP (A=4,K=3,Q=2,J=1)) and “Total points” (HCP+3 for void, 2 for singleton, 1 for doubleton, but short suits containing J or higher are reduced by 1 point). It sometimes uses “8421” points when cuebidding (A=8,K=4,Q=2,J=1). It will usually force to game if it thinks it has 25 Total Points between the two hands.




Basic Approach

Opening bids

1C

could be 3 if 4333. 2C response is forcing, inverted

1D

usually 4 unless 4432. Opens 1D with 4-4 in the minors. 2D response is forcing, inverted. 2C response is forcing to one round, but not game force.

1H 1S

normally show 5 in all seats. Opens 1S with 5-5 in spades and clubs. 1M-2M direct raise shows 7-10 points. 1N response is forcing. Jacoby 2NT. Splinters.

Two-way game tries.

1N

balanced 15-17 HCP, may have a 5-card major (GIB treats 17 with 5-card major as 18). Followups:

2C

strong, artificial. 22+ HCP

2D 2H 2S

weak 2 bid. Disciplined, with honors in the suit

2N

balanced 20-21 HCP,may have a 5-card major.  Followups:



Responses and Rebids

Competitive Auctions

Other conventions and treatments

Notes

Conventions that GIB does not play



Two-way Game Tries

After a single raise of a major suit, GIB plays two-way game tries.




Roman Keycard Blackwood (RKCB)


RKCB is a 4NT bid that, unlike regular Blackwood, asks for "keycards" instead of Aces. There are always 5 keycards - the 4 Aces plus the King of the agreed trump suit. If no trump suit has been clearly agreed, the King of the most recently bid suit is typically counted as the 5th keycard.

Responses to 4NT RKCB 0314:


After the 5C and 5D responses, the 4NT bidder can bid the next step that is not a signoff in order to ask for the Queen of the agreed suit. Then:

     

A subsequent 5NT bid by the 4NT bidder (regardless of whether or not an ask for the Queen of the agreed suit has taken place) asks for specific Kings. The 5NT bid promises that all of the 5 keycards and the Queen of the agreed suit are accounted for. Then:

     

DOPI after interferences:






After a 1N opening bid


If the opponents overcall 2C (Cappelletti any 1-suited hand), Double is Stayman and all other bids as below. If the opponents overcall with a double, all systems are on. After any other interference, Lebensohl is used.




After a 2N opening bid





Soloway Jump Shifts

GIB plays Soloway Strong Jump Shifts by an unpassed hand in uncontested auctions. A jump shift shows one of the following types of hands:

  1. Strong rebiddable suit, 17+ total points, 4+ controls (A=2, K=1), no side 4-card suit
  2. Solid suit, 17+ total points, 4+ controls, may have a side 4-card suit
  3. Rebiddable suit, 18+ HCP, 4+ controls, 5332 or 6322 shape.
  4. Rebiddable suit, 17+ total points, 4+ controls, 4-card support for opener's suit


Opener can rebid his suit to show 6+, raise responder or bid RKC Blackwood with 3+ support, bid a side suit to deny support and show least KQ in the  suit, or bid NT at the cheapest level to show any other hand.


Jump shifter shows which type of hand it had with its next bid: