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The GIB robots on BBO use the 2/1 system described below.

You can click on any of GIB's bids for an explanation.

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.

Carding is 3/5, with what appears to be standard count and attitude signals. Gib does falsecard.

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). 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.

Opening bids

Rebids

1. Opening jump rebid (1c-1any-3c for example) promises 6+ card, 17-20 HCP

2. Opening major rebid does not promise 6 cards in the suit.

Competitive Auctions

3. 1-level overcall shows 5+; 8-17HCP; 9-19HCP. However, might overcall 1-major with decent hand and a strong 4-card suit.
   

4. GIB uses the law of total tricks.

5. Takeout doubles to 4 level

6. Negative X. Responsive X. Support X (GIB may do support X with Kx).

7. Weak jump overcalls (aggressive, 3-9 HCP, no allowance for vulnerability)

8. Cappelletti when opponents open 1NT

9. Michaels cue bid

10. Unusual NT (GIB only does Unusual NT with intermediate hands, xx-KQxxxx KQxxx for example))

11. Unusual versus Unusual (GIB does UVU, but doesn't alert it with this name)

12. Western Cue bid (GIB doesn't alert western cue with this name)

Other conventions and treatments

13. Fourth Suit Forcing

14. New minor forcing

15. Roman Key Card Blackwood. GIB doesn't like to use gerber, but it will respond appropriately

Notes

16. GIB is quite aggressive at the faster (weaker) settings. It likes to redouble, so careful with those sacrifices.

17. Vulnerability does not affect opening/overcall decisions. GIB seems to consider vulnerability only when thinking about leaving in a double for penalties.

Conventions that GIB does not play

19. Drury, reverse Drury

20. Gambling 3nt

21. Namyats

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 the King of the most recently bid suit is typically counted as the 5th keycard.

Responses to 4NT RKCB:

• 5C  0 or 3 keycards
• 5D  1 or 4 keycards
• 5H  2 or 5 keycards, but no Queen of the agreed suit
• 5S  2 or 5 keycards plus Queen of the agreed suit
• 5NT An even number of keycards plus an unspecified void
• 6x An odd number of keycards with a void. If 6x is below 6 of the agreed suit then the void is in the suit bid. If 6x is a bid in the agreed suit then the void is in an unspecified higher-ranking suit.

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:

• Bidding the agreed suit at the cheapest level denies the Queen of the agreed suit.
• Bidding a new suit promises the Queen of the agreed suit plus the King of the suit bid.
• Bidding 5NT promises the Queen of the agreed suit and either denies any side King or denies a side King that can be shown below 6 of the agreed suit.

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:

• The responder to RKCB is entitled to bid a grand slam if he thinks that 13 tricks rate to be available.
• If the responder to RKCB has a King that is lower-ranking than the agreed suit, he should bid that suit at the 6-level. If he has more than one such King, he should bid his lowest-ranking King.
  
• Otherwise the responder to RKCB should bid 6 of the agreed suit.
  

• 2C     Stayman (promises at least one 4-card major unless inviting 3NT).
• 2D    No 4-card major
•  2H/2S    Invitational with 5 of the suit bid and 4 of the other major
•  2NT        Invitational (does not promise a 4-card major)
•  3C/3D    5+ card suit. Forcing to game
•  3H/3S    Smolen (forcing to game with 4 of the suit bid and 5 of the other major)
•  4NT         Invitational to 6NT.
• 2H    4 hearts (could also have 4 spades)
• 2S         Invitational with 4 spades
• 2NT        Invitational, denying 4 spades
• 3C/3D    5+ card suit. Forcing to game
• 3H         Invitational
• 3S         Artificial slam try with at 4+ hearts, usually balanced
• 4C/4D   Splinters (singleton or void in the suit bid, 4+ hearts, interest in slam)
• 4NT        Invitational to 6NT
• 2S    4S (denies 4 hearts)
•  2NT      Invitational (does not promise 4 hearts)
•  3C/3D   5+ card suit. Forcing to game
  
•  3H        Artificial slam try with 4+ spades, usually balanced.
•  3S        Invitational
•  4C/4D/4H    Splinters (singleton or void in the suit bid, 4+ spades, interest in slam)
• 4NT        Invitational to 6NT
•  2D    Jacoby Transfer Bid (promises 5+ hearts). Opener would normally bid 2H, but can superaccept with a maximum and 4-card heart support. After 2H:
• 2S        5+ hearts, 5+ spades, invitational to game.
• 2NT        Exactly 5 hearts, invitational to game.
• 3C/3D    5+ hearts, 4+ card suit. Forcing to game.
  
• 3H        Invitational with 6+ hearts
• 3NT        Exactly 5 hearts. Choice of games (4H or 3NT).
• 3S/4C/4D    Splinters (6+ hearts, singleton or void in the suit bid,  interest in slam)
• 4H        6+ hearts, no singleton or void, mild slam interest
• 4NT        Exactly 5 hearts. Invitational to 6H or 6NT
• 5NT        Choice of slames (6H or 6NT)
•  2H    Jacoby Transfer Bid (promises 5+ spades). Opener would normally bid 2S, but can superaccept with a maximum and 4-card spade support. After 2S:   
• 2NT        Exactly 5 spades, invitational to game.
• 3C/3D    5+ spades, 4+ card suit. Forcing to game.
• 3H        5+ spades, 5+ hearts. Forcing to game.
• 3S        Invitational with 6+ spades
• 3NT        Exactly 5 spades. Choice of games (4S or 3NT).
• 4C/4D/4H    Splinters (6+ spades, singleton or void in the suit bid,  interest in slam)
• 4S        6+ spades, no singleton or void, mild slam interest
• 4NT        Exactly 5 spades. Invitational to 6S or 6NT
• 5NT        Choice of slams (6S or 6NT).
•  2S    Minor Suit Stayman (Usually at least 54 in the minors, forcing to game)
• Opener would normally bid a 4+ card minor if he had one, but can bid 2NT with 3343 or 3334 distribution.
•  If responder's next bid is 3 of a major, he is promising a singleton or void in that suit, but not necessarily slam interest
•  2NT    Minor Suit Transfer (Promises 6+ clubs. Opener must bid 3C)
• If responder's next bid is 3 of a new suit, he is promising a singleton or void in that suit, but not necessarily slam interest
•  Responder's 3NT rebid is a mild slam try (usually balanced).
•  Responder's 4NT rebid is RKCB
•  3C    Minor Suit Transfer (Promises 6+ diamonds. Opener must bid 3D)
•  If responder's next bid is 3 of a new suit, he is promising a singleton or void in that suit, but not necessarily slam interest
•  Responder's 3NT rebid is a mild slam try (usually balanced).
•  Responder's 4NT rebid is RKCB
•  3D/3H/3S    Singleton or void in the suit bid, at least 4 cards in the other 3 suits, no 5card major, forcing to game.
•  3NT    Signoff
•  4C    Gerber
•  4D    Texas Transfer (Promises 6+ hearts, opener must bid 4H)
•  New suit rebid by responder is a cuebid.
•  4NT rebid by responder is RKCB.
•  4H    Texas Transfer (Promises 6+ spades, opener must bid 4S)
•  New suit rebid by responder is a cuebid.
• 4NT rebid by responder is RKCB.
•  4NT    Invitational to 6NT
•  5NT    Invitational to 7NT

•  3C Stayman (promises at least one 4-card major)
•  3D   No 4-card major
•  3H/3S  Smolen (forcing to game with 4 of the suit bid and 5 of the other major)
•  4C/4D  5+ card suit. Interest in slam
•  4H/4S  Signoff bids
•  4NT    Invitational to 6NT
•  3H    4 hearts (could also have 4 spades)
•  3S      Artificial slam try with 4+ hearts
•  3NT    Choice of games (4S or 3NT). Promises 4 spades.
•  4C/4D  5+ card suit. Interest in slam
•  4NT     Invitational to 6NT
•  3S   4 spades (denies 4 hearts)
•  3NT    Signoff (promises 4 hearts)
•  4C/4D 5+ card suit. Interest in slam.
•  4H      Artificial slam try with 4+ spades
•  4NT     Invitational to 6NT
•  3D    Jacoby Transfer Bid (promises 5+ hearts). Opener would normally bid 3H, but can superaccept with a maximum and 4-card heart support. After 3H:
•  3S       5+ hearts, 5+ spades, interest in slam
•  3NT     Exactly 5 hearts. Choice of games (4H or 3NT)
•  4C/4D  5+ hearts, 4+ cards in suit bid, forcing to game
•  4H       Mild slam try with 6+ hearts
•  4NT     Exactly 5 hearts. Invitational to 6H or 6NT
•  5NT      Choice of slams (6H or 6NT)
•  3H    Jacoby Transfer Bid (promises 5+ spades). Opener would normally bid 3S, but can superaccept with a maximum and 4-card spade support. After 3S:
•  3NT     Exactly 5 spades. Choice of games (4S or 3NT)
•  4C/4D  5+ spades, 4+ cards in suit bid, forcing to game
•  4H       5+ spades, 5+ hearts, choice of games (4H or 4S)
•  4S        Mild slam try with 6+ spades
•  4NT     Exactly 5 spades. Invitational to 6S or 6NT
•  5NT     Choice of slams (6S or 6NT)
•  3S   Minor Suit Stayman (usually at least 54 in the minors, forcing to game)
•  Opener would normally bid a 4+ card minor if he had one. Otherwise he would bid 3NT.
•  If responder's next bid is 4 of a major, he is promising a singleton or void in that suit
•  3NT  Signoff
•  4C  Gerber
•  4D   Texas Transfer (Promises 6+ hearts, opener must bid 4H)
•  New suit rebid by responder is a cuebid.
•  4NT rebid by responder is RKCB.
•  4H  Texas Transfer (Promises 6+ spades, opener must bid 4S)
•  New suit rebid by responder is a cuebid.
•  4NT rebid by responder is RKCB.
•  4NT   Invitational to 6NT
•  5NT   Invitational to 7NT