[tmj_]

The hand:

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Why doesn't GIB just pass? I didn't make a two-suited call, I can't have as many as 4 spades, the 2S call has nothing to gain and a lot to lose.

I also hate how it ignores shape:

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I detest when a passed hand makes a cue bid like this, especially when it suppresses a decent 6-card suit! What am I supposed to bid here? If it's making this kind of raise there must be some kind of play for game, right? Only in hearts unfortunately (they were 2-2).

These are not isolated incidents. Every time something like this happens I start feeling like I am wasting my money on games here.

[The_Badger]

As I said in a previous post today, GIB has 'idiosyncrasies' and is far from perfect, but so are many human players. I agree in hand 1 that the 2♠ bid is, to me, nonsense.

Hand 2 is different though. I believe that quite a few players would open a weak 2♥ on North's hand. GIB's parameters are differently set so it passes. However having passed, the most important consideration now is to support your ♠ suit. A bid of 2♥ would be non-forcing to many players.

[nige1]

• Gib passed 1NXX. Gib has 8 HCP and tmj_ showed 16+, so Gib must do something. 2♠ might not be best but pass would be ludicrous.
• Gib's cue-bid seems normal.

Perhaps Gib's bidding decisions should be posted as Bridge-polls to check whether humans would do better

[johnu]

nige1, on 2017-July-23, 16:00, said:

• Gib passed 1NXX. Gib has 8 HCP and tmj_ showed 16+, so Gib must do something. 2♠ might not be best but pass would be ludicrous.
• Gib's cue-bid seems normal.

1. Raise with 3 hearts to the king or bid 2♠ which should have 5+ spades? Really tough decision Partner did not bid 2♦ to show both majors which makes looking for a spade fit a long shot.

2. I think most players would open 2♥ which may or may not work out with a different dummy. After passing, some may play transfers by advancer, or maybe fit jumps, or etc. Does GIB play fit jumps? Does 2♥ imply a spade fit? If not, then 2♦ is probably your best choice.