Me versus a top bridge player (Stefan Skorchev) - 3rd January 2024

[@grahamlucy6627]

#3 Agree with Paul, 6H is a nice place to be. . #5 sold out to 3D+1 as was expecting to have 4432 opposite 4432 with lots of minor losers. So managed to avoid the 5D mis-defence. . WDLDW 30

[@paulmaier6305]

on #1, instead of playing the Qs, just play low to the J......then when you play a club, W MUST duck or E will be squeezed in 3 suits when a club is returned.after the duck of the club(if the robot can figure out to do that, you simply play a d and after cahsing his heart, E has to lead a spade from the K. that is 10 tricks.

[@Kartalallen]

Yes I played effectively the same line and made an overtrick

[@paulmaier6305]

#3 is not the worst slam in the world. without a club lead lots of other chances and you nwere basically 50/50 WITH the club lead.

[@Kartalallen]

I bid as did John, but the robots actions are poor after we deny any 1st or 2nd round minor controls

[@VanessaSchmithorst]

@@Kartalallen In the robots defense, you could easily have something like SAKQ HKxxx DQJx CQxx in which case slam is laydown.

[@Kartalallen]

@@paulmaier6305 The robots are quite honestly terrible at cue bidding. They cue when they shouldn’t or don’t cue when they should. Here is a great place over 4H to involve your p with 5C. This bid implies that you don’t have two quick losers in the minors and P will then realise that what’s needed is a source of tricks or spades completely covered. To be fair I would possibly go to slam with AKJ, but AKQ is automatic

[@Kartalallen]

I really don’t get these robots sometimes. I’m also in 5Dx but bid hearts instead of spades. So my robot leads a heart which is ruffed. Two rounds of diamond and a small club of dummy won by parter. I think the hand now is virtually DD and it’s clear to switch to spades or you risk it making when he’s 2065 shape…… but no it lays down the AC to gift the contract. Useless!

[@VanessaSchmithorst]

Yeah, it's infuriating, same thing happened to me.