[benellis58]

Every single day, I play at least one robot game. Consequently, every single day I am reminded of how stunningly, staggeringly, and stupendously bad the GIB robots are in any and all facets of bridge. The fact that I nonetheless continue to play each day makes it quite evident that I do enjoy the games despite the abysmal quality of play from the GIB robots, but the games would be far more enjoyable if the pathetic GIB minions could be improved...or indeed replaced by a superior brand.

[benellis58]

We could probably all spend hours each day in writing about the utter stupidity we constantly observe from the hopelessly inept GIB robots. One of their numerous errors is their propensity for insane cuebids. Here is but one example:

West, North, and East all pass. South opens 1D in fourth.
West bids 1H. North doubles. East passes. South bids 2C.
West passes. North bids 2D, which could easily end the auction, so obviously North would be quite content if that occurred, and equally obviously North has absolutely no interest in game. East competes with 2H. South passes.
West passes.
North bids. We haven't yet seen his hand, but because of WHAT he bids, we already know that he is a madman, because he bids three...no, NOT three clubs or three diamonds (both of which, depending on his hand, COULD conceivably be plausible), but a clearly LUDICROUS 3H.

The fool was willing to let the auction end in 2D, but NOW he's...CUEBIDDING...and forcing his "partner" to likely the FOUR level...for NO reason. Utterly ridiculous, but the type of thing that these reprehensible GIB robots often do.

His hand (not that it matters, because WHATEVER his hand was, his bid was GUARANTEED to be stupid) was J863, 92, A54, KJ42. The foolish call was defined as "3+ diamonds, 4 spades, 11 total points", indicating that their very system and their entire mode of "thinking" (ha, ha, ha!) is unrepentantly silly.
As for the "ability" of the GIB robots, this example hand is not the exception. It is the rule for these incompetent and tremendously annoying creations.

[benellis58]

I must congratulate the GIB robots. It shows remarkable consistency to play so devastatingly poorly day...after day...after day.

[benellis58]

GIB deserves credit for its consistency. It is consistently horrendous in bidding, leading, and defending. Its system is weak and its definitions are hopelessly bad in every way imaginable. Declarer play? Well, to be fair, that's the best part of its game - not that it's GOOD, of course, just that it's less abysmally bad than it is in everything else. In spite of how atrocious GIB is, the games are still enjoyable, but why oh why can't we have robots that are not so astoundingly and consistently disgustingly incompetent?

[benellis58]

Progress report: GIB is still inept.

[pilowsky]

benellis58, on 2025-May-16, 16:13, said:

Progress report: GIB is still inept.

Ineptitude is no barrier to success.

[benellis58]

True, pilowsky, and the GIB robots are indeed VERY successful at being hopelessly inept.

[benellis58]

Playing with and against the GIB robots is like living in the movie "Groundhog Day". Every day I play, and every day I am reminded of how wretchedly hopeless the GIB robots are. If someone tried to create the worst bridge players of all time, that someone would be hard pressed to come up with anything consistently worse than the GIB robots...although in fairness it COULD...with GREAT effort...be done.

[benellis58]

Here we are, decades after GIB was created, and after all this time has passed and after so much technological progress has occurred virtually everywhere else, the GIB robots are still hopelessly, pathetically, and disgustingly inept at bridge.

[benellis58]

Today, like most days, I played with and against the GIB robots. What this means is that today, like most days, I was constantly reminded of how stupendously bad they are. I will repeat a statement that I have made previously: I have never...EVER... seen a human player - ANY human player - perform as consistently and as egregiously poorly as the GIB robots.

[benellis58]

My compliments to whoever is in charge of the GIB robots. It is truly a remarkable achievement to have them be so consistently and staggeringly inept.

[benellis58]

Today, like most days, I played some robot games. Consequently, and quite expectedly, today, like most days, I was reminded of how glaringly, horrendously bad the incompetent GIB robots are. The three inevitables of life: death, taxes, and the atrocious play of GIB robots.

[benellis58]

Just a periodic reminder that the GIB robots are really, really incompetent in all facets of the game, but especially in defending and bidding.

[benellis58]

BBO is currently conducting a survey to see which improvements its users want. I hope that EVERYONE checks the box for "better robots" because the disgustingly inept GIB robots are by FAR the worst thing about BBO...and sadly those WRETCHED GIB robots are probably also the single most important part of BBO.

[benellis58]

The GIB robots continue to amaze with their absolutely disgusting, horrific incompetence.

[smerriman]

If you think that posting the same thing 20 things in a row serves any purpose other than being irritating.. well, you're probably more deluded than GIB.

[benellis58]

Deluded? No, not at all, Stephen, but thanks for your input, which is always sincerely appreciated and occasionally even educational. You are, you know, allowed to ignore posts, or is it possible that you have been deluded into thinking that you are obliged to read every word? By the way, Stephen, just as you are annoyed by my observations and felt the need to express that opinion, I am annoyed by the constant, unwavering ineptitude of the GIB robots and sometimes (as you have noticed) choose to express thatopinion. I had not, however, planned on mentioning that oft-repeated sentiment today or in fact even in the foreseeable future, until your charming words prompted me to do so. It's always a pleasure to read what you have to say. Cheers!

[shyams]

I disagree with benellis58's fact-free & evidence-free assertions.

GIB robots are amazing.
I will not present any evidence to support my assertion either (why should I?).

I know more about GIB than benellis58 because I've played > 5,000 boards in a [me + 3 GIBs] configuration. An experience that benellis58 cannot match.

Be warned!! I will repeat this very message every 7-10 days until you all agree with me. I know my approach will work

[benellis58]

Shyams, my opinion is that what you state is baseless and incorrect, but I'm always interested in what other people think and am always interested in learning from what they have to say, so I greatly look forward to your promised repetition of the message every 7-10 days. Please demonstrate your integrity by keeping your promise. Do not let us down by failing to do so. Thanks very much for your input, which is as greatly appreciated as Stephen's. Best to both of you.

[benellis58]

I was very much looking forward to reading the expected comments from Shyams but was surprised and saddened to see that he had not kept his promise to repeat his message. Oh well, despite my shock and disappointment, I suppose that once I'm here I might as well point out that the GIB robots continue to play very poorly.