March 2024 - 6
SEAT
IN FIRST
MEMBER SERVICES
662-253-3191
Bot bidding stinks
One of the oldest bridge insults is the zinger, " I
know you learned to play yesterday, but what time
yesterday? " Such trash-talking is no longer allowed
in the age of Zero Tolerance, of course, but the line is
experiencing a resurgence in one part of the modern
game: robot bidding.
Bridge-playing programs - " bots " - are effective
PAUL LINXWILER
editor@acbl.org
in the area of card play. Even without the detestable
practice of " peeking, " in which robots can sometimes
be allowed to see all or part of their partners'
hands, the level of declarer and defensive play
exhibited by bots is reasonably good. But a frequent
topic of correspondence that I receive from members
involves complaints about robot bidding.
Because Bridge Base Online (BBO) currently dominates
the online play market, most of the dissatisfaction
I hear about is related to BBO robot games. The bidding inadequacies
of robots is not unique to BBO, of course, but with tens of thousands of people
playing on their site at any given time, BBO is often the target of ACBL member
ire. And the sheer number of participants makes BBO's ability to respond
to complaints on their site nearly impossible.
The typical scenario is this: Member X is playing in a robot game, the auction
takes a weird turn, Mr. X's robot partner takes a bad view of the situation,
and it bids something strange. The result is catastrophic, and Mr. X - enraged
at paying good money for this abuse - fires off a Letter to the Editor because
he already knows BBO doesn't care enough to respond themselves or is too
overwhelmed to do so.
I have lost track of the number of times this has happened. It would be easy
for me to reply to Mr. X that this is not my problem. After all, the ACBL and
BBO are different companies. Yes, we sanction games on their site, but how is
this different from a bad bid made by a human partner in a live club game? As
a robot bridge enthusiast, however, I have quite a bit of sympathy for Mr. X, as
I have been the victim of robot idiocy in the auction on numerous occasions. I
let Mr. X cry on my digital shoulder and share my own tales of robot woe in an
effort to console him. (And, no, dear readers, I do not wish to encourage this
behavior. I'm an editor, not a therapist.)
But the question always arises in these encounters: When are the companies
who provide bot play going to do something about the quality of robot
bidding? It's clear from the explanations that bots provide about the meanings
of their own calls that inconsistencies exist, and vagaries abound. Players who
are experienced using bots know to avoid certain bidding sequences in order
to prevent the bots from doing something disastrous. But is that bridge?
Unlike chess programs, which are superior to most of the top players in the
world, the programs that play bridge are still lacking in the language component
of our game: bidding. Customers want something better. 2
6 | Bridge Bulletin | March 2024
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EDITOR
Paul Linxwiler
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Chip Dombrowski
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Casanova
GRAPHIC DESIGN / LAYOUT
Liza Frisbie
Lisa Jackson
BRIDGE BULLETIN (ISSN 1089-6376) is published
monthly by the American Contract Bridge League,
Inc., 6575 Windchase Blvd., Horn Lake MS
38637-1523, 662-253-3100. $5 per copy, $49
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acbl.org
http://www.acbl.org
March 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2024
March 2024 - 1
March 2024 - 2
March 2024 - 3
March 2024 - 4
March 2024 - 5
March 2024 - 6
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2024_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2023_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2022_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2021_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2020_01a
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2019_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2018_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_05
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2017_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2016_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_05
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2015_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2014_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2013_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2012_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_07
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_06
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_05
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_04
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_03
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2011_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2010_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2010_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2010_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2010_09
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2009_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2009_10
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https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_10
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_09
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_08
https://www.nxtbook.com/acbl/bridgebulletin/2007_07
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