Robots are available on BBO. When we have a half table, we normally put in a pair of robots. Players may also choose to play with a robot partner.
On this page I am trying to summarise the system played by the robots, to help when playing against them.
This is my understanding of their system as it was in February 2021. The robot system is programmed by BBO, so it may change with little notice, but the basic system is likely to remain similar.
| BBO Documentation |
- The BBO's description of the BBO robot system shown here.
- The BBO robot system convention card is shown here.
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| Robot Announcements |
BBO explains all calls made by Robots and their partners except Pass. These appear as a popup. Only one explanation is shown at a time and it is replaced when a newer explanation is given. To close the popup click on it, but avoid the blue "Explain" button, as that asks for an explanation again.
To review the explanations for previous calls, just click on the call (calls with explanations are coloured differently from those without).
Clicking of an unexplained call asks the bidder for an explanation. There will be no unexplained robot calls except Pass.
Robot explanations also list "Total Points" for which they add 3 for a void, 2 for a singleton and 1 for a doubleton, but 1 fewer for each short suit containing an honour.
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| 15-17 NT, 5-card Majors and 2/1 game forcing. |
Opening Bids:
- 1NT is 15-17 and may contain a 5-card major (only if 15 or 16).
- A 1-major opening always has at least 5 cards.
- A 1♦ opening has 4+♦ unless they have 4♠, 4♥, 3♦ & 2♣.
- A 1♣ opening may be only 3 cards.
- 2♣ is artificial with 22+ points
- 2♦/2♥/2♠ are weak. (Disciplined bidding with honours in the suit bid)
- 2NT balanced 20-21, may have a 5-card major.
Uncontested Responses:
- Opposite a 1-level suit opening
- A 2-level response of a lower-ranked suit ("2 over 1") is forcing to game. (The suits are ranked ♣-♦-♥-♠). (After interference, this would just be competitive).
- A 1NT response is forcing for one round (because there are many invitational hands which cannot bid 2 over 1).
- A jump shift to the 2-level (by an unpassed hand) shows one of various strong (17+) hands.
- Raising a Major opening:
- 2NT agrees the opened suit and is forcing to game.
- Splinters
- Opposite a 1NT opening:
- Non-promissary Stayman (2♣) and Transfers (♦/♥ to ♥/♠). A 2NT response after a stayman sequence is an invitational hand which may have no 4-card major).
- 2♠, 2NT, 3♣ are all conventional showing various things in the minors.
- Raising a minor opening:
- A jump raise of a minor is pre-emptive. A single raise is stronger.
Roman Keycard Blackwood
- Asking for key cards (the four aces and the king of the agreed trump suit).
- 5♣ shows 0 or 3 key cards
- 5♦ shows 1 or 4 key cards
- 5♥ shows 2 key cards but not the Queen of trumps.
- 5♠ shows 2 key cards and the Queen of trumps.
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| Playing with Robots |
If you are playing with a robot partner, when you move your mouse over a bid in the bidding box, there will be a popup of how the robot will understand it.
Read these explanations or you may find yourself in a game forcing auction when you did not want to!
Robots normally give standard attitude signals.
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