MOSCITO BYTE by GIB

GIB is an abbreviation for Ginsberg Intelligent Bridgeplayer, which is a computer software program designed to play bridge as a robot-style bride player. The following web page presents the information contained in that software program. By clicking on GIB, the bridge student will be linked to the Home Page of Mr. Matthew L. Ginsberg developer of the software. Below is a description of this bridge information coded into the software language of the program. This information is dated around 1998-2000.

GIB Moscito FAQ

Is GIB playing Moscito because we think its bidding is weak using standard methods? Hardly. As far as we can tell, GIB 3 is a substantially stronger bidder than GIB 2 was. It is still nothing like expert level, however; bidding is hard.

We're using Moscito in Bermuda because our fundamental goal from a skill point of view is to win the human world championships. We obviously can't guarantee what will happen in Bermuda, but we would expect GIB to be a strong favorite independent of its system choice.

Will implementing Moscito make GIB a stronger bidder using standard methods? Yes, curiously enough. One of the principal differences between GIB 3 and GIB 2 is that GIB 3 has a wide set of "default" bidding rules, saying things like "bid 3NT if you have the values, no fit, and no unstopped suits to worry about." The improved accuracy of the Moscito definitions should help us understand and debug these default rules, leading to general improvements in GIB's overall bidding (whatever system it's playing).

Is disclosure an issue in Bermuda? Of course. We will be happy to provide other contestants with disclosure at whatever level they want -- including a copy of the bidding database itself, if need be!

The conditions of contest in Bermuda allow ACBL mid-chart conventions. The version of Moscito being played by GIB has been carefully designed to conform to that restriction.

Have we analyzed the performance of Moscito-GIB? Not yet; it's not ready. As soon as it is, we'll launch it on OKBridge.

Will the Moscito database be available to GIB customers? Of course. We will implement Moscito as a system choice, and the database itself will be available as well. Distributing the database will probably happen around the same time we launch on OKBridge (around the end of the year). Making Moscito a system choice will involve a little bit of modification to the Java code and will take longer.

GIB's Moscito differs from the common versions in Australia. How was it constructed? GIB's Moscito is a combination of ideas from the original system, Moscito 2000, and a variety of suggestions from Bo-Yin Yang and David Morgan. The relay structure comes from Bo-Yin.
General Method: Moscito Byte (Major-Oriented Strong Club)

Two Over One: Artificial, or natural nonforcing, depending on sequence

Very Light: Openings (1st/2nd only)

Forcing Opening: 1

No Trump Opening Bids and Responses:
Opener Responder Meaning
1 NT 11-14 HCPs in 1st/2nd seat and 13-16 HCPs in 3rd/4th seat
5-card Major common: No
System on: No
2 Stayman but does not promise 4-card Major suit
2 Transfer to Hearts but may be INV, only 4 Hearts
2 Transfer to Spades but may be INV, only 4 Spades
2 4-4 Majors or weak with Minors
2 NT Natural, invitational
3 Transfer to Diamonds, weak or 3-suited
3 Stopper ask
3 Natural, game-forcing
3 Natural, game-forcing
4 Transfer to Hearts
4 Transfer to Spades
4 Natural, to play
Smolen: No
Lebensohl: No
Negative Double: No
Other: Rubensohl (transfers in competition)
2 NT 0-10 HCPs (Club preempt or bad Diamond preempt
Minor suit responses: Pass or Correct
Major suit responses: Natural; forcing if below game
3 NT 0-10 HCPs (Minor suit preempt)
Minor suit responses: Pass or Correct
Major suit responses: Natural; to play
Strength of No Trump Rebids

North

 East South West
1 Pass 1 Pass
1 NT

This bidding sequence promises 14-17 high card points.

North

 East South West
1 Pass 1 Pass
1 NT

This bidding sequence promises 12-14 high card points.

Other No Trump rebids: artificial.

Major Suit Opening Bids:
1 : 4+ Hearts, 0-3 Spades, 8-15 HCPs (or 12-16 in 3rd or 4th Seat)
1 : 4+ Spades, 4+ Hearts, 8-15 HCPs, (or 11-16 in 3rd or 4th Seat)
Double Raise: Weak
After Overcall: Weak
Conventional Raises over 1 : All No Trump and Minor bids except 2 and 1 No Trump
Conventional Raises over 1 : 3 , 4
1 No Trump: Non-forcing
2 No Trump over 1 : 4+ Heart support; invitational or better; not mini-Splinter
2 No Trump over 1 : Transfer to 3 , either Clubs or mini-Splinter
3 No Trump over 1 : Game-forcing raise; Minor suit void
3 No Trump over 1 : To play; any strength
Drury: No
1 - 1 : Strong; artificial
1 - 2 : Unbalanced, constructive, artificial
1 - 2 : Invitational raise or game-forcing
1 - 2 : Heart sign-off or constructive Spade raise or invitational misfit
Major suit bids: Natural, non-forcing
Minor Suit Opening Bids:
1 : Usually 15+ HCPx (17+ in 3rd/4th seat), any shape
1 : 4+ Spades, 0-3 Heart, 8-15 HCPs (11-16 in 3rd/4th seat)
Double Raise: N/A
After Overcall: Rubensohl (transfers in competition)
Forcing Raise: N/A
Frequently bypass 4+ : Yes
1 No Trump over 1 : 8+ HCPs
Other responses to 1 : 1 : Usually 0-8 HCPs, any shape
1 //NT, 2 /: Artificial, 8+ HCPs, shape showing
2 /, 3 /: Natural, semi-positive
Others: Artificial semi-positives
Other responses to 1 : Drury: No
1 : Artificial, waiting
1 : Artificial, strong
1 NT: Constructive, 5-6 Hearts
2 : Constructive, 3+ Spades
2 NT, 3 //NT, 4 /: Artificial Spade raises
2 //, 3 /, 3 /: Natural, non-forcing.
Other Openings:
2 : 10-15 HCPs, 6+ Clubs or 4-5 Minors, no Major suit.
Responses: 2 is strong and artificial; others mostly natural.
2 : 10-15 HCPs, 6+ Diamonds or 5-4 Minors, no Major suit.
Responses: 2 is strong and artificial; 3 is any splinter raise; others mostly natural.
2 : 3-9 HCPs, natural, unsually 6+ Hearts.
Responses: 2 NT is strong aks; 2 is natural and non-forcing; 3 / are transfers; fit-showing jumps.
2 : 3-9 HCPs, natural, unsually 6+ Spades.
Responses: 2 NT is strong and artificial, 3 // are transfers; fit-showing.
Other Conventional Calls:
New Minor Forcing: No
Fourth Suit Forcing: No
Weak Jump Shifts: In and out of competition
Rubensohl: Transfers in competition
No negative, responsive, support or maximal doubles
Card-showing doubles
No Trump Overcalls:
Direct 15-18 HCPs, system on
Balancing 10-16 HCPs
Jump to 2 No Trump: 2 Lowest
Simple Overcall:
One Level: 8-16 HCPs; 5+ cards
New Suit: Non-forcing and constructive
Jump Raise: Weak
Jump Overcall: Weak
Opening Preempts: Light
Direct Cuebids
Michaels: over natural openings
Natural: over artificial openings
Defense versus No Trump:
2 : Hearts plus another
2 : Spades plus another
2 : Natural
2 : Natural
Double: Penalty
Higher Bids: 2 No Trump unusual, others are natural
Over Opponent's Takeout Double
New suit forcing at the one level only
Jump shift is weak
Redouble implies no fit
2 NT over Takeout Double of Major: Limit+
2 NT over Takeout Double of Minor: N/A
Versus Opening Preempts
Double is Takeout through 4
Lebensohl 2 No Trump response
Slam Conventions: Gerber, Roman Key Card Blackwood, DOPI
General Description of Moscito and Best Defenses

System design: Moscito was designed around the idea of getting into and out of the auction quickly, primarily in a major.

The opening bid structure reflects this:

15+ open 1 ; all other openings are generally 8-14 HCPs
Both Majors: open 1
Hearts only: open 1
Spades only: open 1
No Major, balanced: open 1 No Trump (11-14)
No Major, unbalanced: open longer Minor suit naturally at the two level

The basic idea is to determine quickly whether or not game values exist. If so, you explore for game or slam carefully. If not, you find a 7+ card major suit fit and sign off as quickly as possible.

The system is designed to maximize the pressure on the opponents.

Suggested Defense: In making the following suggestions, I have tried to cater to the fact that implementing new bidding systems is difficult, and have therefore tried to make suggestions that will allow people to leverage their existing understanding to the maximum extent possible.

Opening Bid Suggested Defense:

1 : treat as strong Club
1 - Double = Weak Takeout Double of 1 ; 1 = stronger Takeout Double of 1 . Other calls unchanged
1 : unchanged; probably make Takeout Double more aggressively than previously
1 : unchanged, although you might want to make Takeout Double guarantee both Minors
1 NT: treat as weak No Trump
2 : treat as Precision 2 opener, or as Weak Two
2 : treat as Weak Two
More sophisticated defenses are certainly possible, especially to 1 .  But remember that this is not a FERT system: 1 is not a random catchall. It is a very specific hand - 8-14 HCPs, Spades without Hearts. Its frequency as such is much lower than the 1 bid in a FERT system.

Other defensive remarks: The most important thing is to beef up competitive bidding generally. Playing against Moscito will result in far fewer uncontested auctions than when playing against Standard American.

Later bidding: Many of responder's initial actions are artificial. In most cases, the artificial bids are only made with strong hands, although there are some exceptions (e.g., 1 - 1 is a general waiting bid). I would suggest:

1. If responder's action is natural, treat it normally.
2. If responder's action is artificial, pretend that it did not happen. Double is Takeout of opener's known suit, other calls are natural.

Again, this is not the best defense possible, but has the advantage of relative simplicity.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.
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