[benellis58]

Great to see you back, Shyams! As always, I was gratified to see your excellent comment. Cheers!

[msheald]

It is nice to read snarkiness that is amusing rather than demeaning/attacking!

Mike

[benellis58]

In case anyone is curious about how the GIB robots have been performing recently, the answer is: as expected. In other words, they continue to be staggeringly, stupefyingly, and stupendously horrendous in all facets of the game.

[benellis58]

It is one of life's great mysteries that the robot games can consistently be quite enjoyable despite the overwhelmingly atrocious and laughably incompetent bidding and play of the GIB robots.

[pilowsky]

benellis58, on 2025-July-30, 15:30, said:

It is one of life's great mysteries that the robot games can consistently be quite enjoyable despite the overwhelmingly atrocious and laughably incompetent bidding and play of the GIB robots.

Another great mystery is the overwhelming urge of so many Bridge players to blame their partners for their own flaws.
If Shakespeare were alive today he'd set his tragedies in a Bridge club.
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a robot partner".

[benellis58]

That "other great mystery" existed long before the execrable GIB robots committed even their first atrocity. In fact, it existed long before the game of bridge...and long before Willy S. himself. Just substitute the word "humans" for your words "Bridge players" and look at the larger picture. BTW, if Willy were indeed alive today, I strongly doubt that he's be wasting his genius on a silly, irrelevant little pursuit such as bridge.

[shyams]

benellis58, on 2025-August-01, 18:57, said:

That "other great mystery" existed long before the execrable GIB robots committed even their first atrocity. In fact, it existed long before the game of bridge...and long before Willy S. himself. Just substitute the word "humans" for your words "Bridge players" and look at the larger picture. BTW, if Willy were indeed alive today, I strongly doubt that he's be wasting his genius on a silly, irrelevant little pursuit such as bridge.

LMAO

[pilowsky]

benellis58, on 2025-August-01, 18:57, said:

That "other great mystery" existed long before the execrable GIB robots committed even their first atrocity. In fact, it existed long before the game of bridge...and long before Willy S. himself. Just substitute the word "humans" for your words "Bridge players" and look at the larger picture. BTW, if Willy were indeed alive today, I strongly doubt that he's be wasting his genius on a silly, irrelevant little pursuit such as bridge.

Sharp as a button.

[shyams]

pilowsky, on 2025-August-01, 23:29, said:

Sharp as a button.

I thought your inital post with a choice quote from Shakespeare was awesome.

The benellis58 reply --- wherein he tried to riff off your wise post --- was tedious, insipid, and verbose.

[benellis58]

Thanks, as always, for your brilliant and creative input, shyams. Not only is it much appreciated, but it might well be your guarantee of eternal fame. Decades from now - or perhaps even centuries from now - it is quite likely that scholars everywhere will be publishing your deathless prose alongside that of Shakespeare, Churchill, and Oscar Wilde. Yes, shyams, you are THAT good! Though your genius is perhaps not currently as revered as it deserves, time will undoubtedly rectify that egregious insult. Remember that many brilliant individuals only received their just deserts years after they had left this mortal coil. Have faith, o great one!

[shyams]

benellis58, on 2025-August-02, 14:47, said:

Thanks, as always, for your brilliant and creative input, shyams. Not only is it much appreciated, but it might well be your guarantee of eternal fame. Decades from now - or perhaps even centuries from now - it is quite likely that scholars everywhere will be publishing your deathless prose alongside that of Shakespeare, Churchill, and Oscar Wilde. Yes, shyams, you are THAT good! Though your genius is perhaps not currently as revered as it deserves, time will undoubtedly rectify that egregious insult. Remember that many brilliant individuals only received their just deserts years after they had left this mortal coil. Have faith, o great one!

There is a fundamental difference between:
A. Replying to OR critiquing a fellow BBFer's POST(s), and
B. Evaluating OR describing a fellow BBFer

Seems like you don't understand this difference.

It's sad that you seem to get worked up so easily based on my subjective assessment of the diatribes you post on this thread even as you provide ZERO useful content.

If you want to treat BBF as a place where you come and puke your guts out, so be it. Don't expect others to go along OR not push back.

[benellis58]

Perhaps, shyams, the best reply would be to quote your own highly original words: "LMAO". Such effortlessly brilliant analysis and such oh-so-creative and unclichéd prose! I cannot speak for everyone, but I remain awed by the unmatched level of genius that you invariably display. I can only assume that your bridge expertise is on a par with your literary talents. I salute you, sir, and am disappointed only by your failure to honour your previous promise of posting a certain reminder every 7 to 10 days. Mind you, I suppose it's possible that even Shakespeare, Churchill, and Wilde may have occasionally fallen from grace in failing to adhere to commitments, so as always you are in excellent company. Cheers and best wishes!

[barmar]

Please stop the personal attacks or we'll shut down this thread. Criticize GIB all you want, it has no feelings to be hurt.

[smerriman]

 barmar, on 2025-August-04, 13:52, said:

Please stop the personal attacks or we'll shut down this thread.

Yes please. Oops, I mean, barmar is silly

[benellis58]

Yep, GIB is still really bad. Who would ever have guessed?

[benellis58]

Full marks to the GIB robots for consistency: Every day I expect their play to be wretched, and every day they meet my expectations.

[a_user]

Best thread ever.
Looking forward to daily moaning.

[benellis58]

I think "best thread ever" is an overstatement, but I heartily agree that it is an essential thread. Looking forward to your participation also. Best wishes!

[benellis58]

The GIB robots continue to play worse than even the worst human player I have ever encountered.

Which GIB robots in particular? Well, to be fair, ONLY North, West, and East, who are all hopelessly incompetent. Then again, there has never been a SOUTH robot in any game in which I have played, so I have never witnessed the play of a South GIB robot. My guess would be that they are as grossly incompetent as their North, West, and East brethren, but it would be unfair to criticize them without actually observing them in action.

[benellis58]

Weaknesses of the GIB robots:

System: Very bad
Definitions/Explanations: Very bad, often incorrect, sometimes non-existent
Judgment: Does it even exist? In any case, very bad
Leads: Very bad
Defending: Very bad

Strengths of the GIB robots:

They don't revoke
They don't lead out of turn