Final series of advanced tips
Lets begin with a clear and unambiguous answer to the most frequently asked question about robot tournaments - Are you allowed to make "psyches" in this event? The answer is yes. Everyone gets the same robot. You may receive a good score when practicing blatant hand distortion. Or...you may not. But you will compete in a completely fair environment with equal opponents and partner robots.
Next tip - do not rely on robots to signal. Yes they sometimes signal. No, I can't reliably say when or explain the ins and outs of robot's arcane decisions. Therefore my best tip to you is just this - do not assume robots are signaling.
When in doubt, mouse over. This means you should always try to understand exactly what your bids are going to mean to the bots before you make them. Don't assume, just mouse over!
An event like this tests declarer ability the most. Sometimes the only secret to someone winning is...they are good. Players who consistently do well in any of the Best Hand, Human Declare games are not there because they found an exploit. Afterall, they play the same partners and opponents as anyone else (for a change!) These players are remarkable in any bridge event, so if you know someone like that, nominate them for the Predict & Win contest! I guess all these to say - hone your declaring technique, it is the most important bridge skill in the NABC Online.
On doubles - robot tend to shy away from penalty doubles of non-game contracts. However they are more confident about penalty doubles for game and higher contracts.
The only way to get comfortable with any new partner is to practice often and learn their naunces. My point here? I have attempted to help everyone get on fairly equal footing with a crash course on the robots. But it is up to each player to play and work out their own edge with the robots. Robots Dohaeris - High Valyrian for "All robots must serve." So make them serve you.
And if all else fails, stick them with the pointy end.
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