Bridge playing programs (updated)
Chris Stassen
The following are genuine bridge-playing programs/machines.
(Programs which are simply tutorials, and can only play a few preset
hands are not eligible for consideration).
"Bridge 4.0" [Artworx] - For IBM PC, APPLE ][, C-64 (~ $25.00)
The program "cheats" (uses knowledge of all four hands to
play and bid), and still doesn't play very well. It is a 600-line
BASIC program. One player against three computer players only,
standard bidding only, and it doesn't even do that well (6NT is
"asking for queens"!, and it will bid 8NT! in response if it has
all four). The user interface bites rocks.
"Bridge Baron" [Great Game Products] - IBM PC, APPLE ][, C-64 ($50.00)
The program plays honestly, but it has some trouble preserving
entries and discarding properly when the opponents run a long suit. It
is a 1200-line program, and won the first annual bidding-playing contest
for computer programs. One player against three computer players only,
standard bidding only: Gerber, Blackwood, strong 2-bids.
The user interface is pretty good, except that the random
number generator is re-seeded before each hand.
"Bridge Challenger" [Fidelity Electronics] - Self-contained ($100-$300)
The program plays honestly, and is probably the best bidding
program available. It allows Stayman, Jacoby, and a few other con-
ventions, which may be "turned off," if not desired. Any number of
human players can play against or with any number of computer players.
The only drawback is the slow play (each card must be "scanned" into
the machine when dealt to a computer player, or played by a human
player). It has a small amount of trouble on defense (too much of
a tendency to return partner's lead, even when it is obviously a
bad thing to do).
Next to be added to the list:
Borland's "game design workbench" comes with a bridge-playing
program (AND SOURCE!!). It's on my christmas list.....
-- Chris
Bell Labs is developing a Bridge-playing program (reportedly
over 30,000 lines of source have been written), but it lost to
"Bridge Baron" in the first annual computer bridge contest.
Neil Rhodes
And the folks at Barclay bridge supplies recommend:
"Cybron" [Pegasus Software] - For IBM PC ($125.00)
Claims to soon be availabe for Apple II and Macintosh.
(from brochure discussing the product)
...can play from zero to four positions at the table.
After dealing a random hand or one specified by the user,
cybron will bid and then play... cybron will play...without
cheating
Bidding conventions: select 4 or 5 card majors, strong or
weak 2 bids and cue bidding for each partnership. Also
set the level of "agressiveness" of bidding.
Special Deal types: Request any of the following hands:
random, game strength, slam, notrup, part-score, or opening
2 bid. Or request distribution for a particular contract.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience
with this program before I consider shelling out that kind of money.
--
Neil Rhodes
UC San Diego
neil@ucsd
{ucbvax,decvax}!sdcsvax!neil
William J. Laubenheimer
>over 30,000 lines of source have been written), but it lost to
>"Bridge Baron" in the first annual computer bridge contest.
>
Does anybody know who is involved in this? Do they have any reasonably
high-powered bridge talent in on the project? I would be interested in
communicating with anyone associated with the project.
Bill Laubenheimer
----------------------------------------UC-Berkeley Computer Science
...Killjoy went that-a-way---> ucbvax!wildbill
Chris Stassen
I got Borland's "Turbo Gameworks" for christmas, and I thought
I'd fill you in on the bridge-playing program.
"Turbo GameWorks" [Borland] - For IBM PC ($69.95)
The GameWorks is actually a package of sources for several
games, including a manual on general strategy, and lots of general-
purpose routines. To my knowledge, it is the first publicly distributed
bridge-playing program that includes source.
The program itself has its flaws (although you are free to
fix them...). "cheating" (peeking) is an option that may be turned
on or off, with a note that the computer plays much better if it
can look at all of the hands. It plays standard (a la Goren) bidding
only (but, again, you can change that). Conventions are easy to add.
The color display and user interface are far and away the
best that I've seen in a bridge-playing program. It doesn't make
many playing mistakes (it will even make safety plays and such when
necessary), even though the selection algorithm is amazingly simple.
Unfortunately, it is SLOW. (Its one drawback). It takes
about 45 seconds to select an opening lead, and up to 30 seconds
(depending on how many cards are left) to play from any hand.
Admittedly, that isn't much slower than a human player
would be. However, all other programs that I've seen and reviewed
give instant responses, and I get used to playing straightforward
hands about as fast as I can type in the cards. Besides, there are
times when humans don't pause (e.g. when playing the only card they
have of a particular suit), but the program always takes quite a while
to decide.
All in all, it's a good buy. (Source for Chess and Go-Moku
computer games is also included). Coming next: I'm saving for
the one that costs $150, and everyone recommends.
-- Chris