BRIDGE THAT GAP AND MAKE THAT CONTRACT

BRIDGE PLAYER
Memory: 48K
Price: £8.95

BRIDGE TUTOR (ADVANCED)
Memory: 16K
Price: £5.95

If you are an avid bridge player you will know that it is often very difficult to find three other people to play what is perhaps the most exciting and complex of card games. Unless you go to classes it is also difficult to have the opportunity to learn more advanced play without upsetting expert partners or losing a little cash.

CP Software has come to the rescue with two programs designed to meet the problems - Bridge Player and Bridge Tutor - Advanced.

Both programs use the Acol bidding system and accept most conventional bids, including the Stayman and Blackwood conventions. Full cassette notes supplement the programs and give comprehensive instructions on the playing method.

In Bridge Player it is assumed that you have some idea of the basics of bridge playing. The computer will shuffle and deal a new random hand each time and you can then elect either to bid your hand in the normal way, following it with the game, or you can choose to see all four hands, decide the contract and declarer, and then play out the contract. When the play is completed, the score is displayed with details of vulnerability. If you did not make the contract, the program even plays the Dead March in sympathy. You can review and replay the hand if you wish, though a replayed hand will not count towards your score.

Each hand can be printed-out if you have a printer and general operating procedure is very simple, enabling you to get straight into the play. Remember, every hand is new, so you can go back to Bridge Player time after time.

Bridge Tutor - Advanced offers 40 pre-dealt hands for the more competent player. Each hand must be loaded separately after you have loaded the main program, so do not forget to follow the instructions on-screen - the prompts are very helpful.

The play is similar and will allow only the recommended card to be put down. After the hand has been played, there is a very full explanation of the bidding and play it was designed to illustrate. You may go direct to the explanation at any time or replay the hand.

Both programs are well-designed, with clear graphics using a green table. They are of a high quality and will be of great use to players who want to improve their game.

If you are a keen bridge player and have sometimes been stuck at making up a foursome, then I can recommend CP Software's 'Bridge Player' for the 48K Spectrum. Unlike some other bridge games software on the market which basically consist of bridge tutors with predetermined hands and play, Bridge Player allows you to actually bid for your contract, as well as play each hand as you see fit.

On loading the program, you are greeted by a very cleverly designed title, making use of the four suits. You are then asked to wait while the computer shuffles, deals and sorts the cards. Following that you are given the option of either playing the game properly, so that only your hand is revealed and the bidding for the contracting commences, or alternatively you may 'cheat' and see all four hands and then decide on the contract.

The play then begins with the lead from East or West, depending on who is declarer, after which dummy's hand goes down. You are always South.

As far as the bidding goes, the computer uses the standard ACOL system and also understands and accepts BLACKWOOD and STAYMAN conventions. It will not however, generate bids using these conventions, but will only respond to them.

Apart from the 'table' in the centre of the screen and declarer's and dummy's hands, the display shows the hand number, the dealer, whether any pair is vulnerable and the contract. The number of tricks won by each pair is shown at the bottom left of the screen, and a flashing indicator on the bottom right shows the winner of the last trick.

The faint hearted have the option of quitting if they find they have entered into an impossible contract. This is done by entering the word "next" instead of a card, and the Spectrum goes on to the next hand. If you play the wrong card when you should follow the suit being played, the Spectrum will forgive your "faux-pas" and revoke the trick without penalty.

When the hand has been played, the display changes to a score card and here a nice little touch has been added. If the contract has been defeated you will be commiserated with a few bars of "The Funeral March" but if you have won the rubber, the Spectrum will play some of Cliff Richard's "Congratulations". You will also be told how much you have won if each point is worth one pound!

The only criticism I have of the program is that you always have to play the contract as declarer and dummy and East/West are always the defenders. You may certainly, during the bidding stage, leave East/West in a contract but you will be informed that you and your partner have the majority of points between you. You will then be asked if you wish to rebid or play the next hand, without the computer having to play as declarer/dummy as well as your partner. It would improve the program immensely if the opposition could also play as declarers.