[{"TitleName":"Bridge Player","Publisher":"CP Software","Author":"Richard Wheen","YearOfRelease":"1983","ZxDbId":"0000702","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 26, May 1984","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1984-04-19","Editor":"Bill Scolding","TotalPages":148,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Bill Scolding\r\nDeputy Editor: John Gilbert\r\nConsultant Editor: Mike Johnston\r\nManaging Production Editor: Harold Mayes MBE\r\nProgram Reviewer: June Mortimer\r\nIllustrator/Designer: Brian King\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: John Ross\r\nProduction Assistant: Dezi Epaminondou\r\nEditorial Assistant: Colette McDermott\r\nManaging Editor: Nigel Clark\r\nAssistant Managing Director: Barry Hazel\r\nManaging Director: Terry Cartwright\r\nChairman: Richard Hease\r\n\r\nSinclair User is published monthly by ECC Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\nTelephone\r\nAll departments\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nIf you would like to contribute to Sinclair User please send programs, articles or ideas for hardware projects to:\r\nSinclair User and Programs\r\nECC Publications\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nPrograms should be on cassette and articles should be typed. We cannot undertake to return them unless a stamped-addressed envelope is included.\r\n\r\nWe will pay £10 for the copyright of each program published and £50 per 1,000 words for each article used.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1984\r\nSinclair User\r\nISSN NO. 0262-5458\r\n\r\nPrinted and typeset by Cradley Print PLC, [redacted]\r\n\r\nDistributed by Spotlight Magazine Distribution Ltd, [redacted]"},"MainText":"BRIDGE THAT GAP AND MAKE THAT CONTRACT\r\n\r\nBRIDGE PLAYER\r\nMemory: 48K\r\nPrice: £8.95\r\n\r\nBRIDGE TUTOR (ADVANCED)\r\nMemory: 16K\r\nPrice: £5.95\r\n\r\nIf 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.\r\n\r\nCP Software has come to the rescue with two programs designed to meet the problems - Bridge Player and Bridge Tutor - Advanced.\r\n\r\nBoth 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.\r\n\r\nIn 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.\r\n\r\nEach 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.\r\n\r\nBridge 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.\r\n\r\nThe 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.\r\n\r\nBoth 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.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"35","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Gilbert Factor","Score":"8/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"ZX Computing Issue 13, Jun 1984","Price":"£1.95","ReleaseDate":"1984-05-31","Editor":"Ray Elder","TotalPages":156,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Ray Elder\r\nEditorial Assistant: Fiona Eldridge\r\nGroup Editor: Wendy J Palmer\r\nSales Executive: Penny Scoular\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Barry Bingham\r\nDivisional Advertising Manager: Beverley McNeill\r\nCopy Controller: Ann McDermott\r\nManaging Editor: Ron Harris\r\nChief Executive: T J Connell\r\n\r\nOrigination and design by MM Design & Print, [redacted]\r\nPublished by Argus Specialist Publications Ltd, [redacted]\r\n\r\nZX Computing is published bi-monthly on the fourth Friday of the month. Distributed by: Argus Press Sales & Distribution Ltd. [redacted]. Printed by: Garnett Print, Rotherham and London.\r\n\r\nThe contents of this publication including all articles, designs, plans, drawings and programs and all copyright and other intellectual property rights therein belong to Argus Specialist Publications Limited. All rights conferred by the Law of Copyright and other intellectual property rights and by virtue of international copyright conventions are specifically reserved to Argus Specialist Publications Limited and any reproduction requires the prior written consent of the Argus Specialist Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Argus Specialist Publications Limited 1984"},"MainText":"BRIDGE PLAYER\r\nCP Software\r\nS. Datoo\r\n\r\nIf 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.\r\n\r\nOn 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.\r\n\r\nThe 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.\r\n\r\nAs 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.\r\n\r\nApart 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.\r\n\r\nThe 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.\r\n\r\nWhen 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!\r\n\r\nThe 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.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"58","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"S. Datoo","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Personal Computer News Issue 46, Jan 1984","Price":"","ReleaseDate":"1984-02-02","Editor":"Cyndy Miles","TotalPages":90,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"CHARACTER SET\r\n\r\nEditorial\r\nEditor: Cyndy Miles\r\nDeputy Editor: Geof Wheelwright\r\nManaging Editor: Peter Worlock\r\nSub-Editors: Harriet Arnold, Leah Batham\r\nNews Editor: David Guest\r\nNews Writer: Ralph Bancroft\r\nHardware Editor: Ian Scales\r\nFeatures Editor: John Lettice\r\nSoftware Editor: Bryan Skinner\r\nPrograms Editor: Ken Garroch\r\nPeripherals Editor: Piers Letcher\r\nListings Editor: Wendie Pearson\r\nEditor's Assistant: Nickie Robinson\r\nArt Director: Jim Dansie\r\nArt Editor: David Robinson\r\nAssistant Art Editor: Floyd Sayers\r\nLayout Artist: Nigel Wingrove\r\nPublishing Manager: Mark Eisen\r\nAssistant Publishing Manager: Sue Clements\r\nPublishing Secretary: Jenny Dunne\r\n\r\nAdvertising\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Pat Dolan\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Sarion Gravelle\r\nAssistant Advertisement Manager: Mark Satchell\r\nSales Executives: Christian McCarthy, Marie-Therese Bolger, Laura Cade, Julia Dale, Paul Evans, Deborah Quinn\r\nProduction Manager: Eva Haggis\r\nMicroshop Production: Nikki Payne\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Karen Isaac\r\nSubscription Enquiries: Gill Stevens\r\nSubscription Address: [redacted]\r\nEditorial Address: [redacted]\r\nAdvertising Address: [redacted]\r\n\r\nPublished by VNU Business Publications, [redacted]\r\n© VNU 1983. No material maybe reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders.\r\nPhotoset by Quickset, [redacted]\r\nPrinted by Chase Web Offset, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by Seymour Press, [redacted]\r\nRegistered at the PO as a newspaper\r\n\r\nCover photo by John Price Studios\r\nMicropaedia cover by Monica Curtin"},"MainText":"NAME: Bridge Player\r\nSYSTEM: ZX Spectrum, 48K\r\nPRICE: £8.95\r\nPUBLISHER: CP Software, [redacted]\r\nFORMAT: Cassette\r\nOTHER VERSIONS: None\r\nOUTLETS: Mail order\r\n\r\nBRIDGING THE DIFFERENCE\r\n\r\nTwo bridge packs for Spectrum and Dragon are dealt by Ted Ball, but does either come up trumps?\r\n\r\nBridge is a new arrival on the home computer scene, probably because it is more difficult to program. CP Software's Bridge Player for the 48K Spectrum is the first program I have seen to actually play random bridge hands. The other bridge programs available are for teaching and allow you to play only predetermined hands.\r\n\r\nThe program deals random bridge hands. You bid the south hand while the program bids the other three hands, and at the end of the bidding you play the contract as declarer and the program plays the two defenders' hands.\r\n\r\nIN USE\r\n\r\nThe instructions for using the program and some information about the Acol bidding system used by the program are printed on the cassette insert. The program is very easy to use, with prompts appearing on the screen whenever necessary.\r\n\r\nThere is not a lot in the way of graphics, you get a full size display of your hand in the bidding but during the play the hands are laid out like a diagram in a book.\r\n\r\nThe program is accurate on opening bids and first round responses to opening bids, and gives the correct replies to the Stayman and Blackwood conventions. Apart from that it is very erratic, sometimes making the right bid but more often under or overbidding, calling a suit instead of no trumps, or vice versa. But, if your own bidding is steady you can get into a reasonable contract, although it will not always be the best.\r\n\r\nThe program is similarly erratic in its defence. The opening lead usually attacks your weak point, probably because it 'cheats' and looks at all four hands, and the program will cash enough top tricks to defeat the contract whenever it can. The rest of the defence is very poor, apparently worked out on a trick by trick basis rather than planned ahead. The program makes elementary mistakes like establishing a long suit but getting it blocked so it can't run the suit. The worst mistake I found, was when it ruffed with a card that could be overruffed by dummy although it had a trump higher than any in dummy.\r\n\r\nThe program is written entirely in Basic, but the only really slow part is when it shuffles, deals and sorts hands. In bidding and playing, the program responds in seconds.\r\n\r\nVERDICT\r\n\r\nBridge Player is good enough to give you an enjoyable game and shows a home computer can play the game. Although it is likely to be superseded by machine code programs it is a creditable first attempt.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"50","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Ted Ball","Score":"2","ScoreSuffix":"/5"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Features","Score":"2/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Documentation","Score":"2/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Performance","Score":"3/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Usability","Score":"4/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Reliability","Score":"4/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall Value","Score":"2/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]