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Jim Loy's Bridge Software Review - part II
© Copyright 1998, Jim Loy - Copy & distribute this all you
want
Note: These are programs that you can play against. The ACBL (http://www.acbl.org) lists services on the
Internet which allow you to play other human beings over the Internet. Some of
the programs here allow network/modem play. I have not tested these features.
If you are interested in this, contact the developers for details.
CONTENTS:
Part I
Part II
MAC VERSIONS:
The following programs come in Mac versions. I do not know if this list
is complete:
- Bridge Baron (Seems to be the only decently skilled program)
- Bridge Deluxe with Omar Sharif
- Bridge Master? (Capstone) (I'm not sure of this one)
- Bridge 8.0 (peeks at the cards)
- Perfect Partner (bugs)
I still have not tested the Mac versions of any program. See below for
addresses.
Go back to CONTENTS.
MY FAVORITES:
- GIB (Good card play, adequate bidding)
- Bridge Baron 8 (Good play)
- Micro Bridge 8 (Windows, good play)
- Q-plus Bridge (Acol & Precision & good play & many
conventions)
- Bridge Baron Lite (Inexpensive & adequate bidding)
- Meadowlark Bridge (Excellent bidding)
- Blue Chip Bridge (Excellent Acol bidding)
- Oxford Bridge 4 (Acol & modify conventions)
- Easy Bridge (Free, has potential)
Choose the features you like, as there is no perfect program.
Go back to CONTENTS.
ALTERNATE SOURCES:
- RGB archives - A number of the shareware programs are available from
the rgb (rec.games.bridge) FAQ archives:
ftp://rgb.anu.edu.au/pub/Bridge/FAQ/Programmes/
- Baron Barclay - A few of the most skillful programs are available
from Baron Barclay, 3600 Chamberlain Lane, Suite 230, Louisville, KY 40241
phone: 1-800-274-2221 http://www.iglou.com/baronbarclay/
email: bbarclay@iglou.com
- ACBL - also sells some of the most skillful programs: 2990 Airways
Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116-3847 phone: 1-800-264-2743
http://www.acbl.org/~acbl/ email:
acbl@compuserve.com
- Dynacomp - A number of older programs (including older version of
Bridge Baron) are available from Dynacomp, 178 Phillips Rd., Webster, NY 14580
phone: 1-800-828-6772 email:dynacomp@juno.com
- RomTech - Goto Bridge, MVP Bridge, and Winning Bridge are packaged on
their Galaxy of Games (Card Games & Solitaire) collection (about $13).
RomTech, Inc. 2000 Cabot Blvd., suite 110, Langhorne, PA 93401
http://www.romt.com
- Writewoman - Q-plus Bridge http://www.writewoman.com
Go back to CONTENTS.
FOR BEGINNERS:
People keep asking me what I recommend for beginners. Essentially, I
recommend the strongest programs, as I strongly believe that the poorer
programs, which make mysterious bids, and disgusting plays, will teach a
beginner bad habits. As I say above, there is no perfect program. Choose the
features and price that you want (even lots of conventions, which you can turn
off if you don't want them).
Go back to CONTENTS.
FREE PROGRAMS (I may have missed some):
- Goto Bridge - Shareware - Not bad
- Meadowlark Demo - 3 24-hand tournaments, before hands repeat
- MVP Bridge - Shareware - use for limited time
- Winning Bridge - Shareware - Bids Acol
- Let's Play Bridge Demo - 9 demo hands
- Bridge Assistant 3.1 - Shareware
- SmartBridge - Shareware
- Bridge For The Dummy - Shareware
- BridgeBrain - Shareware - Awkward to use
- Randy's Bridge - Weak & unfriendly
- TRBridge - Weak & unfriendly
There are some inexpensive ones, too:
- Goto Bridge - $10
- Bridge Baron Lite - $20
- Finesse Bridge - $19.95
- Bridge Olympiad - $10?
- Grand Slam Bridge II - $15?
- Hoyle Bridge - $12?
- Perfect Partner - $10?
- & others - weak & unfriendly
Go back to CONTENTS.
DEFENSIVE SIGNALS:
I've been searching for defensive signals:
- Bridge Baron signals. Trump echo and attitude.
- Bridge Mate signals. Attitude, suit preference, count. Several
options.
- Q-plus Bridge signals. Attitude, count. Several options.
- Meadowlark signals, some times. It gives count signals.
- Bridge Buff signals, some times?
- Micro Bridge signals. Attitude.
- Oxford Bridge gives count signals only (according to manual)?
- Perfect Partner may signal?
- Bridge Deluxe 2 with Omar Sharif signals attitude?
- Let's Play Bridge signals suit preference.
- Bridge Parlor signals, with several options.
- Finesse Bridge signals high/low with a doubleton.
- Endless Bridge signals first trick only (attitude or high from
doubleton)
They all may ignore your signals (refuse to lead your suit). None of the
other programs seems to signal, ever.
Go back to CONTENTS.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:
Peeking=Some programs actually look at your cards, when making their
decisions.
Closed room (and similar options)=The program rebids and replays the
hand, so you can compare your auction and cardplay.
Deal types=You can specify what kinds of hands you want dealt, for
practice (slam hands, Flannery hands, preempt hands...).
Network/modem=I have not tested these features. If you are interested in
this, contact the developers for details.
Go back to CONTENTS.
COMMENTS:
NOTE: I've spent over $2000 on these programs, so far.
NOTE: When counting conventions, I've ignored Blackwood and Stayman, as
these are required and not optional in many programs, and are sometimes not
even mentioned in the documentation. And I've ignored conventions that are not
optional. Sorry, but there are reasons for this.
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