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From: stassen@spp2.UUCP (Chris Stassen)
Newsgroups: net.rec.bridge
Subject: Re: Bridge playing programs (Borland)
Message-ID: <856@spp2.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 27-Jan-86 19:41:25 EST
Article-I.D.: spp2.856
Posted: Mon Jan 27 19:41:25 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jan-86 05:48:03 EST
References: <834@spp2.UUCP>
Reply-To: stassen@spp2.UUCP (Chris Stassen)
Distribution: na
Organization: TRW, Redondo Beach  CA
Lines: 37


	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