Bridge Master: A Complete Learning Package for the Beginner at Bridge

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 9/10

John Gilbert 9/10

SOFTWARE SCENE While some software houses are taking the Spectrum to its limits and beyond others doggedly continue to churn out ever more diabolical pieces of programmed junk. John Gilbert present a personal pick of the bunch, and Chris Bourne take an irreverent look at the dwindling ZX-81 software scene. Their talents are combinedd in listing the Top Ten Turkeys of 1984. Let the reader be warned. SPECTRUM SOFTWARE A cynic may argue that development within the software market in 1984 was non-existent. The same type of game appeared as those which took the lead in 1983, the most popular being of the arcade variety. The programs were written in the same style and to please the same type of customers. That is only a superficial view, however, and if you look at the games market as a whole, dividing it up into sectors such as strategy, arcade and adventure, you will see that substantial and sophisticated changes have taken place. Despite what some pundits have said you will find that the world of computer games is still buzzing with life. BRIDGEMASTER £24.95 Serin Few traditional mind games packages were produced but the pick of the bunch has to be 3D Strategy, from Quicksilva, and Bridgemaster, from Bridgemaster, a company which has since wisely changed its name to Serin. Bridgemaster, for the 48K Spectrum, is nothing to do with the programs which claim to play full versions. It fulfils the worthier aim of teaching you how to play Bridge. The course is split into a series of lessons using the Acol system, based on hands dealt by the computer. It starts simply by giving the user a chance to see play in action and you can follow play on the screen with an audio cassette which provides background narrative. When the narrative is finished you have a chance to play the hands discussed in the lesson and the computer will inform you of any mistakes you make. There are 55 deals which you have to run through in that way, although the package makes each interesting in turn.

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 7/10

Richard Price 7/10

Memory: 16K Price: £12.95 Expert Bridgemaster combines a computer program with a parallel audio cassette commentary to introduce those who already know a certain amount about the game to more expert play. Terence Reese, bridge correspondent for The Observer and a player of international standing, acted as consultant in the preparation of the program. The tutor package uses 26 prepared deals which are loaded with the operating program and bases its play on the Acol bidding system. It is possible to play each hand without the voice-over and then return to it to analyse the hand. Not all the hands are full hands, as some are used to demonstrate more advanced techniques like squeeze-play, cue bids trump coups and the like. The computer will play the card automatically if required or alternatively you may play all the hands yourself. A display of all hands is possible at any time and the hands can be restarted or re-dealt, though in the original form. There is no bulk-in print-out option. There is a bidding screen and a play screen.

Read it at Sinclair User Magazine Online

Crash

Producer: Bridgemaster, 16K £24.95 If Backgammon is a difficult game to explain, then Bridge, the ultimate card game, is impossible. Bridgemaster is a marvellous beginners course in learning how to play the game. The package includes a computer tape, a commentary tape, very well read and which takes you through the early playing stages, and a book Begin Bridge with Reese, which is included for general reference. The demo 'automode' plays through a hand for you in combination with the commentary tape. This is very much a tutorial program - you can play through a hand where the program only allows you to play the card it expects, beeping if you play the wrong one. In this way you become accustomed to the Bridge 'conventions', and it shows you how to take tricks, bid and make contracts and the esoterica of scoring. Uses 55 different deals for teaching. If you want to become proficient in playing Bridge then this is an excellent program, making fine use of the computer and well worth the high price.

Read it at Crash - The Online Edition

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 9/10

A BRIDGE FOR THE NOVICE PLAYER Memory: 16K Price: £24.95 Bridgemaster, for the 48K Spectrum, is nothing to do with the programs which claim to play full versions. It fulfils the worthier aim of teaching the player how to play Bridge. The course is split into a series of lessons using the Acol system, based on hands dealt by the computer. It starts simply by giving the user a chance to see play in action and you can follow play on the screen with an audio cassette which provides background narrative. When the narrative is finished you have a chance to play the hands discussed in the lesson and the computer will inform you of any mistakes you make. There are 55 deals which you have to run though in that way, although the package makes each interesting in turn. Also included with the four tapes, two for software and two for commentary, is a short instruction book which is helpful in setting up the course and letting the user know about the standards used, and a book by expert Terence Reese. The book is not related to the software but it shows that an expert has faith in the package. As well as providing an easy introduction to the subject, Bridgemaster will make people who would not normally be interested in the subject into addicts. It is a product which will make you feel you want to gather some friends and get out the cards. It is a welcome change from programs which would have you play Bridge with them. Bridgemaster can be obtained from the usual computer outlets, including W H Smith and Boots.

Read it at Sinclair User Magazine Online

Crash

Producer: Bridgemaster, 16K £24.95 If Backgammon is a difficult game to explain, then Bridge, the ultimate card game, is impossible. Bridgemaster is a marvellous beginners course in learning how to play the game. The package includes a computer tape, a commentary tape, very well read and which takes you through the early playing stages, and a book Begin Bridge with Reese, which is included for general reference. The demo 'automode' plays through a hand for you in combination with the commentary tape. This is very much a tutorial program - you can play through a hand where the program only allows you to play the card it expects, beeping if you play the wrong one. In this way you become accustomed to the Bridge 'conventions', and it shows you how to take tricks, bid and make contracts and the esoterica of scoring. Uses 55 different deals for teaching. If you want to become proficient in playing Bridge then this is an excellent program, making fine use of the computer and well worth the high price.

ZX Computing

Documentation 5/5

Addictive Quality 5/5

Graphics 4/5

Programming Achievement 5/5

Lasting Appeal 4/5

Value 5/5

James Walsh

PRICE: £24.95 MEMORY REQUIRED: 16K Here we come to the only cassette which is not a game, but rather a tutor and opponent. Calling Bridge Master a cassette can hardly do it justice, rather it is a package containing two computer cassettes, two commentary cassettes, full instructions, and a book written by Terence Reese, a world authority on bridge. The idea of the package is that the commentary cassettes, which must be over three hours long all told, are played whilst following it on the computer. The computer itself acts as your partner and opponents, and cleverly it often will not allow you to play a poor card. The book itself is designed as background reading and for reference purposes. Overall one gets the impression that a great deal of work has been put into preparing this very professional package. As a complete novice to the game of bridge I was in the ideal situation to realise just how well orientated it is towards the beginner. The commentary is clear, concise and friendly - quite different from the traditional crash courses in languages available. And that is another point, it is not a crash course, it works steadily and in a logical manner through the important points of bridge. It is nice to be able to conclude this issue's reviews by recommending Bridge Master to the highest degree - absolutely excellent, and well worth the £24.95 (£19.95 for the ZX81).

Personal Computer News

Lasting Appeal 4/5

Playability 4/5

Use Of Machine 4/5

Value For Money 3/5

Ted Ball

NAME: Bridge Master SYSTEM: ZX Spectrum, 16K or 48K PRICE: £24.95 PUBLISHER: Bridgemaster, [redacted] FORMAT: Cassette LANGUAGE: Basic OTHER VERSIONS: ZX81 (versions for other computers will be available soon) OUTLETS: Mail order BRIDGE THE GAP What's your game? Whether galactic warfare or dicing with dragons, PCN keeps you in touch. Bridge is a very popular game, but there is a lot to learn before you can start to play, and even more to learn after you have started playing. To learn bridge properly you need good teaching and opportunities for regular practice, and these can be difficult to find. Bridge Master has been designed for the complete beginner, and uses the Spectrum to help with the teaching and to give you playing practice. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Bridge Master comes in a sturdy box which contains two computer tapes, two commentary tapes, an instruction booklet, and a Penguin paperback, Begin Bridge With Reese by Terence Reese. The instruction booklet explains how to load the computer tapes and use the commentary, and gives information about using the program. Full instructions and all of the bridge teaching are on the commentary tapes. The commentary is spoken clearly and at an even speed. The Terence Reese book is not used directly in the Bridge Master teaching, but is included for reference and supplementary reading. IN PLAY The commentary begins right at the beginning, explaining the mechanics of playing bridge, and then takes you on to the first practice deal on the computer tape. On the first deal the commentary explains how to use the program and takes you through the play of the cards step by step, illustrating the basic information on how to play bridge that was given in the first section of the commentary. The computer tapes contain between them 55 bridge deals which you use to practice playing bridge. On most of the hands the commentary gives you an introduction and some hints, and you are then expected to play the hand for yourself before continuing with the commentary, which goes on to explain the play of the hand in detail with emphasis on the new ideas introduced in the hand. There is an 'autoplay', option where the computer plays through the hand for you and you are expected to use this when following the explanatory part of the commentary. The program will only allow you to play each hand in one way and gives a beep if you try to play any card except the one it is programmed to accept. Often, there are several cards you could play without affecting the outcome of the hand, so when you get a beep you have to stop and think about whether you have actually made a mistake. However, this is a minor point and does not really affect the use of Bridge Master. It would probably be impractical to include the amount of data that would be needed to handle even minor Variations in the play. Bridge Master introduces the various features of the game in easy stages, beginning with playing the hand and taking tricks, then moving on to contracts and bidding, and later introducing the scoring. This is just the mechanics of the game, and most of the teaching is devoted to helping you to reach a good standard of play. Bridge Master concentrates on the important fundamentals.such as planning the play in order to make your contract, and keeping track of the cards that have been played. All of the basic strategies in the play of the cards are covered, and the 55 deals give you plenty of practice in the most important plays. The bidding is based on the widely used Acol system, but Acol, or any other bidding system, contains much more than can be covered in any introductory course. Bridge Master deals with the most important and most commonly used parts of the Acol system, which is fairly easy to learn as at this level it is almost entirely 'natural' bidding. The only completely artificial bidding mentioned is the widely used Blackwood convention. The program is very reliable and will stand up to any errors. The main menu, which you use to select the deal and playing option you want, will ignore anything except a valid choice, and as mentioned before the program gives a warning beep during the play of the cards if you type in anything except the card that is expected. VERDICT Bridge Master is an excellent introduction to bridge, and makes very good use of the computer in its teaching. If you follow the course faithfully you should soon reach a level where you can play with friends without disgracing yourself. All the fundamentals are dealt with thoroughly and many of the less elementary features of the game are introduced. The weakest part of Bridge Master is its treatment of defensive play. In all the practice deals you play the declarer's hand and although you learn something about defence from the explanation of the play in the commentary, you do not get any practice defending a hand.