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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 pre-determined 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 gien the option of either playing the game properly, so that only your hand is revealed and the bidding for the contracting commences, or alternatiely 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 hold 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.