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You must pit your wits against the computer, in a deserate bid to get rid of all your cards. The winner scores points equal to the number of cards left in the loser's hand.

Each player is given 22 cards, the aces are used to start piles in which cards must be placed in suits in ascending order. The remaining four each form the start of piles in which cards must be placed in descending order with alternate colours.

You may twist the top card from your deck onto your discard pile, but you may only twist again in the same turn if you have moved the first "twisted card". As well as moving your own cards you can transfer cards from one pile to another to make space, and you can transfer a card to your opponents pile if it's in the same suit and of value immediately above or below the top card.

The computer moves quickly, although the card placing from stack to stack does. The beep signalling the movement of cards can get irritating, a different tone announces the end of the computer's move - so you can switch over to watch television while waiting! Another annoying feature is that you can type in your commands too quickly for the computer to understand.

To succeed - remembering to make all possible moves isn't enough - luck is essential! Nevertheless, "Chinese Patience" is an ideal choice if you enjoy trying your hand at cards.

S.J.E.