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Although I knew all about Cluedo from the traditional Christmas advertising, I've still not played the original board game version. Which means I loaded up the BBC cassette version with an open mind, although a disk version for review might have opened it ever further (but, alas there is no disk version for what is now often a disk-based machine! No wonder the 'tape to disk' people make a good living!

Being a newcomer to the game also meant that I hadn't a clue about the rules. So for the uninitiated the next two paragraphs are a summary of Cluedo's rules as supplied in the neat eight page handbook.

The object of the game is to solve by elimination and deduction the mysterious murder of Dr Black, the owner of the house - a floor plan or which makes up the playing area and is depicted on screen - whose body has been found at the foot of the stairs. To win, you have to identify the murderer, the weapon used and the room in which the murder was committed, all in one accusation.

Each player (human or computer) takes on the role of one of the six occupants of "Tudor Close". Some (or all) may be investigating the crime, including the guilty party. Watch out or you may accuse yourself! The combination of murderer, weapon and location is randomly selected and the clue cards removed from the pack - electronically of course.

At the start of the game, you are dealt a limited set of clues upon which you can base your initial investigations. On the throw of a dice, your character moves in straight lines around the board, going into rooms where suspects may be questioned, weapons examined and suggestions made about the possible murderous combination. Suggestions have to be made in the relevant room and the 'suggested' character is transferred automatically to that room.

All these actions constitute a player's turn and each is set in motion by pressing a function key. The computer-controlled players go through their moves automatically. The human players and their turn with a keypress. Both computer and human players are entered along with the speed setting at the beginning of the game. Choosing all computer players and high speed results in a fast and furious game and a successful solution within a minute or two!

There are two screen displays, the floor plan and the accusation screen. The three elements involved in the suggestion or accusation are displayed here and a dialogue with the players begins. It is at this stage that information is gleaned which can help you solve the crime. Both screens are attractively designed and the drawings impressed regular players of the game who saw them.

Playing the game with a group of people, most of whom knew the board game, brought home to me how difficult it is to convert from board to screen. In the main, Leisure Genius have conquered the problems but there is a stage when a "cover this part of the screen" message has to be issued to preserve the privacy of a player's information. Crowding around a keyboard is not as much fun as lounging around the board game, I am told. I found a two player game great fun and no problem.

The game really comes into its own when you play solo, against computer opponents. I've really enjoyed a weekend finding out about the board game and, though not playing it every night, will return to it at regular intervals.

It's a dead cert for Christmas afternoon!