If you fancy a game of Whist and can't find three
other people with the same inclinations then this
program is for you. The program plays all three
other hands, including your partner, and keeps a
running score of tricks and hands. The graphical
representation of the playing cars is as good as
any that I have seen and the program's standard of
card play seems quite reasonable (with the occasional
blunder to maintain one's faith in the superiority
of human intelligence!)
If you press ? before it's your turn to play the
program will advise you on a card to play. The same
key on any other player's move will induce him or
her to reveal all their cards - something which human
players may be reluctant to do. Another feature which
is useful for practice is that you can replay a hand
as often as you wish until you get it right.
A Whist program is rather simple compared with Bridge,
Chess or Go and this one fits into Mode 1 with the
program written entirely in Basic. Nevertheless, this
program provides some entertainment and useful
practice in the basics of card play.
1st September 1985
