Games Computing


Bridge

Publisher: Allrian
Machine: Commodore Vic 20

 
Published in Games Computing #13

Bridge (Allrian)

This is possibly the only card game of bridge on computer. First impressions given are of user friendliness allowing for possible colour chances of border, screen, and text. This is very useful for black and white televisions. After initial set ups you must enter a number to change the possible duplicating of any sets of card hands.

I eagerly waited six and a half minutes for the program to load for my first glimpse of Bridge. The program is designed for the player who has a knowledge of the game. According to the documentation the program responds properly to the 'Blackwood Sequence'. Who knows the Blackwood Sequence? If you know how to play Bridge then you can initialise the Blackwood sequence.

You control the players at the ends North and South. the idea is to lay a higher card than any of the others at East and West. The winner is the player or computer with the highest points at the end of the game. You can score extra points by getting tricks. If you have read this far and understand the game of Bridge then you can relay the same game with differents odds and with each player having the same hand at the previous round. (An easy way to cheat and win... hopefully). You can, of course, start a fresh game by entering a new number on which the computer can randomize upon.

The game could have been improved by letting the documentation include some basic rules of how to play this complicated card game and some definitions of facts such as a Rubber, or why you should Double - and, what does this involve.

The game is only recommended for purchase if you and a friend want to play Bridge on your own. Not a game for the trigger happy.