(If the program doesn't work, you need to download the following extra module that your computer needs: Extra module)
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
This is a small program, that helps you with the bidding in the game of bridge. You can use it as an extra program, when you play bridge online, or at home. I made this program, because it frustrated me that no one wanted to play with me online, because i didn't know the bidding rules.
How this program works, is that you enter the information about who starts the bidding, what cards you have in your hand, and the other players' bids. When it's your turn to bid, the program automatically tells you what bid you should make. It also explains why, so you can learn at the same time.
HOW TO USE THE PROGRAM
In the start of each new round, you enter the information in the boxes labeled step 1, step 2 and step 3.
Step 1: You enter your position, and the position of the starting bidder, as one of the directions North, East, South or West. If the directions aren't listed in the online-game, you can choose South as your position, and the starting bidder accordingly in relation to your seat.
Step 2: You enter your 13 cards. The program will automatically calculate how strong your hand is, if its balanced/unbalanced and so on. Entering the cards is the step that takes the most time. You can speed it up by not caring in which boxes the low cards (2-10) get put, as long as they get put in the right suit. The high cards however must be put in the right boxes.
Step 3: You enter the bids one by one, as they are given in the online-game. When the bidding reaches your turn, the program will automatically fill in the bid in the box. This is the bid you should reply with in the online-game.
There are also three buttons in the program:
Rules-button: This shows all the bidding-rules that the program uses to determine your bid. (Read more about bidding rules in the next section)
Reset-button: This clears all the controls, so that you can enter information anew.
Next-button: This clears all the controls, but leaves the position-information and advances the position of the starting bidder. This is a quick way to start entering information for the next round.
ABOUT THE BIDDING RULES
The play of bridge itself, is fairly easy: who ever bids the highest bid, tries to take so many sticks as he bid. You get a stick, if you have the highest card in the suit, or if you play a trump. The hard part of bridge, is that you're not allowed to bid in any way you want - you have to follow certain bidding rules, conventions, which are ways of communicating between you and your partner. And because there are so many bidding rules, bridge is probably the most complicated card game to learn in the world.
When I made this program, I had no idea of how the bidding rules worked. In order to make the program, I looked up the Standard American bridge rules on a homepage, which are the most common set of rules (most online games use these rules). I tried to extract the most basic ones, and inserted them into the program. There are some rules still missing in the program, mostly rare cases or very detailed rules, or parts that were left out on the homepage and that I couldn't understand, Also some of the rules may have errors in them. But hopefully the rules that do exist in the program will help you become at least a better bidder than you are today, and have your co-players accept you most of the times. When I get more time I will try to add more rules to the program.
The program will also let you learn the rules as you use it. For each bid the program recommends you to make, it also shows the rule that is associated with that bid and explains how the rule works.
OTHER INFO
I hope you can find some good use of this program. It is not perfect, but will hopefully make you
a better bidder in most situations.
Here is a homepage that lists online-sites that let you play bridge: online bridge sites
The online-site i use for playing bridge is games.yahoo.com
If you wanto contact me, for example to point out errors or help me with adding more rules,
my email is simon_wrang@hotmail.com
/Kind regards, Simon