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Bridge Software
For some reason finding bridge software on the internet is not easy - very few sites sell bridge software and those that do only seem to sell one or two of the top programs.
This page presently includes info on the following programs, I'm adding screenshots and more detailed comments as time allows... :
Bridge Baron v19 (v20 is now available)
Jack v4 (v5 is now available)
Micro-Bridge 12
Q-Plus Bridge 9.1
Wbridge5
Blue Chip Bridge
Ginsbergs Intelligent Bridge (GIB)
Shark Bridge
The rise of the Apple empire is slowly becoming evident in Bridge software too - with the following applications for the iPhone (and possibly the iPad) available
iBridge Baron
Bridge Island
Omar Sharif Bridge for the iPhone
iBid
As I am not an Apple-ite, you'll need to find info on these elsewhere... one place to start is the www.greatbridgelinks.com site.
The 2010 World Computer Bridge Championship took place in October 2010.
Jack beat Wbridge5 by 150-118 in the final this year, thanks to a 92-18 win on the last 16 boards, repeating last years final result.
Micro Bridge did not perform well this year, coming 2nd last in the first round.
Bridge Baron and Shark Bridge were the other Semi-Finalists.
You can see all the results here : http://ny-bridge.com/allevy/computerbridge/results2010.html#finals
This world computer bridge championship has been running since 1997.
The results to date are :
2010 winnner : Jack runner-up Wbridge5
2009 winnner : Jack runner-up Wbridge5
2008 winnner : Wbridge5 runner-up Jack
2007 winnner : Wbridge5 runner-up Bridge Baron
2006 winnner : Jack runner-up Micro-Bridge
2005 winnner : Wbridge5 runner-up Jack
2004 winnner : Jack runner-up Bridge Baron
2003 winnner : Jack runner-up Bridge Baron
2002 winnner : Jack runner-up Wbridge5
2001 winnner : Jack runner-up Micro-Bridge
2000 winnner : MeadowLark runner-up Q-Plus
1999 winnner : Ginsbergs runner-up Wbridge5
1998 winnner : Ginsbergs runner-up Q-Plus
1997 winnner : Bridge Baron runner-up Q-Plus
Although the computer results are not always a good guide to the programs performance against people it does indicate the approximate strength of each program.
This page presently includes info on the following programs, I'm adding screenshots and more detailed comments as time allows... :
Bridge Baron v19 (v20 is now available)
Jack v4 (v5 is now available)
Micro-Bridge 12
Q-Plus Bridge 9.1
Wbridge5
Blue Chip Bridge
Ginsbergs Intelligent Bridge (GIB)
Shark Bridge
The rise of the Apple empire is slowly becoming evident in Bridge software too - with the following applications for the iPhone (and possibly the iPad) available
iBridge Baron
Bridge Island
Omar Sharif Bridge for the iPhone
iBid
As I am not an Apple-ite, you'll need to find info on these elsewhere... one place to start is the www.greatbridgelinks.com site.
The 2010 World Computer Bridge Championship took place in October 2010.
Jack beat Wbridge5 by 150-118 in the final this year, thanks to a 92-18 win on the last 16 boards, repeating last years final result.
Micro Bridge did not perform well this year, coming 2nd last in the first round.
Bridge Baron and Shark Bridge were the other Semi-Finalists.
You can see all the results here : http://ny-bridge.com/allevy/computerbridge/results2010.html#finals
This world computer bridge championship has been running since 1997.
The results to date are :
2010 winnner : Jack runner-up Wbridge5
2009 winnner : Jack runner-up Wbridge5
2008 winnner : Wbridge5 runner-up Jack
2007 winnner : Wbridge5 runner-up Bridge Baron
2006 winnner : Jack runner-up Micro-Bridge
2005 winnner : Wbridge5 runner-up Jack
2004 winnner : Jack runner-up Bridge Baron
2003 winnner : Jack runner-up Bridge Baron
2002 winnner : Jack runner-up Wbridge5
2001 winnner : Jack runner-up Micro-Bridge
2000 winnner : MeadowLark runner-up Q-Plus
1999 winnner : Ginsbergs runner-up Wbridge5
1998 winnner : Ginsbergs runner-up Q-Plus
1997 winnner : Bridge Baron runner-up Q-Plus
Although the computer results are not always a good guide to the programs performance against people it does indicate the approximate strength of each program.
Bridge Baron 19
The easiest software to get hold of (bridgenz.co.nz sells this) and a very good program.
Runs on Windows PCs and also on Mac's.
Baron has a reasonable choice of in-built bidding systems (ACOL, Precision, SAYC, 2 over 1, and 5 card majors - choice of the American, French or German versions). You can not create your own system but you can signifcantly modify the built in systems by selecting your choice of bidding alternatives (such as the strengths of various opening bids, response bids, overcalls, jump overcalls etc and selecting from a range of conventions).
In version 18 the main introductory screen was quite basic and could do with an update - this may have happened in version 19. The main bidding and playing windows are fine though - with a simple and easy to navigate layout. One user friendly feature that is missing from some other software is that the playing windows can be re-sized.
The screenshot page has some images from my version 18 of the software.
Baron comes with lots of tournaments to play through, and hundreds of 'challenges' and quiz hands are built in. There is also an integrated on-line option but we haven't tried this.
The web site http://www.bridgebaron.com/ has more details
Runs on Windows PCs and also on Mac's.
Baron has a reasonable choice of in-built bidding systems (ACOL, Precision, SAYC, 2 over 1, and 5 card majors - choice of the American, French or German versions). You can not create your own system but you can signifcantly modify the built in systems by selecting your choice of bidding alternatives (such as the strengths of various opening bids, response bids, overcalls, jump overcalls etc and selecting from a range of conventions).
In version 18 the main introductory screen was quite basic and could do with an update - this may have happened in version 19. The main bidding and playing windows are fine though - with a simple and easy to navigate layout. One user friendly feature that is missing from some other software is that the playing windows can be re-sized.
The screenshot page has some images from my version 18 of the software.
Baron comes with lots of tournaments to play through, and hundreds of 'challenges' and quiz hands are built in. There is also an integrated on-line option but we haven't tried this.
The web site http://www.bridgebaron.com/ has more details
Jack 4
Also sold by bridgenz.co.nz this is another excellent program (Windows PCs only).
Developed by former world bridge champion Berry Westra. This program won this years computer world championships, and is also a multiple winner in previous years.
Jack has about 20 built in bidding conventions (including ACOL, SAYC, 2 over 1, 5 card Majors and Precision) and users can also save their own versions by modifying these systems with a choice of bid strengths, conventions, leads, signals etc. Jack has a very easy to use interface (see screenshots page) and also has the user-friendly feature of re-sizable playing windows.
Jack has various training features - such as bidding and playing hints - and some in-built tournaments (with free downloads of more tournament deals from the web site). Like most programs Jack can load and save deals into PBN files.
More details are on the web site at http://www.jackbridge.com/
Developed by former world bridge champion Berry Westra. This program won this years computer world championships, and is also a multiple winner in previous years.
Jack has about 20 built in bidding conventions (including ACOL, SAYC, 2 over 1, 5 card Majors and Precision) and users can also save their own versions by modifying these systems with a choice of bid strengths, conventions, leads, signals etc. Jack has a very easy to use interface (see screenshots page) and also has the user-friendly feature of re-sizable playing windows.
Jack has various training features - such as bidding and playing hints - and some in-built tournaments (with free downloads of more tournament deals from the web site). Like most programs Jack can load and save deals into PBN files.
More details are on the web site at http://www.jackbridge.com/
Micro-Bridge 12
Micro bridge is an excellent program developed in Japan (Windows PCs only).
The interface is clean and intuitive (see screenshots page) and setting up the system to play your own system (including leads, discards and signals) is about the easiest I've come across.
One particular feature of Micro-Bridge is the flexibility available for the fourteen different bidding systems that it can play - the bidding system is implemented with detailed bidding rules that you can modify (once you've understood the syntax). The screenshot page has one screen of this. You can even create your own bidding system and see how that works !
Micro-bridge can give hints during the play - but it doesn't have any detailed tutorial/instructional analysis of your bids or play.
The official web site for more details is : http://www.osk.3web.ne.jp/~mcbridge/
There is a free demo version of the latest release (the demo only has four bidding systems to choose from - but ACOL is included).
The interface is clean and intuitive (see screenshots page) and setting up the system to play your own system (including leads, discards and signals) is about the easiest I've come across.
One particular feature of Micro-Bridge is the flexibility available for the fourteen different bidding systems that it can play - the bidding system is implemented with detailed bidding rules that you can modify (once you've understood the syntax). The screenshot page has one screen of this. You can even create your own bidding system and see how that works !
Micro-bridge can give hints during the play - but it doesn't have any detailed tutorial/instructional analysis of your bids or play.
The official web site for more details is : http://www.osk.3web.ne.jp/~mcbridge/
There is a free demo version of the latest release (the demo only has four bidding systems to choose from - but ACOL is included).
Q-Plus Bridge 9.1
Another well established program, this one is developed in Germany (Windows PCs only).
Personally I think the user interface for Q-plus would benefit from an update (see screenshots page) - I find the spread-out cards display in particular takes a bit of getting used to - and there is no way to change this. Various other output windows also have quite an old 'windows 3.1' look to them.
This is just cosmetics and may just be a personal thing of course.
Q-plus is a strong program and has some interesting unique features (e.g. 'simulations').
It probably has the largest range of built in bidding systems (22 of them) and also allows the user to modify these or create their own. The bidding system detail that can be changed is more limited than with Micro-Bridge but is still quite extensive - see the screenshots page for more info.
There is a substantially complete version available as a free demo.
More details and the demo can be found at http://www.q-plus.com/engl/home_f.htm/
Personally I think the user interface for Q-plus would benefit from an update (see screenshots page) - I find the spread-out cards display in particular takes a bit of getting used to - and there is no way to change this. Various other output windows also have quite an old 'windows 3.1' look to them.
This is just cosmetics and may just be a personal thing of course.
Q-plus is a strong program and has some interesting unique features (e.g. 'simulations').
It probably has the largest range of built in bidding systems (22 of them) and also allows the user to modify these or create their own. The bidding system detail that can be changed is more limited than with Micro-Bridge but is still quite extensive - see the screenshots page for more info.
There is a substantially complete version available as a free demo.
More details and the demo can be found at http://www.q-plus.com/engl/home_f.htm/
Wbridge5
Wbridge5 is **FREE** which is great as it is presently one of the strongest programs (having won the world computer championship in 2007 and 2008). You can download it from http://www.wbridge5.com
However, possibly because it is French, it is a slightly unusual program.
It doesn't play ACOL, the options being SAYC, SEF (French system) or its own Wbridge5 system.
In Wbridge5 both NS and EW must play the same bidding system - which is quite limiting - and is a restriction that is not found in other software.
It does however play the cards very well and it makes for a good strength opponent in defence.
However, possibly because it is French, it is a slightly unusual program.
It doesn't play ACOL, the options being SAYC, SEF (French system) or its own Wbridge5 system.
In Wbridge5 both NS and EW must play the same bidding system - which is quite limiting - and is a restriction that is not found in other software.
It does however play the cards very well and it makes for a good strength opponent in defence.
Blue Chip Bridge
Blue Chip bridge is a less well known program from the UK. It plays ACOL and provides a free demo to download. It has a glowing recommendation from Zia Mahmood so it can't be too bad !
The user interface is easy to use (see screenshot page) and with the new Hindsight feature the program can automatically offer tips on better bids (or plays) after each hand - which should be a good learning tool.
Web site for info and the free demo is http://www.bluechipbridge.co.uk/
The user interface is easy to use (see screenshot page) and with the new Hindsight feature the program can automatically offer tips on better bids (or plays) after each hand - which should be a good learning tool.
Web site for info and the free demo is http://www.bluechipbridge.co.uk/
Ginsbergs Intelligent Bridge
This superb program seemed to have fallen into retirement - but it has been updated in January 2009 to version 6.2. The program gets very good reviews for its performance against people and it is often playing on-line at the BridgeBase site.
The program has a very good interface and is one of the few that are available for the Linux operating system. If you dont know what this is don't worry - it is available for Windows as well.
The web site http://www.gibware.com/ has details
The program has a very good interface and is one of the few that are available for the Linux operating system. If you dont know what this is don't worry - it is available for Windows as well.
The web site http://www.gibware.com/ has details
Shark Bridge
This is a Danish program that did well in the last two world championships.
However, Shark Bridge is the most elusive to find any info about - it may not even be available as a commercial product. If I find anything useful I'll add it later....
However, Shark Bridge is the most elusive to find any info about - it may not even be available as a commercial product. If I find anything useful I'll add it later....