SPECTRUM BRIDGE TUTOR --------------------- GENERAL ------- On each Spectrum Bridge Tutor, Beginners and Advanced, there is the Program Bridge, Cards (Bytes) plus 39 individual predelt hands. The first hand, number 1, is always loaded together with the Program Bridge and Cards. The other hands, numbered 2 to 40, are arranged sequentially on the tape and they are separated by about 5 seconds each. The Program Bridge and Cards (Bytes) must always be loaded first even if you do not want to start with hand 1. When Bridge and Cards have loaded you are asked if you want to load another hand. Unless selected otherwise, hands will automatically be loaded in sequence. When playing a hand the option exists to terminate that hand and select any other hand. Screen prompts make the whole procedure very easy. LOADING INSTRUCTIONS -------------------- To load Spectrum Bridge Tutor, enter:- LOAD "Bridge" press the ENTER key and start the tape. This loads the program Bridge and Hand 1. Stop the tape when instructed; there is about a 5 second gap between the end of one program and the start of the next. Hand 1 has now loaded and you can select to play either that hand, by pressing 'p', or to load another hand by entering 'l' (lower-case L). If you enter 'l' you will be prompted to enter the deal (hand) number that you want to load. This should be a number between 2 and 40. To Load a Hand in Sequence -------------------------- After playing the hand there is an explanitory text at the end of which are several options. One of these options is to load the next hand by entering 'p'. This same point can be reached during card play by entering 'end' which goes directly to the explanation, and then pressing ENTER two or three times to get the options. To Load a Hand Out of Sequence ------------------------------ From the card play any other hand can be loaded by entering 'load' and then, when prompted, entering the deal (hand) number that you want to load. Note, that a previous hand can only be loaded by rewinding the tape to a position before the start of that hand. eg, if you are playing hand 20 and want to load hand 6, rewind the tape to some point before the start of hand 6. ABOUT SPECTRUM BRIDGE TUTOR --------------------------- First it is important to realise that Spectrum Bridge Tutor is not a bridge playing program in the true sense. It is an interactive tutor comprised of a series of hands especially designed to illustrate particular aspects of bidding and card play. Because it is a Tutor only one bid, or card, ie, the correct one, can be made or played at each turn. This is not to say that another bid or card is incorrect but that it is not the recommended bid or card to lead through the aspect being illustrated. The 40 hands, on both the Beginners and Advanced tapes, are independent of each other and there are no part-game scores carried from one hand to another. The bidding system used is Acol, including a strong INT (16 to 18 points) opening at all times. The Blackwood and Stayman conventions are also used where appropriate. You are always South, and if dealer, you will open bidding. For bidding, the display indicates the dealer, gives a bidding chart, and shows your hand. For the card play the display shows your hand again at the bottom of the table and North's hand at the top. Each card, as it is played, is displayed on the table. The display also shows the deal (hand) number, the contract and the number of tricks taken by North/South and East/West and who won the last trick. At the end of card play an explanation is given of the bidding and card play. West and East hands are not shows in order to encourage you to picture the hands that they may hold from the evidence of your own and North's hand, any bids that they may have made and their play. After the explanation you have the following options: re-read the explanation; replay the hand; load the next hand. Playing Instructions -------------------- It is assumed that you have correctly loaded the Program Bridge and a hand and that you have selected play by entering 'p'. All entries are made in lower-case letters, and are completed by pressing the ENTER key. First the Bidding. A bridge hand is displayed below the bidding chart. This hand is yours and you are always South. The Acol bidding system is used, including a strong INT (16-18 points) opening. Blackwood and Stayman conventions are also used where appropriate. When it is your turn to bid the prompt 'Enter Bid' will be displayed. Bids are entered with two characters using the following code. The first character gives the value of the bid, eg 1, 2 etc. The second character gives the initial of the trump suit, ie 'h' for hearts, 'c' for clubs, 'd' for diamonds, 's' for spades or 'n' for no trumps, 'no' for pass, 'db' for double and 'rb' for redouble. Examples, a bid of one no trumps would be - "1n" ; a bid of two spades would be entered - "2s". A bid is completed by pressing the ENTER key. If you (South) are the dealer, then you will open the bidding, but in all cases you are prompted when to bid. As explained earlier, your bid will only be accepted if it corresponds to the programmed bid. If it does not then the 'Enter bid' prompt will remain on the screen and you must try another bid until you select the correct bid. If you require assistance enter 'bid' to get the remaining bid. The auction continues until there are 3 consecutive no bids. Play of the hands now follows. Since you (South) will always play the contract, West always make the opening lead, dummy hand (North) is revealed and it will be up to you to play from dummy. Cards are entered, like a bid, using a two character input. The 'Enter card' prompt informs you when to play. The code for playing a card is as follows. The first character represents the value of the card, these are numbers 2 to 9, 't' for ten, 'j' for jack, 'q' for queen, 'k' for king and 'a' for ace. The card suit is the same as in the bidding, 'h' for hearts, 'c' for clubs, 'd' for diamonds and 's' for spades. Examples: to play the ten of clubs enter "tc"; to enter the three of spades enter "3s"; to enter the ace of diamonds enter "ad". Remember to press the ENTER key. If the card you enter is accepted it will appear on the 'card table'. If it does not match the correct card then it will not be accepted and the 'Enter card' prompt will remain on the screen. You must continue to enter a card until the correct one is found and accepted. A help feature has not been included for the card player because there are relatively few cards from which to select, and to encourage you to work out the best play. Finally, after the card play, there is an explanation of the particular aspect(s) of the bidding and play that the hand was designed to illustrate. After this explanation there are the following options: re-read the explanation - enter 'e'; replay the hand - enter 'r'; load the next hand - enter 'l'. During the card play you can terminate the game and:- go directly to the explanation by entering 'end' or load another hand by entering 'load' in which case you are requested to 'Enter deal number' followed by START THE TAPE. The hand numbers are displayed on the screen as they are read by the Spectrum but only the number selected will load. This feature can be used to fast search for a hand. CP SOFTWARE (C) 1983 inlay card and documentation M. Blythe (C) 1983 program Spectrum Bridge Tutor. The material on this tape and documentation, or any part thereof, shall not be copied or reproduced for use by any other person or organization, neither shall it be loaned nor hired, without prior permission in writing. While every effort has been made in the production of this program the publisher undertakes no responsibility for errors or liability for damage arising from its use. CP SOFTWARE, 17 Orchard Lane, Prestwood, Gt. Missenden, BUCKS, Engliand HP16 0NN.