Computer bridge

After many years of little progress, at the end of thelike options to earn ACBL masterpoints, purchase
twentieth century computer bridge made big stridessoftware to improve Bridge skills, and earn money
forward. In 1996, the American Contract Bridge Leagueplaying Bridge. These are for fee services.
(ACBL) initiated official World ChampionshipsSome national contract bridge organizations now offer
Computer Bridge, to be held annually along with aonline bridge play to their members including the English
major bridge event. The first Computer BridgeBridge Union, the Dutch Bridge Union and the Australian
Championship took place in 1997 at the NorthBridge Federation. MSN and Yahoo! Games have
American Bridge Championships in Albuquerque, Newseveral online rubber bridge rooms. In 2001, World
Mexico.Bridge Federation has issued a special edition of the
Strong bridge playing programs such as Jack (Worldlawbook adapted for internet and other electronic
Champion computer bridge 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,forms of the game.
2006) and Wbridge5 (World Champion computerAdvantages of playing bridge online are:
bridge 2005) probably rank among the top fewFlexible choice of when to play.
thousand human pairs worldwide. A series of articlesChoice of opponent skill level.
published in 2005 and 2006 in the Dutch bridgePlayer rating system that attempts to measure ability
magazine IMP describes matches between Jack andwithout regard to the number of games played or the
seven top Dutch pairs. A total of 196 boards werenumber of years spent accumulating masterpoints
played. Overall, the program Jack lost, but with a smallFewer restrictions on which conventions can be used.
margin (359 versus 385 imps).Unauthorised information cannot be passsed by tone
There are several free and some subscription-basedof voice or body language.
servers available for playing bridge on the Internet.Detailed records may be kept, to help resolve
OKbridge [1] is the oldest of the still-running Internetcomplaints.
Bridge services; players of all standards, fromThe software prevents plays and calls that are
beginners to world champions may be found playingagainst the laws.
there. SWAN Games is a more recent competitor.Disadvantage are:
Bridge Base Online is the biggest online bridge club inA greatly reduced social element.
the world, and provides the largest variety of servicesIncreased opportunities to cheat, using IM technology
and games for free. There are also premium featuresPlayers dropping out after a few hands