Bridge Apps tested out by Laura Cecilia Porro Digital Learning click link t’s over three years since our previous review of containing a series of pre-saved deals, including bridge apps available on electronic devices. The hands from international tournaments, so users can Ireview can still be read on page 16 of: play and compare their own score against the https://view.pagetiger.com/asorighwougbperg/fjtyu champions. Users can save the hands they come tyikti5e8. across during the play practice and amend them if In this issue, Laura Porro has revisited the subject they wish to. Additionally, they can create hands and focused on apps which help you learn bridge – from scratch, through the built-in hand editor. either from scratch, or to develop your technique Lastly, they can upload deals from an existing .pbn once you have mastered the basics. or .lin file and then load them to a table to play BJ BRIDGE BEGINNER ACOL them. GRAPHICS: 2/5 The card design and colour scheme for the text are not helpful due to the poor contrast created by the colour choices. The screen appears very busy, as it is crowded by too many buttons. The layout of the hand editor makes it difficult to use it smoothly. ACCESSIBILITY: 3.5/5 The app’s functions are available offline as well as online. The app is available on Android devices as well as iOS and Amazon devices. The app BJ Beginner Acol is a mobile-based application to navigation is quite intuitive, but the user experience play bridge against the software’s artificial is not fluid due to the crammed screen. intelligence (AI). With a Bluetooth connection, you WHAT YOU GET: 4/5 can also play with and/or against other users. All of the app’s functionalities are available for This app is for users who have an understanding free. Some additional functions can only be of the mechanics of bidding and play, and therefore accessed through the Pro version of the app, which it is not suitable for complete beginners. The app’s can be purchased for £3.99. For instance, the Pro main focus is on bidding and playing. Its teaching version allows users to customise their convention input consists of descriptions of the bids made by card and practise specific bidding conventions. the players (human and AI alike) and of the bids recommended by the AI. Additionally, the hints On the other hand, BJ Beginner Acol is based on provide inferences that can be made from bidding the EBED first year student course, with a limited and play, bidding recaps, a list of unseen cards number of conventions. during play and links to a glossary to explain the key The BJ app series includes two more apps, in words. addition to the one reviewed here and the Pro BJ Beginner Acol’s distinguishing feature is that it version just mentioned: BJ Bridge Free (2019) and offers hand database management functions: users BJ Bridge Standard American 2019. The former can create, edit, save and load their own hands. On moves the learner to Benji Acol and introduces download, the app comes with an existing database, conventions. 34 English Bridge August 2019 www.ebu.co.uk CUSTOMISABILITY: 4/5 BRIDGE BANDIT BJ Beginner Acol allows users to customise a Bridge Bandit is a number of features, such as the speed of card mobile-based application movement’s animation, the card selection mode with three main and the speed of progress to the next trick. Users functionalities: learn how can also choose their preferred background colour to play bridge; practise and the size of the cards. The most interesting against the app’s artificial customisation options for learners include: intelligence; and play stopping opponents from bidding to practise bridge against other users. uncontested auctions; displaying the number of The learning functionality HCP in one’s hand; and showing more or less consists of seven free extensive explanations/inferences. lessons, which come with the app when it is TEACHING LEVEL: 2/5 downloaded. These The app is intended for those who can already lessons cover the basic play and focuses on practice and revision. The concepts of bridge bidding commentary and hints only describe the bidding and play. Three more lessons are available bids that have been made and the bid for purchase on more advanced topics. recommended by the AI. In other words, users The practice mode has five available topics: cannot ask the software to describe what alternative minibridge; declarer play; defence; slams; and bids would mean. unusual hands (very unbalanced distributions). During play, the app provides comments which When users play against other players online, their make helpful inferences about the number of points scores are recorded and saved, and players are across the table and the cards which have not yet ranked on this basis. been played. However, some of the tips are GRAPHICS: 5/5 inaccurate: for instance, when defending, the app Bridge Bandit’s design is modern and clear. The does not always suggest the right card to play. graphics choices across the app, including cards, BRIDGE INTELLIGENCE: 2/5 text and symbols are pleasant and easy to read. During the auction, the AI’s recommendation for ACCESSIBILITY: 4/5 what the user should bid is sometimes inaccurate. Navigating the app is easy and intuitive. The The AI’s bidding is not refined and can land users in practice mode is available offline. Games against the wrong contract (see publisher’s remarks below). other players require an internet connection. Lessons are available to use offline after they have When it comes to play, the playing tips are rather been downloaded. The app has two versions: one confusing and the AI’s defensive play is below for Android and one for IOS. average. WHAT YOU GET: 4/5 Overall mark: 2.9 The functionalities to practise and play online App store rating: 4.5/5 against other users are available free of charge. Most Google Play rating 4/5 topics in the learning section are also free. Three BJ Beginner Acol’s most interesting feature is the more advanced topics come for a charge, ranging hand database. This is a useful functionality, between around £2 and £3 each. especially because it is available offline and on CUSTOMISABILITY: 3.5/5 mobile devices. This can be particularly helpful for The users’ options to customise Bridge Bandit’s teachers on the move. appearance and behaviour are limited to a choice of Publisher’s remarks: colour scheme (which includes the background). BJ Beginner Acol runs in tandem with the Bridge On the other hand, users have a much broader for All Foundation level book published by EBED, range of options to choose the bidding system and its systems reflect that. Using only simple amongst the app’s default (5-card major based), a natural bidding systems means that the best natural simple system (5-card majors based), 2/1, contract will not always be reached. Standard American, Acol, Precision and Polish. Cont/. www.ebu.co.uk August 2019 English Bridge 35 Within each system, users can further tweak specific BRIDGE BARON aspects, such as the carding methods, the artificial Bridge Baron is a intelligence’s style and conventions. mobile-based application TEACHING LEVEL: 3/5 to play bridge and The lessons consist of a recorded voice which practice. For the purposes takes users through the content. The screen of this article, the review automatically displays relevant content as the focuses on the app’s virtual teacher explains concepts and techniques. practice functionality The lessons are interactive and users can test their which helps users learn understanding by answering questions throughout and improve their game. each lesson. The spoken text is not displayed on the Players can choose to screen and is not available for download. The topics practise four specific available are limited to the basics and there is a topics: part scores, games, significant gap between the free topics (which cover slams, and no trumps. the basics) and the ones available for purchase Bridge Baron’s teaching (which are advanced). input consists of bidding In practice mode, descriptions of the bids’ tips, bidding reviews and play tips. The app assumes meanings (both users’ and robots’) are available a substantial level of pre-existing bridge knowledge during the auction. Once the auction is over it can and is thus not recommended for beginners. be reviewed but the bids’ meanings are not visible GRAPHICS: 3/5 anymore during play. The cards and text are generally clear. The bidding When defending, the app highlights the meaning box graphics are not helpful and makes the bids of one’s own and partner’s cards, through icons difficult to read. The overall layout could be more which appear on the screen, to represent whether elegant. the card played showed attitude or count. The idea is good, however the icon’s animation is too quick ACCESSIBILITY: 3/5 for learners to take its meaning in. Once the Bridge Baron is available for Android as well as animation has disappeared it cannot be retrieved. IOS devices. The practice functionality of the app is available offline, while the online games require an Overviews of the bidding systems available in the internet connection. app can be downloaded. This is a helpful and well The navigation of the app is not intuitive and the designed document. options to move across different parts of the app are BRIDGE INTELLIGENCE: 3/5 limited: for instance, players can leave a deal only at The artificial intelligence’s defence is rather the end of the auction.