Pros and cons of the new technology

Press, 24 July 1984, Page 16

Pros and cons of the new technology

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

For better or worse, computers are now part of our everyday life. Certainly, they play an important role in organised bridge. At their best when processing large quantities of figures, they have proved invaluable to many New Zealand bridge clubs in scoring duplicate tournaments. In this, as in many other ways, the Christchurch Bridge Club led the way by being the first to buy its own mini-computer 10 years ago. The American Contract Bridge League realised in the mid-seventies that it had to computerise its master points records. Its decision to invest in a new computer led to a move to new headquarters and a massive outlay of money, but it now has a thoroughly professional system of keeping track of its members.

The New Zealand Contract Bridge Association was not far behind. Its master points records have

been'on a computer bureau for over three years, and it is now about to make the decision to buy its own machinery. Though the outlay will not be inconsiderable, the association feels its service to members will be improved and that it will be able to provide a greater range of benefits. The new technology has other uses. R. P. Kerr relied a gfeat deal on it to test and prove his Symmetric Relay bidding system, which has done much to lift our international players to the top rank in the world. On a slightly less elevated plane, there are bridge playing computers which will fill in for one, two or three players. Most of them are not very good, but one or two can hold their own against all but the best of humans. The problem is that in many deals there are so many variations and possibilities that it becomes all

but impossible to program the beast. The following deal, from “Bridge with the Blue Team,” is an illustration. South was the dealer, with only his side vulnerable:—

When Forquet, the author, opened the bidding on the South hand, he quickly reached four hearts:—

Pass West, with an uncomfortable choice, elected to lead the 10 of diamonds, covered by the queen and king. That gave the declarer nine tricks, five in hearts, two in diamonds, and the two black aces. If the opposing diamonds were divided three with West and three with East, the tenth would come from South’s long card in the sqit. But this was not to be.

There was a chance of ruffing the fourth round of diamonds in dummy, though this required very careful play. Nevertheless it offered the best chance, and this is how Forquet went about it. He allowed East to win the first trick with the diamond king, won the spade switch with dummy’s ace, cashed the king and ace of hearts then played off the jack and ace of diamonds.

Had the suit broken threethree he would now have been home. As it was he led

his last diamond. When West, the hand with only two diamonds, was also short in trumps the declarer was able to make the tenth trick by ruffing in dummy. Could a computer play the hand like that? Now let us see how the hand could have been defeated. It comes from a teams of four match, and when the deal was replayed with Forquet’s team-mates East-West, again the final contract was four hearts and West led the 10 of diamonds. Dummy played the queen, but East declined to cover with his king. The contract could no longer be made. The declarer continued with the ace and another diamond, East won with the king to lead a fourth round of the suit. West ruffed with the 9 of hearts forcing out North’s king of trumps. The defence now had to make a trick in hearts to go with one in clubs, one in spades and the king of diamonds. Incomparable though it may be in many ways, could a computer defend like that?

s. W. N. E. IV 14 24 No 24 No 24 No 3V No W All