Help
I am having trouble with Bridge Master. I am playing the intermediate level and on about half the hands, the EW hands are swapped during the play making it impossible to make most of the hands. They are correct when you look at the solution. Most recently A24 on the intermediate level. I can provide a detailed list if that is helpful.
I have to recommended my students to use this to practice their declarer play, but I am afraid it's just too confusing to be usable right now.
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Bridge Master swapping E/W hands
#2
- hooked
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Posted Yesterday, 10:39
It is definitely frustrating when that happens! I've made a mistake and I'm now disappointed that I can't make the "correct" play when I get a seond shot at it.
However, that is exactly how Bridge Master is designed. The software automatically shifts the cards to defeat you if you take a line that relies on luck rather than logic.The whole idea is that there is one 100% guaranteed winning line, and you have to find it. If you take an inferior line, the "cheating" defense is just the game's way of showing you that your line was incorrect.
You've got to keep at it.
However, that is exactly how Bridge Master is designed. The software automatically shifts the cards to defeat you if you take a line that relies on luck rather than logic.The whole idea is that there is one 100% guaranteed winning line, and you have to find it. If you take an inferior line, the "cheating" defense is just the game's way of showing you that your line was incorrect.
You've got to keep at it.
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
"You need to play a lot of stuff these days just to deal with the stuff your opponents are playing" DBurn
"You need to play a lot of stuff these days just to deal with the stuff your opponents are playing" DBurn
#3
- Secretary Bird
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Posted Yesterday, 11:00
Agreeing with Jilly.
Bridge Master is *not* "make these hands on the specific lie of the E-W cards"; it is "make the right play on these hands". Sometimes - especially at the lower levels - it's a 100% line; sometimes it's the 75-80% line ("unless the diamonds break 6-1 and they didn't bid") that handily beats the finesse.
I hear your argument all the time in post-mortems: "yeah, but my line works on that same lie" "but it wouldn't if..." "but it worked!" Those players don't learn, *because* it worked on that particular hand in that particular game. So the way Bridge Master teaches you to make the right play is to concoct the hands such that anything *but* the right play fails - on whichever lie of the cards is needed for it to fail.
In particular, almost all of the "two-way finesses for the Q" will fail - BOTH DIRECTIONS - because there is a line that either finds the Q (count the hand) - in which case that finesse will work; or doesn't need to (squeeze, endplay, or even "you have 9 tricks without the finesse").
It's a very useful teaching tool that doesn't really have an equivalent anywhere else. It's also incredibly soul-crushing at the "not quite there" level, wherever that is for you. Note: the original "level 5" hands were tested by Fred on pros; IIRC their first-try success rates were ~70% on average. There's a "not quite there" level for *everybody* (at least, us humans).
Bridge Master is *not* "make these hands on the specific lie of the E-W cards"; it is "make the right play on these hands". Sometimes - especially at the lower levels - it's a 100% line; sometimes it's the 75-80% line ("unless the diamonds break 6-1 and they didn't bid") that handily beats the finesse.
I hear your argument all the time in post-mortems: "yeah, but my line works on that same lie" "but it wouldn't if..." "but it worked!" Those players don't learn, *because* it worked on that particular hand in that particular game. So the way Bridge Master teaches you to make the right play is to concoct the hands such that anything *but* the right play fails - on whichever lie of the cards is needed for it to fail.
In particular, almost all of the "two-way finesses for the Q" will fail - BOTH DIRECTIONS - because there is a line that either finds the Q (count the hand) - in which case that finesse will work; or doesn't need to (squeeze, endplay, or even "you have 9 tricks without the finesse").
It's a very useful teaching tool that doesn't really have an equivalent anywhere else. It's also incredibly soul-crushing at the "not quite there" level, wherever that is for you. Note: the original "level 5" hands were tested by Fred on pros; IIRC their first-try success rates were ~70% on average. There's a "not quite there" level for *everybody* (at least, us humans).
"Which is harder to find - a paranormal field agent, or someone competent who likes talking on the phone?"
"...You may return to your desk." "Thank you." -- Serena vs. Mr. Arthur, "Paranormal Helpline", EGS:NP
"...You may return to your desk." "Thank you." -- Serena vs. Mr. Arthur, "Paranormal Helpline", EGS:NP
#4
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Posted Yesterday, 19:30
There is a "best line of play" on every one of the Bridge Master hands. If you select a line of play that isn't best, Bridge Master will usually adjust the defenders' hands so that your less than best line of play fails.
All of these hands are based on playing IMPs, or total points, so overtricks don't matter, just making the contract. On Intermediate A-24, the correct line of play is to win the club shift in dummy and lead a heart. When East doesn't cover, play the ♥A and continue trumps. If you finesse the trump, West could win and give East a club ruff, who then returns a diamond, and if West has ♦K, you are going down in 4♥.
When East wins the ♥K, and plays a diamond back, you have to play the ♦A and draw the last trump. You lose only a trump, ♠A, and ♦K.
In practice, some of these hands can't be made, even double dummy, with very bad breaks, or some placement of the defenders' cards. But the idea is that you select the best line of play based on the bidding, and the opening lead, etc. so that you can make the hand when it can be made.
All of these hands are based on playing IMPs, or total points, so overtricks don't matter, just making the contract. On Intermediate A-24, the correct line of play is to win the club shift in dummy and lead a heart. When East doesn't cover, play the ♥A and continue trumps. If you finesse the trump, West could win and give East a club ruff, who then returns a diamond, and if West has ♦K, you are going down in 4♥.
When East wins the ♥K, and plays a diamond back, you have to play the ♦A and draw the last trump. You lose only a trump, ♠A, and ♦K.
In practice, some of these hands can't be made, even double dummy, with very bad breaks, or some placement of the defenders' cards. But the idea is that you select the best line of play based on the bidding, and the opening lead, etc. so that you can make the hand when it can be made.
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