When I was in college in the mid-1970's, the only form of computerized bridge play was on the nationwide PLATO network. After playing against humans at the local club, we would head for campus for late-night bridge on big monochrome terminals in the university PLATO lab.
If we were lucky enough to connect with three other humans on the network, the game could be fairly challenging. Often, though, at least one of the four players would be the computer (called the PLATO "freak"), which was programmed with a bare minimum of bridge knowledge. PLATO's primitive bidding was random after the first round of the auction, and its defense and declarer play sometimes defied logic. No matter what the layout, the PLATO freak always pulled trumps, always played second-hand low and third-hand high, etc.
Compared to the PLATO freaks, today's computer bridge "bots" are amazingly sophisticated. Modern programs can handle complex auctions, execute squeezes and read defensive signals, and they play and understand hundreds of conventions. Some of the features you'll find in today's bridge software packages include:
Does that mean we can look forward to development of a truly "expert" bridge program? Probably not in the near future, at least in respect to bidding skills.
The big difference between chess and bridge software is the amount of information that's available for the computer to process. Chess is a game of complete information -- the computer can always see the entire board and calculate millions of possible moves and subsequent positions. A computer bridge player, however, has 3/4 of the cards hidden from its view during the bidding, and it must decode a much more complex set of clues from its partner and the opponents during this critical phase of each deal. That requires both inductive and deductive reasoning, and processing input from three other players instead of just one.
Even the world's leading software developer believes that bridge programs cannot match the ability of software for chess and other games. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who began playing tournament bridge in 1998, said, "In terms of the game of bridge itself, computers can't play at any reasonable level. Even I can probably beat the best bridge software that exists today." Gates, a self-admitted "bridge addict", said bridge software can provide valuable instruction, but there's no imminent prospect of it being able to play at human levels.
The bridge computer's skills improve during the play, when it can see two hands instead of one, and bridge software developers have made great strides in their programs' card-play techniques. Ginsburg's Intelligent Bridge Player (GIB) program has demonstrated expert-level play as a declarer and defender, thanks to its ability to quickly analyze complex probabilities. Deep Finesse and other "double-dummy" analysis programs play virtually perfect bridge when all four hands are visible.
Probably the biggest challenge for bridge-software developers, though, is finding a way for the computer to deal with the human characteristics of the other three contestants. The best human bridge players have a "feel" for the personalities and thought processes of their partners and opponents. They can make adjustments in their strategy and technique to handle a wide range of changing conditions during the bidding and play of a hand. At this point, it seems all but impossible to program a computer to sense -- and perhaps replicate -- all the subtleties of the ways the human brain processes information.
Another big difference between chess and bridge programs is that much of the success of the chess software lies in its ability to exploit the technical errors made by its human opponent. The chess computer doesn't have to handle deceptive plays because they don't really exist in a game of complete information. Bridge, however, is rife with opportunities for deception -- both the intentional and unintentional varieties -- and a computer will need to think like a human to sense the situations where they might occur. Will a bridge software package ever be able to handle a psychic bid, decode a defender's falsecard, make allowances for a human's error in signaling or declarer play?
Still, there's no doubt that today's programs are improving, and many are worth owning for their teaching and entertainment value. If you're a beginner, bridge software can add a "multimedia" dimension to your learning experience. It will give you the chance to practice bidding and play -- with no time constraints, no limit to how often you can rebid and replay a hand, and no worry about disappointing a human partner. Many programs have comprehensive online lessons that you can use to teach yourself, even if you know absolutely nothing about bridge when you start.
More experienced players use the programs for practice, too, especially for declarer play. If you consider yourself an "advanced" player, though, you shouldn't expect the bid-and-play programs to make any dramatic improvements in your general bridge skills. If you buy one, it should be for fun and practice. They can be an entertaining diversion and, according to many, are a great way to reduce stress.
If you're a beginner, you'll benefit most from a program that has a high rating for bidding skill and includes good online tutorials and "hint" features. Experienced beginners and intermediate-level players may want to base their decision more heavily on the program's bidding and defensive skill rating, number of systems and conventions it plays, and the variety of deal options it offers. Advanced and expert players usually enjoy programs that offer the more sophisticated double-dummy solver features.
Most commercial software packages have web sites where you can get more details on each program's features and, in some cases, download a trial demo. You can find a listing of other review sites and short descriptions of available software packages in the Bridge Software Links on this site.
Solicit your friends' recommendations, too, and ask them to let you try the software they own. I've tried many of the programs, and my personal favorite is Bridge Baron. Remember, though, that no program is perfect for everyone. Each of the top-rated programs has unique strengths (and weaknesses), so base your choice on your personal preferences for features, interface and graphics.
If you're a beginner, start by downloading the Learn to Play Bridge programs (two volumes) from the American Contract Bridge League. It's a free tutorial that will teach you the basics and give you experience with the types of bidding and card-play interfaces you'll find in the bid-and-play packages.