THE 15^thANNUAL WORLD COMPUTER-BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIP

Veldhoven, The Netherlands

October 23-28, 2011

by Alvin Levy [1]

The 15^thannual World Computer-Bridge Championship (WCBC), hosted by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and the World Bridge Federation (WBF), was held in Veldhoven, The Netherlands, alongside the WBF’s 40^thWorld Team Championships. Since 1997, the WCBC has been held annually alongside an important ‘human’ bridge championship. For the complete history and details of previous championships, as well as many articles on robot play, go to www.computerbridge.com

Technical remarks

A bridge ‘table’ consists of a Bridge Monitor (BM) that manages the game, and four connecting computers that seat the robots. The BM manages and records the play. Play proceeds automatically, with pauses for occasional manual exchanges of information when explanations of bids are necessary. All the robots use identical computers. This year dual HP 6000 Pro 2.93GHz/4Gb desktop computers running under Windows 7. The timing of play was set at two minutes per pair per deal.

The format is team play, with each team consisting of four identical robots. The event starts with a 32-board round-robin scored on the International 30-Victory Point (VP) scale, with 15 VPs for a bye. The top four robot teams advance, with carryover, to the 64-board semifinal KO stage.

Competitors and round-robin results

Seven developers entered their robots in the six-day event. The final standings in the round robin were: Wbridge5 (developer Yves Costel, France) topped the field with 135 VPs; Jack, 2011 defender (Hans Kuijf, The Netherlands) was second with 127 VPs; Q-Plus Bridge (Hans Leber, Germany) was third with 118 VPs; and Shark Bridge (John Norris, Denmark) finished in the fourth and final qualifying position with 101 VPs. Out of the money was Micro Bridge (Tomio Uchida, Japan) with 95 VPs; Bridge Baron (Stephen Smith, USA) with 93 VPs; and RoboBridge (Job Scheffers, The Netherlands). With one round to go, the first two positions were assured (Wbridge5 and Jack), but it was a four way battle for the final two qualifying positions between Q-Plus Bridge with 93 VPs, Bridge Baron with 89 VPs, Micro Bridge with 79 VPs and Shark bridge with 76 VPs. Shark Bridge won the maximum 25 VPs against RoboBridge but could still end up fifth or sixth. If the Bridge Baron - Q-Plus Bridge match was relatively even or if Micro Bridge had a big win against Wbridge5, Shark Bridge would not qualify. With Q-Plus Bridge (finishing third) having a big win against Bridge Baron and Micro Bridge only winning narrowly against Wbridge5, Shark Bridge slipped into the final qualifying position.

This deal from the last round was an oddity.

Board 13
Dealer North
Both Vul.

♠ J 10 8 7 5 4
♥ 10 8
♦ A Q 5 3
♣ 4

♠ —
♥ A Q J 7
♦ K J 8 7
♣ J 10 9 8 6

	N
W		E
	S

♠ K Q 9 6 3 2
♥ 5 4
♦ 6 2
♣ A 7 5

♠ A
♥ K 9 6 3 2
♦ 10 9 4
♣ K Q 3 2

West	North	East	South
Wbridge5	Micro Bridge	Wbridge5	Micro Bridge
Bridge Baron	Q-Plus Bridge	Bridge Baron	Q-Plus Bridge
_	Pass	2♠	Double
(All Pass)
down 1, NS +200

Micro Bridge	Wbridge5	Micro Bridge	Wbridge5
Q-Plus Bridge	Bridge Baron	Q-Plus Bridge	Bridge Baron
_	2♠	Pass	Pass
Double	(All Pass)
Wbridge5 down 4	Micro Bridge +1100
Bridge Baron down 2	Q-Plus Bridge +500

Both Wbridge5 (against Micro Bridge) and Bridge Baron (against Q-Plus Bridge) played in 2♠ Dbl at both tables. Micro Bridge picking up 16 IMPs, but not enough to finish in the final qualifying spot. Q-Plus Bridge picked up 12 IMPs, contributing to its big win against Bridge Baron.

Semifinals

In two close semifinal matches, Q-Plus Bridge defeated Jack 130-128 and Shark Bridge defeated Wbridge5 172-165. For the first time in 11 years there would be a champion other than Jack or Wbridge5.

		carryover	1-16	17-32	33-48		49-64	Total
	Jack	9	37	23	46		13	128
	Q-Plus Bridge		44	32	29		25	130
		carryover	1-16	17-32	33-48	49-64			Total
Wbridge5		16	36	32	60	21			165
Shark Bridge			32	58	42	40			172

Both semifinal matches came down to the wire. With one board to play Jack led Q-Plus Bridge by 4 IMPs and Shark Bridge led Wbridge5 by 7 IMPs.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠ A 10 4
♥ 10 9 7 3
♦ K Q J
♣ 9 6 5

♠ Q 8 7 5 2
♥ K Q
♦ 7 6 4
♣ K 10 7

	N
W		E
	S

♠ J 6
♥ J 6 5 4 2
♦ A 10 5 2
♣ 8 4

♠ K 9 3
♥ A 8
♦ 9 8 3
♣ A Q J 3 2

West	North	East	South
Q-Plus Bridge	Jack	Q-Plus Bridge	Jack
Wbridge5	Shark Bridge	Wbridge5	Shark Bridge
Shark Bridge	Wbridge5	Shark Bridge	Wbridge5
Pass	Pass	Pass	1♣
Pass	1NT	(All Pass)

West	North	East	South
Jack	Q-Plus Bridge	Jack	Q-Plus Bridge
Pass	Pass	Pass	1NT
Pass	3NT	(All Pass)

Both Jack and Shark Bridge played the board 32 in 1NT after a 1♣ opening at both tables. Q-Plus Bridge and Wbridge5 needed to reach and make 3NT (Wbridge5 needed an overtrick to tie). Q-Plus Bridge valued the hand differently, opened 1NT (15-17) and easily reached 3NT for +430 and a 6 IMP pickup to overtake Jack. In the other match Wbridge5 opened 1♣ and played in 1NT. At that point Yves Costel, the developer of Wbridge5, congratulated John Norris and the Jack team, led by Hans Kuijf, congratulated Hans Leber.

Final

Good bidding judgment and good play netted Shark Bridge 8 IMPs on board 14.

Board 14
East Deals
None Vul

♠ A 10 9
♥ Q 9 8 4
♦ J 8
♣ 9 8 7 5

♠ Q J 8 7 6 5 3
♥ J 7 3
♦ Q 2
♣ 6

	N
W		E
	S

♠ 4
♥ 6 5
♦ A 9 6 3
♣ K Q J 4 3 2

♠ K 2
♥ A K 10 2
♦ K 10 7 5 4
♣ A 10

West	North	East	South
Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge
_	_	3♣	3NT
(All Pass)

Shark Bridge took the push to 3NT. After the ♣K lead, declarer won the ace, played three rounds of hearts and led the ♦J to endplay West. A spade or diamond return sets up the ninth trick...if declarer can cash it. All roads lead to nine tricks. After the second spade to the king, East's hand is known...6 clubs, 2 hearts, 1 spade, and therefore 4 diamonds. Declarer knows to finesse against East's diamond nine at trick 11.

At the other table...

West	North	East	South
Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge
_	_	3♣	Double
3♠	(All Pass)

3 ♠ by West, ♣ 9 lead, down 1

Three boards from the second quarter follow.

On board 18 a reasonable 6 spade contract was reached at both tables. Without a heart lead 6♠ easily makes.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul

♠ J 3
♥ 7
♦ A 10 4 3 2
♣ A K Q 10 7

♠ A 8 4
♥ Q J 9 8 5
♦ J 9 5
♣ 8 2

	N
W		E
	S

♠ 9 6
♥ K 10 6 3
♦ K 8 7 6
♣ J 4 3

♠ K Q 10 7 5 2
♥ A 4 2
♦ Q
♣ 9 6 5

West	North	East	South
Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge
		Pass	1♠
Pass	2♦	Pass	2♠
Pass	3♣	Pass	3♥
Pass	4♣	Pass	4♠
Pass	4NT	Pass	5♠
Pass	6♠	(All Pass)

opening lead, ♥Q

With a heart lead, an elimination play is needed. Declarer has to ruff two hearts in dummy and get back to his hand to pull trumps. Play proceeded with a heart to the ace; heart ruff; a club to the ace (cashing only one club); diamond ace; a diamond ruff; king of spades, queen of spades to West's ace, and a club return put declarer in dummy and promotes West's trump 8. On the lie of the cards declarer had to cash two clubs earlier, ‘eliminating' clubs as an exit from West. However, if the hand with the ace of trump has three clubs, it could give partner a club ruff. Also, declarer's play wins if the hand with the trump ace has a singleton club, while cashing two club winners would fail off the top if either opponent has a singleton club. Declarer took a reasonable line of play, but failed to make the contract.

Against Q-Plus Bridge, Shark Bridge overcalled 2♥ and doubled the final contract. This gave declarer a chance (?) to steal a trick.

West	North	East	South
Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge
		Pass	1 ♠
2 ♥	Dbl	3 ♥	3 ♠
Pass	4 NT	Pass	5 ♠
Pass	6 ♠	Pass	Pass
Double	(All Pass)

opening lead ♥Q

Placing the ♥K with East, and long trumps with West, a simulation gave declarer little chance after the heart lead. Even so, the attempt to steal a trick seems extreme...but robots will try anything that a simulation says might work. Declarer led the ♦Q at trick two and let it ride. When it lost Q-Plus Bridge was down two. Shark Bridge's aggressive bidding gained 9 IMPs.

Q-Plus Bridge outbid Shark Bridge on board 26.

Board 26
East Deals
Both Vul

♠ 9 7 5
♥ A J 6 3
♦ Q 8 7
♣ J 5 2

♠ Q 10 8
♥ Q 8 2
♦ A K J 9 6 2
♣ 3

	N
W		E
	S

♠ J 6 4 3 2
♥ K 10 5 4
♦ 10 5
♣ 9 7

♠ A K
♥ 9 7
♦ 4 3
♣ A K Q 10 8 6 4

West	North	East	South
Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge
_	_	Pass	2♣
2♦	Pass	Pass	3♣
Pass	3♦	Pass	4♣
Pass	4♥	Pass	5♣
(All Pass)

opening lead ♦A

Shark Bridge South opened 2♣, and North tried for slam rather than bidding 3NT at its second turn. After three rounds of diamonds, there was no place for an eleventh trick. Down one.

At the other table,

West	North	East	South
Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge
		Pass	1♣
1♦	1♥	Pass	2♦
Pass	3NT	(All Pass)

opening lead ♦10

Q-Plus Bridge easily found 3NT and make 11 tricks when the opening lead was ducked to declarer's queen.

On board 32, both sides reached a laydown slam.

Board 32
West Deals
E-W Vul

♠ Q 5 3 2
♥ J 10 6
♦ Q 8
♣ Q 9 8 2

♠ K J 7
♥ 7
♦ A J 10 7 6 5 4
♣ A 4

	N
W		E
	S

♠ 6
♥ A K Q 8
♦ K 9 2
♣ K J 7 5 3

♠ A 10 9 8 4
♥ 9 5 4 3 2
♦ 3
♣ 10 6

West	North	East	South
Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge
1♦	Pass	1♥	1♠
2♦	2♠	3♠	Pass
3NT	Pass	4♣	Pass
6♦	(All Pass)

opening lead ♠2, made 6, EW +1370

West	North	East	South
Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge	Shark Bridge	Q-Plus Bridge
1♦	Pass	2♣	Pass
2♦	Pass	4♦	Pass
4NT	Pass	5♥	Pass
6♦	(All Pass)

Opening lead ♥J, made 7, EW +1390

	Carryover	1-16	17-32	33-48	49-64	Total
Q-Plus Bridge	9	21	32	26	3	94
Shark Bridge		34	39	37	65	175

With a blowout fourth quarter, Shark Bridge triumphed over Q-Plus Bridge 175-94 to take the championship. Congratulations to John Norris and his creation, Shark Bridge.

The full play records of the semifinal and final matches can be found at www.computerbridge.com.

[1] 22 Hamlet Drive, Commack, NY, 11725, USA; allevy@aol.com