Scores 7X47 MainChallenge


August 2003 Scores


Analyses by Richard Pavlicek

“The Game Is Afoot” play contest had 838 participants, and everyone scoring above average is listed here. Ties in the rankings are broken by the date and time of submission (earliest wins). At the end of this page is a “Bot’s Eye View,” which shows how various computer programs fared.

Top 100101201301Location RankingBot’s Eye View

Number of participants838
Number of locations114
Highest score60
Median score36
Lowest score17
Average score37.32

Top 100

RankScoreCCName123456
160BGZahary ZaharievCDCBBB
259INKamal RoyCDCBDB
359USilCharles BlairCDBBBB
459PLJulka KowalskaCDBBBB
559PLDarek KardasCDCBDB
659PLWojtek UrbanCDCBDB
759PLMarcin ZbrojaCDBBBB
859CApqNick KrnjevicCDBBBB
958FRPatrice PiganeauCECBDB
1058PLWojtek SiwiecCDBBDB
1158ZWLeif-Erik StabellADCBBB
1257CAonDale FreemanADBBBB
1357FIErkki MalkamakiADBBBB
1457UKenFrances HindenADBBBB
1557NLJan TesselaarADBBBB
1657PLJacek MarciniakADCBDB
1757PLJacek MasiarekADCBDB
1857UKenDouglas DunnADCBDB
1957LVKarlis RubinsAECBBB
2056CAonDavid GraingerCACEBB
2156UStxBill ErwinDDBBBB
2256INVenkatesh RamaratnamADBBDB
2356UKenJohn ReardonADBBDB
2456UKMarcus ChiloarnusADBBDB
2556UScaRob StevensADBBDB
2656PLPiotr IksDDCBDB
2756PLSlawek CwiekADBBDB
2856UKscNigel GuthrieAEBBBB
2956USinTim DeLaneyADBBDB
3056ITNicola FarinaDDBBBB
3156UKenToby KenneyAEBBBB
3255UKenGareth BirdsallAABBBB
3355UKMichael ErringtonADBBDA
3455CAabDaniel BertrandADBEBB
3555PLKazik DrozdzDDBBDB
3655PLAndrzej KrakowiakDACBBB
3755CAbcSandy McIlwainADCEDB
3855SECarsten KofoedADBBBD
3955CNWeidong YangADABBB
4054ITFranco GalleniAEBBDA
4154CAnsBryson CrowellAEBEBB
4254PTManuel PauloCECBBC
4354INGowniyan VaideeshwarAABBBA
4454INSivakumar SalemAABBBA
4553UScaRich PavlicekAEDBBB
4653ROCatalin LazarAEBEDB
4753ATMartin OgrisCEBCBB
4853CAbcConnie DelisleADDBDB
4952UStxDavid CochenerAECABA
5052UKenDavid KendrickAEBEDA
5152USlaTed MorrisADDEBB
5252AMArmen ZelenkoAEAEBB
5352INSridhar VenkatachariCECEEB
5452UStxLeah CohenFDABBB
5552DERainer HerrmannADBCBB
5652INNeelotpal SahaiADCBEA
5752USpaSteve WhiteADBCBB
5851UKwaJulian PottageAFCBDB
5951NOSjur BoeAEBBEB
6051UKenJulian WightwickAEBBEB
6151CDPaul InbonaAECCDB
6251EGAndrew de SosaAEBCBB
6351ESJavier CarboneroAECCDB
6451BEEric BaesADBBFB
6550FIJuuso LeikolaAEBCBA
6650UScaEugene HungADBCDA
6750UScaRichard AronsonAECEAA
6850NLFrank MulderAEBCDB
6950INSandeep ThakralADABBC
7050ISSteinarr GudmundssonFEDBBB
7150NLMike BeyerAABBBC
7250FIJussi TamminenAEBBFB
7350USnjJiang GuAEBEAB
7450INShyam SashitalDEBCBB
7550MXRobert PughAEDBDD
7650NOHans HolmeAACCDB
7750USflArthur HoffmanAEDEDB
7850INPratap NairAADBDA
7950SGRoddy KokAEDEDB
8050CZVlastimil LevBDCEBB
8150AUBill PowellAEBCDB
8249TRMurat YavuzAEBCBD
8349CAbcCorrie DeRooyAECEDC
8449BGOgnian SmilianovADDADB
8549EEAivar TihaneAABCDB
8649UScaRob MillarCEAEBC
8749TRUfuk CotukAEACBB
8848UScaSandy BarnesAEBDBB
8948UKenAndrew RobsonAEDCBB
9048ILAmiram MilletACCEDB
9148USmnJack RhatiganAEDCBB
9248ARRaul MartinoFEAEDB
9348UScoJess CohenAEBEEA
9448UKenDavid DaviesAABCDA
9548BGNadejda JordanovaAEDADB
9648USilWill EngelAEDCBB
9748INSapan DesaiCECCFB
9848USmaBrian LeeFDABAB
9947NLHans UijtingDFDBBB
10047NLWilliam ClaassenAEDCDB

Scores 7X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2003 Scores

Places 101-200

RankScoreCCName123456
10147USwaN. Scott CardellADACDD
10247USvaYi ZhongAEDCDB
10347NLArno EversdijkAFDBDB
10447UScaMartin HertzAEAEEB
10547UStxJack LacyAECCBC
10647UScaDan ScarolaAECBEC
10747USnjLeonard HelfgottAEDCDB
10847PTManuel OliveiraAEDBDC
10947IECiaran CoyneAEDCDB
11047PTJorge CruzeiroAAABFB
11147PTPedro MadeiraAACCAB
11247FRJean-Christophe ClementCFCCDA
11347BYDmitri ShabesAEDCBA
11447ATMichael PalitschDEAABD
11546USnyBarry RigalADADDB
11646IEKarel de RaeymaekerAEBCEB
11746UKscBen HutchAECDDD
11846USncJon RiceDEBDDB
11946USmdTed YingAEDEEB
12046LVIvars RubenisFADEDB
12146USmdMitch EdelmanCEADDA
12246NLJacco HopEECCDB
12346USctRay BazinetAEBCBC
12446UStxRichard HigginsAEDEEB
12546NLThijs VeugenAADADA
12646UKenJohn YoudellADCCBE
12746UScoJeanne AchzigerAEBBEC
12846ROGelu SerpoiAADCDB
12946NOMagnus SkaarAEAEFB
13046HRZoran BohacekAEAEDC
13146USnyBob FellerAEBCBC
13246ESFrancisco PlanaAEBCBC
13346SITomaz ButinaAEDEEB
13446PLJacek ZwolinskiAEAEDC
13546NOBjorn HelgebyCEDEED
13645USvaRick SalkovADACEB
13745CAonJared RileyBEDEBB
13845UScoDavid CapreraAEACAB
13945USflCecil LivingstonFCCEDB
14045USakDave JacksonFCCBDD
14145USpaJames GallagherDEABDE
14245USmaJohn ByersAEACAB
14345LVIldze StraumeAAAEDC
14445CAonDaniel KorbelAAADBB
14545CAonNaveed AtherEEAEDA
14645TWYe-Fon TsaiAEBCDC
14744CAmbTom ButterworthAEACBC
14844CHGeorge HashimotoAEACAA
14944USflEleanor WolfAEEEDD
15044AUTania GariepyEECEDC
15144ZAPetra MansellAEACBC
15244UKenStephen HurstCEACED
15344USilWalt SchaferADDCEB
15444UScaSteven HoughAEAECB
15544AUAnthea RowberryAFCEFB
15644USdcDaniel MorganFDDEEB
15744UScaMike KerrAABCDC
15844TRSavas KucukyavuzFBCCDB
15944UKscTim McKayAEACEB
16044USwiKjetil HildalADDCEB
16144USflBernice MazarBEAEBD
16244NLFrans BuijsenAFABAA
16344USmtBruce CookAEACEB
16444USmnAndy CaranicasAECDEB
16544UScaYumiko ReynoldsAEABEC
16644PTJulia RussoFEABED
16744HUBalazs KovacsAEDEBE
16844NLDale RudrumAEACEB
16944DKOle NormolleAEDEFA
17044EEMeelis TiitsonFDDADD
17144TRTamer CokgorAABCEA
17244TWWen-Lung HuangAABCDC
17344ITValter BoettiAEACBC
17444SERolf MattssonDACCFB
17543ITPierluigi SessoloAEDBEC
17643UKenAndrew DoyeAEECDB
17743ZABernard DondeAEAECA
17843UScaPhillip MacklerAEDBEC
17943PTRui RalhaCCDCDB
18043USnvCarol SimonFDDEFB
18143USPat RichAABEEC
18243PLRobert RutaAAAECB
18343SETorbjorn AxelssonAEDCEB
18443HKK.C. ChuAEACEA
18543DEClaus GuentherFEBCEB
18643FITaru SuppulaAEDCBC
18743USmdMollie LipmanBECEDC
18843USiaBob McCurdyAEDCEB
18943UKenCarlos DabeziesAEBDAA
19043ZASid IsmailAEDCEB
19143CZLudek AmbrozAFACDB
19243ISUlfar KristinssonEEBEEA
19343AUPhil KlineBAAEBD
19443FIMatti NiemiDEACAA
19543PTPaulino CorreaCEADEB
19643HKKongo KongAEACEA
19743BGTchavdar NikolovCEABCC
19843NLPhilip MokveldAEBDBC
19943ILMichael TillesAEBDBC
20042INShaishav ParikhAEACED

Scores 7X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2003 Scores

Places 201-300

RankScoreCCName123456
20142FRDaniel DelestreAEDFBD
20242USncFaye SattinFBAEDD
20342JPMark LaForgeAEACFA
20442CAnsBurnie HutchinsonFECFDD
20542CZCarol KuminsDFABDC
20642SEAnders AslundADCDDE
20742USilJudy EatonAEAEEC
20842USriMichael JoyceAEAEEC
20942UStxAlexander LabryAEAEEC
21042USkyMichael RieserFECEEC
21142UScaJay HelekarAFCCEB
21242CAbcJoyce MunichFEDEDC
21342HULaszlo SztrapkovicsAEDCDC
21442UKenAudrey KuehADCDCB
21542USmaCharles AltmanAEDCDC
21642UKJane MarvinFEBDDD
21742TWHung-Ching ChiuAFAEBC
21842CAonJordan CohenAEAEEC
21942UKenBrian PatmoreEECCEB
22042IDPika PiskantoFDDDDB
22142USflLarry MuroffAEAEEC
22242UKenDom GoodwinBEACDB
22342NOIngunn SkreFFCEEB
22442ILRafi AmadoAEAEEC
22542USidPaul AllmanFABAEA
22642PTRodrigo CunhaFADEEB
22742NZJohn LuoniAEBDDC
22842USazTom SchlangenDEDCEB
22942BGChavdar KochkovCEBDCB
23042TRBulent IyidoganAFAEEB
23142AUMerrelyn DalyFEDEDC
23242BRAntonio NeyAEDEAC
23341USmdJerrold MillerAEDEEC
23441UScaLen VishnevskyDCDBEB
23541NOMagnus GulbrandsenAFAEDC
23641SEJohnny JohanssonAEADEB
23741UKenNeil PrebbleAEBCEC
23841CAonGuy CoutancheAAAEEC
23941ARLuis ArgerichAEDECD
24041USvaRick BinghamAFBCEB
24141USgaLarry GiltmanAEDEEC
24241SEAdam FolkeAABCCA
24341UStxJohn StieberFECBCC
24441CAnbMike HartopEFAEDB
24541UScaStu GoodgoldEEBCEB
24641CAbcSamuel KriklerBECCBC
24741NZMichael JohnstoneEAAEEB
24841USvaMariana KoosEEAEDC
24941USwaJim WiitalaAFBCEB
25041TRUgur TasAAACED
25141PTJose Miguel Lopez GutierrezAEACCB
25241BEAlon AmselAEBCEC
25341UKenNigel MarlowAFDEEB
25441PTMiguel RamosEEAEEA
25541ZACarin VerburgEEAEEA
25641UScaRon LandgraffEEDEEB
25741UKenJon CookeBDDEEB
25841BRSylvia RegoAEAEFC
25941TWI-Don JienAABFBC
26040USilGeorge KlemicFABDAB
26140NLJan de KleijnFEBDEB
26240NLPaul TijssenBEAEDC
26340AUChris MillsAFDEDC
26440FRSamuel RozenbergAFDEEA
26540BMSven PrideAEACAC
26640CAonDavid ColbertAEBCFC
26740USazSteven PriceAEDDBC
26840ARJorge GueglioDEADEB
26940INNatarajan KrishnamoorthyAEADEA
27040USpaJohn PolicellaFEDBEC
27140HKTheo ChinAEDDEB
27240USflArnold KimmelAEADDC
27340ARIgnacio BraunAEADDC
27440CAnsPhilippe WestreichAADEEC
27540USohCarolyn AhlertBEBBEC
27640ILBrian ZietmanBEBCEB
27740CAonDavid CohenACDEEB
27840ROGeza Stanca-VassAEDDEB
27940NLYvonne KagerAEFBDE
28040AUNick FahrerAEAAEC
28140FRGerard MarotAEADFB
28240ROVali EnacheACDEEB
28340USnyDennis KayeAEAAEC
28440USflEleanor GarberFCCCDD
28540FRAlbert OhanaADCCCC
28640PTJose GuedesACAEDC
28740CAbcRon DixonACBECB
28840UKenCoral WigginsFEACDC
28940SIMilan RancBEAEDC
29040CAnsGerald MurphyBEADBB
29140UKVicky HanniganFECBFF
29240CAbcSheila DickieAECCEE
29340TRGuven DalkilicADACEC
29439USwaJosh SinnettAEECEB
29539PTJorge GoncalvesAADCCB
29639FIJoakim FabritiusBACCEA
29739NLPeter van der StapFEACED
29839ITPaolo PaolicchiAEACEC
29939INMaha SundarAFAECB
30039USmiGordon ParnesADBDEC

Scores 7X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2003 Scores

All Others Above Average

RankScoreCCName123456
30139UKenDavid ParkAEACEC
30239USpaMichael LauzonAEAECC
30339USnyKenneth HermanCFFBDC
30439CAonNick WongAEACEC
30539USohJim MyersAFABEC
30639EGSamer ElSheikhAEBDAC
30739UKenQuentin StephensFEAEEC
30839USmdPete JacksonAAAAEC
30939USflLinda GreenAEDCAC
31039USnjSteven ShulmanAEAECC
31139CAabDavid JohnsonFECCEC
31239AUCatherine RitterEEDCAB
31339LVMaris KarklinsAEACEC
31439USctArthur HautEEABEC
31539USflWilliam SlepinAEACEC
31639NZPieter VerhoekAEACEC
31739BEMarie-Irene HeyvaertAEAECC
31839USorEd FreemanAEACEC
31939IDSuatmodjo NaslanBEDEDC
32039CAnsElianor KennieAECDEC
32139UScaSrikant SridevanAEACEC
32239HKWing-Kai HonAFBBEE
32339TRDeniz YuretFEAEEC
32439UKenGabriel IpAEACEC
32539USilRichard MurdockAFBEEC
32639AUEd BarnesADACFC
32739GLSoren JustesenBEBCFB
32839USakJames CobisAFACEB
32939USnyJay LevyAEACEC
33039DEGerben DirksenAADEFC
33139USmaDean ChungAAAFBC
33239USinMichael SpurgeonAFABEC
33339USorJames WeiderAEDCAC
33439PLRoman KujaczynskiCCDDDA
33539USilJames HudsonAEEEDE
33639UKenRichard MorseFABCCB
33739CHBeda WettenschwilerBEBCEA
33839CApqGabriel GilbertDEFBCB
33939PLAndrzej MatuszewskiAFBCED
34038USnyGerald CohenAEDCEC
34138RSZoran RadojcicEECAEC
34238NLPeter van CasterenCFACDE
34338RORadu BardanDEAEFE
34438USazMax JohnsonAEDCEC
34538CAabRon PritchardAEDFDC
34638UKenStephen TurnerEECEEE
34738FRPhil GrandEFDBEB
34838CApqBert EcclesAEDCEC
34938SIEgon NovakFEDEEC
35038NLGerard VersluisDEDDFB
35138NLKees SchaafsmaAEBCCC
35238UStxSteve BruceBDDCBC
35338TRSitki SonmezerAEDCEC
35438UKenRoger MortonAEDCEC
35538SGJerome GanzAFDECB
35638UStxCharles DeppenFEBCEC
35738CHGeoff OstrinAEADCB
35838HUGyorgy OrmayAEDCEC
35938UScaGeorge FisherAEADCB
36038USmaMurat AzizogluEFCEED
36138UScaJack ScottAEDCEC
36238IERichard MullinsABAEEC
36338ESCarles EscobedoACBEEC
36438USazNed KohlerAFBCFD
36538IEJeroen LodewijksAEDCEC

Names with accented or non-English letters have been converted to an English representation with a 26-letter alphabet. Many people use erratic capitalization, so I determine proper case by algorithm; if this does not correctly display your name, please advise and I will add it to the exception list. If you wish to contact someone whose name you see listed (such as a lost friend) give me permission to send your address to that person, then he or she can contact you. I will not give out e-mail addresses (these are private and go nowhere from me).

Scores 7X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2003 Scores

Location Ranking

This table lists all the participating locations, ranked by the average score of their entries. The “Best” column shows the best finish (by rank) of any player in that location. Locations with less than five entries are ineligible for the top ranking and grouped separately.

RankAverageBestCCLocationEntries
151.944PLPoland16
247.2030ITItaly5
342.5019LVLatvia6
442.2028UKscScotland5
541.7813FIFinland9
641.40146TWTaiwan5
741.172INIndia23
841.1159NONorway9
941.0024UKUnited Kingdom8
1039.9315NLNetherlands28
1139.0063ESSpain5
1239.00133SISlovenia5
1338.793USilIllinois14
1438.779FRFrance13
1538.7214UKenEngland53
1638.4812CAonOntario21
1738.4638SESweden13
1838.361BGBulgaria11
1938.2993UScoColorado7
2038.2737CAbcBritish Columbia15
2138.14119USmdMaryland7
2237.75184HKHong Kong8
2337.7190ILIsrael7
2437.5073USnjNew Jersey12
2537.138CApqQuebec8
2637.0082TRTurkey21
2736.88102USvaVirginia8
2836.8721UStxTexas23
2936.75167HUHungary8
3036.6741CAnsNova Scotia9
3136.4042PTPortugal25
3236.40318USorOregon5
3336.2979SGSingapore7
3436.2025UScaCalifornia55
3536.1857USpaPennsylvania11
3636.14151ZASouth Africa7
3735.9246RORomania12
3835.86148CHSwitzerland7
3935.7534CAabAlberta8
4035.50118USncNorth Carolina8
4135.33109IEIreland6
4235.33275USohOhio6
4335.2481AUAustralia34
4435.0029USinIndiana7
4534.8685EEEstonia7
4634.80227NZNew Zealand10
4734.80232BRBrazil5
4834.67101USwaWashington9
4934.56115USnyNew York16
5034.50228USazArizona10
5134.33300USmiMichigan6
5234.2498USmaMassachusetts17
5334.1577USflFlorida34
5434.1164BEBelgium9
5533.5055DEGermany10
5633.10220IDIndonesia10
5731.71181USUnited States7

RankAverageBestCCLocationEntries
5858.0011ZWZimbabwe1
5952.0052AMArmenia1
6051.0061CDCongo (Dem Republic)1
6147.00113BYBelarus1
6246.5070ISIceland2
6345.0062EGEgypt2
6445.0080CZCzech Republic3
6542.5051USlaLouisiana2
6642.5075MXMexico2
6742.2592ARArgentina4
6842.00140USakAlaska2
6942.00208USriRhode Island1
7042.00225USidIdaho1
7141.00244CAnbNew Brunswick1
7240.50130HRCroatia2
7340.0047ATAustria4
7440.00156USdcWashington DC2
7540.00265BMBermuda1
7639.6739CNChina3
7739.00163USmtMontana2
7839.00327GLGreenland1
7938.00188USiaIowa2
8037.3358UKwaWales3
8137.0091USmnMinnesota4
8237.00180USnvNevada2
8337.00383UKniNorthern Ireland1
8436.75123USctConnecticut4
8536.67160USwiWisconsin3
8636.00203JPJapan2
8736.00428USokOklahoma1
8836.00432USnmNew Mexico1
8936.00433RURussia1
9035.67241USgaGeorgia3
9134.33210USkyKentucky3
9234.00147CAmbManitoba3
9334.00341RSSerbia2
9434.00534CLChile1
9534.00537UShiHawaii1
9633.75169DKDenmark4
9733.00431USalAlabama2
9833.00559USnhNew Hampshire1
9932.75540CACanada4
10032.50488MKMacedonia2
10132.00577USneNebraska2
10231.00614USscSouth Carolina3
10331.00633USmoMissouri1
10431.00639CAnfNewfoundland1
10530.00568CApePrince Edward Island2
10630.00679CAskSaskatchewan1
10730.00687VGVirgin Islands UK1
10830.00703SKSlovakia1
10929.00729COColombia1
11028.00700UStnTennessee2
11128.00748MTMalta1
11227.00773USarArkansas1
11322.00826LBLebanon1
11422.00827GRGreece1

Scores 7X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2003 Scores

Bot’s Eye View

I posed these play problems to some of the well-known bridge computer programs, and the results are tabulated below. (These results are not included in the “number of participants” shown above, nor in the calculation of the median or average score.) Most of the programs have different skill settings (thinking time), and this was set to the highest level within reason.* The scores and rankings, based on six specific problems, are not necessarily indicative of each program’s overall capability.

*I do not allow any setting that takes more than a minute to make a play. Time considerations are also used to break ties, i.e., if two bots have the same total score, the edge goes to the one that took less time. I conduct the tests on a 2.0 GHz CPU with 512 MB RAM, running Windows 98.

Congratulations to GIB, which returned to form with a narrow win over Blue Chip Bridge. The only other bot to top the average human score was Q-plus Bridge, but Jack was only a point back. All of the bots, however, had at least one score that would send them to the piranha tank — which is actually good news as they might electrocute the buggers before the people arrive. Even so, Blue Chip was spared when the piranhas threw it back — didn’t like fish and chips.

As usual, several lines of play went off my chart.* On Problem 1, Blue Chip Bridge immediately led a spade to the 10, which clearly deserves no more than the worst award of 2. On Problem 4, Bridge Buff won the second spade and cashed D K, D A, rendering the endplay impossible with hearts still blocked — but certainly better than an immediate club lead, so I gave it 3. On Problem 5, Micro Bridge tried to cash the C Q immediately, and Q-plus Bridge drew one trump then led the C Q to the ace — either of which is lucky to receive the same 2 points as Line C.

*If a bot’s line of play is unlisted, I substitute a listed line if the difference is trivial or negligible. If the difference is significant, I indicate it as Line G and score it appropriately, but the award cannot be lower than the worst listed line. This is only fair since the bot would have chosen something else if it were aware of the multiple-choice format.

August 2003 Rankings
RankScoreCCProgram version123456
143USGIB 6.1.3AFABDC
242UKBlue Chip Bridge 4.0.7GEAABD
338DEQ-plus Bridge 7.1DFABGD
437NLJack 2.0AFCCEC
535USBridge Baron 11.0FBAEEC
634CABridge Buff 8.0CEEGEC
733JPMicro Bridge 10.01ABAAGC
811USHAL 9000BCFFCF

Participants (alphabetical)
ProgramAuthor/Creator
Blue Chip BridgeIan Trackman and Mike Whittaker
Bridge BaronTom Throop and Stephen Smith
Bridge BuffDoug Bennion
GIBMatthew Ginsberg
HALSomeone with a warped mind
JackHans Kuijf
Micro BridgeTomio and Yumiko Uchida
Q-plus BridgeHans Leber

Scores 7X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2003 Scores

Credits to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) creator of Sherlock Holmes and other characters.
Photo is Basil Rathbone (1892-1967) and Nigel Bruce (1895-1953) as Holmes and Watson.
© 2003 Richard Pavlicek