Scores 8X47 MainChallenge


August 2005 Scores


Analyses by Richard Pavlicek

“The Man Who Bid Too Much” play contest had 897 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 100101201301401Location RankingBot’s Eye View

Number of participants897
Number of locations113
Highest score60
Median score41
Lowest score20
Average score40.99

Top 100

[Scoring adjustment 9-11-05: Problem 3 Line C is increased from 6 to 9 due to an oversight. Anyone who chose this answer gained 3 points and moved up considerably in rank. Otherwise, your score is unchanged, though your rank may have dropped slightly.]

RankScoreCCName123456
160ESJordi SabateBCDDFD
260DERainer HerrmannBCDDFD
360NLPerry GrootBCDDFD
460UScaRob StevensBCDDFD
560UScaJim MundayBCDDFD
659ZWLeif-Erik StabellBCDDED
759NLThijs VeugenBCDDED
859USorJohn LuskyBCDDED
958UKenGareth BirdsallBDDDFD
1058CNXiongwen GuACDDFD
1158USohCraig SatersmoenBCADFD
1258USnyChris WillenkenBCDDBD
1358CAonPopolea ChitoiACDDFD
1458USinTim DeLaneyBCDDBD
1558NLDaniel de Lind van WijngaardenACDDFD
1658UKenJonathan MestelACDDFD
1758PLJulka KowalskaBCADFD
1858NLRinus BalkenendeACDDFD
1957CNWuping LuBCDDEB
2057CAbcMichael DimichBCBDFD
2157USilCharles BlairACDDED
2257USohJerry FinkBCBDFD
2357UKenJulian WightwickACDDED
2457USwaN. Scott CardellBCDDEB
2556CNNing LiuBDDDFB
2656USnvJoshua DonnACADFD
2756USmdBrad TheurerACDDFB
2856PLDarek KardasBCADBD
2956INSubhransu PatnaikACDDFB
3056PTManuel OliveiraACADFD
3156CAonDale FreemanBADDFD
3256NLJan TesselaarACDDFB
3356UStxBilly LeeperACDDFB
3456CNWeidong YangBCAFFD
3556SECarsten KofoedACADFD
3656CAabDaniel BertrandACDDFB
3755TRCengiz SekerACBDFD
3855AUBruce NeillBCDFEB
3955PTManuel PauloACCDBD
4055CNXiaoxin LuACDDEB
4155USilEugene DilleACCDBD
4255USohCarolyn AhlertBCBFFD
4354UScoDavid CapreraACADFB
4454SEIngemar AssarsjoACADFB
4554USmoShawn TateDCDDFD
4654USorBarry WhiteBCDAFB
4754CNWayne SzetoACADFB
4854FRGilles KorngutBCAAFD
4954PLJacek MasiarekBCAAFD
5054UKenDavid HodgeACADFB
5153TRErgun BolekACBDFB
5253NZMike LaffertyBEDBED
5353UStxJolie HessBDCBED
5453UScaAllen ProhofskyADDDEB
5553PTRui RalhaACBDFB
5653CNWei Victor ZhangACBDFB
5753CAnsDel KnoxADADED
5853LVIvars RubenisACADEB
5953TWCheng Chun WeiACAFED
6053BGOgnian SmilianovACBDFB
6153UKenJohn HaslegraveACDAED
6253AUDavid BrooksACBDFB
6353PLKazik DrozdzBCABBD
6453HULajos LinczmayerBCFDFD
6553FIMauri SaastamoinenAACDFD
6653CAonDavid GraingerAEADFD
6753INNeelotpal SahaiACBDBD
6853AUBill PowellBCDAEB
6952UKenJohn ReardonBCDDAD
7052USnyBarry RigalACADBB
7152UScaPaul MissoAEDDEB
7252USncPhyllis GibsonACABED
7352UScoSteve MarxADBDED
7452USnyGerald CohenADCDEB
7552TRM. Fahir UzumcuBCADDB
7652HRDean PokornyBCAAFB
7752CAonDavid TurnerACAFFB
7852FRJean-Christophe ClementDCDDBD
7952USpaDavid KlausADCFED
8052AUNed StokesBDCBBD
8152UKenBill MarchACADDD
8252CAbcPeter TinkessBDDBEB
8352SGJunyi ZhuADAFFD
8452PLSlawek CwiekBCAABD
8552PLMarcin ZbrojaBCAEFD
8652DEJoerg WenschACBDEB
8752BGIvan KolevBCDDAD
8852HUPeter TalyigasACBDEB
8952USwvNeil CohenDCDDBD
9051FRAlbert OhanaBCFDBD
9151USmaThomas RaymondADADEB
9251FITaru SuppulaBCAAEB
9351UStxBill ErwinADADEB
9451USmdMollie LipmanBCDBFA
9551CAnbJason FengACBFFB
9651NLFrans BuijsenBDDBBB
9751USilJon GreimanAEDAFD
9851ILMichael TillesBCBDDB
9951BGAntonio KotsevADADEB
10050USgaMarijan E. WordADAFFB

Scores 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 Scores

Places 101-200

RankScoreCCName123456
10150UStxJames McElhinneyADBBFD
10250ESGonzalo GodedBABDEB
10350UKenQuentin StephensAACFED
10450UStxJonathan FergusonECADEB
10550USscCharles ThomasBECEFD
10650AURobert MeakinsAADDBB
10750CDPaul InbonaACAFBB
10850USmaRosalyn DreyfusADBBFD
10950UScaRobert DannelsAABDED
11050USpaSteve WhiteEDBDFD
11150UScaPatrick ChyeAEBDBD
11250NLRichard van HoutenBCBAEB
11350IEConor MooreADABED
11450PLWojtek UrbanBCACFD
11550NLNico EnglanderACDDAD
11650PLMarek MalowidzkiAEADEB
11749PLEla RuchlickaACBBEB
11849NLWilliam ClaassenEDDBED
11949USorJames WeiderACAAEB
12049CAabDick YuenADDAEB
12149UKwaKeith DavisonBCBBEC
12249CAonKevin ConwayACFDBD
12349UKenMargaret WhiteBCABEE
12449CAnsBryson CrowellECBDEB
12549UKwaJulian PottageBBCDFB
12649USctTerry LubmanADBBED
12749UKenRoderick EwanADDAEB
12849USflLee EltonADDEED
12949USnyBrian UniversalBEABEB
13049USvaRick SalkovAEADBB
13149NODagfinn HamstadBCBEFB
13249UScaJohn ChenECAFFB
13349UStxJimmy HubbardADAFEB
13449HKSimon CheungADBDDD
13548USnyGene SaxeBCAADB
13648UStxGreg HinzeADADDB
13748UScaLen VishnevskyACAAFC
13848IEKarel de RaeymaekerADABEB
13948NLPieter van der KleinBCBEEB
14048SITomaz ButinaCDDDEB
14148UKenGiles IpACBEED
14248UScaAlvin FarberBCDEFA
14348UKenRoger MortonADADDB
14448UStxStephen GerhardADBDEC
14548HUPeter BreuerADCAEB
14648EGSamer ElSheikhACAFDB
14748UScaStu GoodgoldCDBDFD
14848UScaJoseph DodsonAFDDEB
14948USmnTony AmesEDADEB
15048ATManfred SchwabADDFDB
15148DEOve NilssonEADDEB
15248UKscTim McKayADABEB
15348FIJouko PaganusADEDFB
15448PLAndrzej KrakowiakBCACBD
15548UScaPhil SwanAADBEB
15648USflJim TullyADAAFB
15748HRTomislav GracinACBAEB
15847ITPaolo PaolicchiAAAFEB
15947CAonJeff MayhewADAAEB
16047USnyBrian MeyerADBABD
16147UKenGeraint HarkerECBFEB
16247ITMarco CatellaniADFDBD
16347ROLorand DaliECBFEB
16447USmeMichael TrueADBDEE
16547UScaKevin LaneADAAEB
16647USinJohn HuusBDAEEB
16747GTBela RussAAABBD
16847PTFrancisco EspregueiraECBBFB
16947USkyMichael RieserADABBB
17047TWStar ChenADAAEB
17147NLJoost HerweijerADBDEE
17247FIJoakim FabritiusECADEE
17347UKenEddie RichartADAAEB
17447USmdJames MasonBCBEBB
17547USmnDavid GronbeckAADBBB
17647ROGelu SerpoiADFDFB
17747USmaIsaac PragerEDCBFB
17847UScaRichard SteinACABEE
17947ITGianpaolo CentioliCEADED
18047USmaCharles AltmanACDCEB
18147CApqDenis PierreACDCEB
18247IDTommy SuhendraADBDDB
18347UKenCarlos DabeziesCCBDEB
18447PTPaulino CorreaACFFFB
18547SIAles VavpeticEEADEB
18647SGFabian TanADAFEC
18747ITCarlo FilibertoBEAEBD
18846LBFadi FattoucheEDAFEB
18946UKenNeil PrebbleACBDCB
19046USilMicah FogelFCBDEB
19146ROValentin DumitruADFDEB
19246USflJohn LiporiBCDEBA
19346USilTed McHughEDABBD
19446USscWes BaileyCCABBD
19546USkyJim WasherAABAED
19646AUMolly ButcherEDABFB
19746USmoJames YeagerFCDBEB
19846USvaJohn ConoverAEBBEB
19946USnjSteven KingBCAABA
20046UKenDipak ShahADBEED

Scores 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 Scores

Places 201-300

RankScoreCCName123456
20146CAonDavid ColbertADBAEB
20246USmaJack ShenACDEDB
20346USorMike SweetAAAAFB
20446CAonNick WongAEAFEC
20546USflKay JonesAABDEC
20646USflShirley WertheimAEDEEB
20746MYTimothy Liang KanADADDC
20846PTCarlos AntunesAEAAEB
20946USmnNick ErpeldingADBEED
21046USilJon SorkinACADAB
21146CAnsBrian HansenADCCED
21246INVenky PazhambalacodeADDAEE
21346RSVeljko VujcicEDADEC
21446CAnsGerald MurphyBACAFE
21546UKenJohn EnglandAAADDB
21646PTJose OliveiraACBEEB
21746USohRussell HaneyAECBEC
21846NZFraser RewADDFAD
21946BRGuilherme GuimaraesACAFDC
22046BARanko TicaACCCEB
22146USnyWilliam BascomAAAAFB
22246CAnsJim MathersADBAEB
22346USwaKeller WightmanAEBABD
22445UScaSandy BarnesACBEDD
22545UKenRoger CourtneyADAAEC
22645FRKo VijnBEBCED
22745AUMichael SeldonECBAEB
22845USwaJosh SinnettFEDDBB
22945HKWing-Kai HonADFDFC
23045CAnsRobin HallAAABDD
23145CAonJack ShinehoftACACEB
23245SGPeiyi WangADBDAD
23345UKenJonathan de SouzaECAADD
23445USnyAndrew NitzbergFDCDDD
23545TRTamer CokgorDCADBE
23645UKenChris ChallinorBBABFB
23745USflBeth LudwigACABDC
23845USmdDiane WalkerABDAED
23945PLStanislaw MakowkaADAEEB
24045UKenDavid WouldsAAAFEC
24145GRChristine VranikaACAEFE
24245USnyJay LevyADFDBB
24345USazKurt OelzeCDBDEB
24445HKBill LeungACBDAB
24545ROBogdan MitranADABDB
24645CAonFintan ChurchECDBEA
24745USnyMaureen WatkinsADACED
24845UScaBruce BlakelyEDBAED
24945AUEd BarnesACFABD
25045ESElisa Linares-RivasAADDCB
25145ILBrian ZietmanBDAEEC
25245USnjTina DalyAEBAEB
25345PTJorge CastanheiraACACEB
25445UScaHaisam OsmanAAEDEB
25545USazAdele VerkampBCACEC
25645FRJean-Pierre BlochBEAEBB
25745ROAndrei SecheleaBEAADB
25845BERutger van MechelenACFAFB
25944HKJonathan NgCDBDFC
26044BEAnne de BackerEDBABD
26144ITStefano BertorelliADBAEC
26244USmdJerrold MillerADBAEC
26344INAjit AthleFDABED
26444ITFranco GalleniACBAEA
26544USwaJim WiitalaACFFEC
26644CAonBob StuartADABEA
26744DEMaria WurmseerDCBAEB
26844USscRick GilesDDBAED
26944NLChris TraversFCDEBD
27044UScaSteven YangAAABEC
27144NLJ.J. GassEEBDFE
27244NZKerry KellyACACFC
27344ILAmiram MilletADFBBD
27444USwyRick KnightAAABFE
27544CAabNicolae VartosuADAADB
27644UStxPhillip JaegerADBBDB
27744USohBurt FrankelBDBCEB
27844AUPatrick MooreAEDBBA
27944USmaJeffrey GertzADAAEE
28044USpaMichael BelmanFDADDD
28144USdeFiroza CooperACCBDA
28244CAbcAlan ChapelleEAADFE
28344USflJim SaxonBCACDB
28444BEBram AmselAEAFEA
28544USdcDaniel MorganAEAAFE
28644NOMagnus SkaarADBDDE
28744UStxDavid WarnerACAEDB
28844DEZenon SchwarzBDBEEC
28944CApqSergepier BrunetteBCFEEB
29044BGTchavdar NikolovECBDAD
29144USpaBarbara ReinoehlCCCABB
29244SKLukas SidorBEBEBB
29344UScaBob LafolletteADDAAD
29444CApqAnsar BurneyACDCDB
29544INMubashir AnsariACFAEB
29644NOEspen SkarpholtAAAADD
29744DEFalko GleichmannAAABEC
29844UScaYumiko ReynoldsACABCB
29944TRBurak YurdakulBAADAB
30044HKTheo ChinADAFDC

Scores 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 Scores

Places 301-400

RankScoreCCName123456
30144MZPaul FauvetBEACEB
30244UStxPeter HudsonBCAAAB
30344USncOwen LienAEAEEB
30444SEAndreas WesterlundAEBDBA
30544USohJohn KropinakADBEEB
30643DKJacob GrabowskiACBBDE
30743USnhBruce DowningCAADDD
30843BEAlon AmselADACEB
30943USpaJohn PolicellaAEBEEB
31043CNMichael LiuECABBE
31143ROLiviu OpreaADBDAB
31243RORadu VasilescuAEAEDD
31343UKenCoral WigginsCDBBBD
31443BESebastien LouveauxEABAED
31543HKMo Yee SumADDBDA
31643ROAdrian MateiACFADD
31743USinGreg RisleyAAABDB
31843USncFaye SattinBCFEDD
31943CNYiqian LiuACFDDC
32043IEJames HeneghanBCFAEE
32143USohBob StittADACEB
32243UKenMalcolm MorrisCADBEB
32343USnyOwen YamauchiACACEC
32443USilRobert HowardAFDBEC
32543UStxEric GoffDCADCB
32643CAonJared RileyFCBBEB
32743USmnDale TaylorADBAEE
32843ARJorge GueglioABFDFD
32943IERichard KingFCBFBB
33043USilJames HudsonAEAADB
33143CNRoger SunEDDADB
33243UKenPeter StewartAEADEF
33343BEBart DelbekeADAACD
33443ROMarius CosmaADBDAB
33543LVAigars GermanisFCDEEB
33643INGopichand AnneAAAEEB
33743FIMatti NiemiFCAFFE
33843CAbcGary WrightADDBEF
33943UScaRonald KowAFABEB
34043CApqMichel LalondeAEBBDB
34143ZABrad Ross-JonesAEAAEE
34243PTFrancisco MachadoBCECEB
34343AUJohn FarrACBEDB
34443USctJudith JacobsonCAADFC
34543CAonRose HouFECDEC
34643UScaAlan TempletonEEDEEB
34743USokRuth DavisBCACCD
34843NLSjoerd van der SchuitFCBDDB
34943CZLudek AmbrozECAADB
35043UKenNigel MarlowECBBDB
35143TRGuven DalkilicAEAADB
35243INSivakumar SalemACBDAC
35343AUAngela NorrisFDBBED
35443USohScott JeggleAEBBEE
35543EEMihkel AllikEDABFE
35643USpaMatt LahutADDCEC
35743NOSvein Erik DahlAAAEEB
35843UKenPeter BrookAEBEEB
35943NLYvonne KagerBDEBBC
36043BGIrina DimitrovaAAAEEB
36143BGPetko BoukovACBDAC
36243USmnTim SzeligaAEDCDD
36342CNPeijie ZangAAAFDC
36442USnjAleksandar LishkovAEAFCB
36542CAmbJanet DugleBDBADE
36642PLWojtek GawelAECEDB
36742PTJorge GoncalvesABADDB
36842CHMiriam KullAAAEDD
36942UStxVic SowersACEADB
37042UKenAnthony GoldingDCFAED
37142TREmrah SenAFBAFB
37242USflCecil LivingstonFEFDFD
37342USncWilliam SchminkEEBEED
37442USmaRichard KatzeffEAAAEB
37542USnjMichael MayerAFAAEB
37642TRSenih InalDDAEBD
37742USnjIgor PogrebinskyADBCEB
37842USflEdward SchulteECBADB
37942CAbcShirley PatersonFCAEFB
38042USflDavid GoldsteinBDDCDC
38142UKenPaul HugginsECACEB
38242UScaTodd UyedaABAABD
38342GRSpiros KotinasACAAAB
38442HKPui Kong ChiuADFAEB
38542NZStephen CullenACFBEE
38642UStxBill BreslinFECDEE
38742UScoPaula WarrenBDBBAB
38842USnjMani GuptaAAAEBB
38942UScaJohn CulpBEDCEA
39042NZBrett McGirrBABFCB
39142LVIvars LiepaBEBADC
39242ROAdrian PetculescuADADAC
39342BGGeorgi BachevADFAEB
39442TRAhmet Rifat SahinCEAAFB
39542UScaRena FarberACFEEB
39642AUNiels KjellerupEEBEED
39742USnjKaren SylvesterDEAEED
39842UKenAndrew RobsonDDFDEB
39942USmtCharles SmithBEBBCB
40042NLJaap RavenhorstEAADEA

Scores 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 Scores

All Others Above Average

RankScoreCCName123456
40142UKwaAlan StephensonFCADDC
40242USflSue GagliardiAFBEFD
40342PTLuciano MachadoEEDBBE
40442USnjEileen CohenACACDB
40542CAbcRalph TiessensFDABEB
40642UScaTim OffensendACBADE
40742PTCarlos CabrinhaAEAAEA
40842CApqClaude PoudrierCDADEA
40942ESJavier CarboneroECAFDE
41042SGJinzhou LooCEBAED
41142USkyMichael PurcellEDAEEB
41242UScaJimmie SwanAAEBEB
41342USnjPatrick MurrayADAEDB
41442USnyTom BarryAEDDAE
41542HRZoran BohacekACDEAB
41642FIMikko KekkiADAEDB
41742FRGillian HewittECBCBD
41842UKenToby KenneyEDBABB
41942UKenDouglas DunnBFDEFE
42041CNChina CaacFCFDDD
42141CNQing YeAACBCB
42241USpaRick WeleskoAEFBBB
42341USflNeil EvangelistaFEAEFD
42441USokWinston MunnFDFFFD
42541UStnCharles CohenAFABEC
42641AUChris MillsBABCFC
42741SIEgon NovakAAAEEC
42841USilJack HagertyECBCEB
42941USwaHendrik SharplesADAADE
43041CAonRobert LakeFEDEBD
43141USpaBruce LiebermanAEAEDB
43241CAbcWilliam GroverBFACFB
43341USilDan EnglishBAFEBD
43441TROsman OzcanECFAEB
43541UScaBilly BlanchardACCBAE
43641AUMike PhillipsECACDD
43741NZNorman Scott-MorrisonFEADEE
43841USwiTyson PattersonECAEDB
43941NLLeo BlaauwFCAAEC
44041USmtDot WilliamsEAFDEB
44141CNYijun XuACBEAD
44241UStxChad HarrisADDCCD
44341UScaValentin VieruECBEEC
44441IDFakhri FakhruddinAFBAEB
44541CAonDale SmithBEEBEA
44641UKenColin StreetFCBEFB
44741UScaVandana VidwansEDBBEE
44841UKenGabriel IpADBDAC
44941FRGuy LedanoisFDAAEB
45041INShreerang JoshiADBEDB
45141BGPeter LudnevAFAAFC
45241BGIvan RadevEDAABC
45341USorPaul FlashenbergEDAEBB
45441UKenAudrey KuehAABADB
45541FRAlain BoudonADABAB
45641PTManuel AntunesAABEDD
45741ZAGertina GriffithBBBABB
45841USpaDick HenryADFDBA
45941UScaCurt ReevesFEFDED
46041USalDon KempADBBDE
46141CAonGordon HumphrysEBDDDB
46241USnyJack PresserDCFAFB
46341AUEverald HewsonAEBCEB
46441USnhLawrence CheethamFECAEB
46541EEJaak KandEFAAED
46641UKenBiddy SmythAABCBD
46741UYSara RathauserADBBDE
46841UKscNigel GuthrieACAECB

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 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 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
148.672DEGermany6
247.6317PLPoland16
347.5310CNChina15
447.178USorOregon6
545.0064HUHungary5
644.5060BGBulgaria10
744.00158ITItaly7
843.671ESSpain6
943.6448FRFrance11
1043.213NLNetherlands29
1143.219UKenEngland53
1242.8614USinIndiana7
1342.86149USmnMinnesota7
1442.8011USohOhio15
1542.7433UStxTexas23
1642.6324USwaWashington8
1742.50113IEIreland6
1842.4383SGSingapore7
1942.00163RORomania15
2041.8821USilIllinois17
2141.6765FIFinland12
2241.1991USmaMassachusetts16
2341.0020CAbcBritish Columbia15
2440.7130PTPortugal24
2540.6837TRTurkey19
2640.5229INIndia21
2740.4713CAonOntario38
2840.464UScaCalifornia65
2940.3012USnyNew York30
3040.2327USmdMaryland13
3140.0938AUAustralia32
3240.0857CAnsNova Scotia12
3340.0072USncNorth Carolina8
3440.0079USpaPennsylvania17
3539.7835SESweden9
3639.64134HKHong Kong11
3739.1443UScoColorado7
3839.00100USgaGeorgia7
3939.00131NONorway10
4038.8352NZNew Zealand12
4138.17126USctConnecticut6
4238.17258BEBelgium12
4338.05128USflFlorida40
4437.3398ILIsrael6
4537.20130USvaVirginia5
4637.14199USnjNew Jersey22
4737.05181CApqQuebec20

RankAverageBestCCLocationEntries
4859.006ZWZimbabwe1
4951.0095CAnbNew Brunswick1
5050.00107CDCongo (Dem Republic)1
5149.6736CAabAlberta3
5247.00164USmeMaine1
5347.00167GTGuatemala1
5446.67121UKwaWales3
5546.5026USnvNevada2
5646.0058LVLatvia3
5746.00188LBLebanon1
5846.00207MYMalaysia1
5946.00220BABosnia & Herzegovina1
6045.00105USscSouth Carolina4
6144.5076HRCroatia4
6244.00281USdeDelaware1
6344.00285USdcWashington DC1
6444.00301MZMozambique1
6543.2545USmoMissouri4
6643.0089USwvWest Virginia2
6743.00328ARArgentina1
6843.00349CZCzech Republic1
6942.5059TWTaiwan4
7042.25140SISlovenia4
7142.00169USkyKentucky4
7242.00347USokOklahoma2
7342.00365CAmbManitoba1
7441.67182IDIndonesia3
7541.50399USmtMontana2
7641.33152UKscScotland3
7741.00292SKSlovakia2
7841.00467UYUruguay1
7940.50213RSSerbia2
8040.50219BRBrazil2
8140.00487USidIdaho1
8240.00497USarArkansas1
8340.00500USneNebraska1
8439.33241GRGreece3
8539.33307USnhNew Hampshire3
8639.00243USazArizona4
8738.50355EEEstonia4
8838.33150ATAustria3
8938.33460USalAlabama3
9038.00146EGEgypt2
9138.00306DKDenmark2
9238.00341ZASouth Africa3
9337.00532CLChile3
9437.00558USlaLouisiana3
9537.00603CApePrince Edward Island1
9636.50425UStnTennessee2
9736.00438USwiWisconsin4
9836.00658COColombia1
9936.00663USsdSouth Dakota1
10036.00681USnmNew Mexico1
10136.00684RURussia1
10235.00274USwyWyoming3
10335.00699PKPakistan1
10435.00727AMArmenia1
10534.25485USmiMichigan4
10634.00368CHSwitzerland4
10733.67534THThailand3
10832.00693USksKansas3
10932.00815UShiHawaii1
11031.00824AEUnited Arab Emirates1
11131.00828ISIceland1
11230.00835JPJapan1
11330.00848VEVenezuela1

Scores 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 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 score, the edge goes to the one using less time. Tests are conducted on a 3.4 GHz CPU with 512 MB RAM, running Windows 98.

Congratulations to Bridge Baron (US) which topped the bots with a respectable 47 on this tricky problem set. Only two other bots beat the average human score (40.99): GIB (US) with 44, and Blue Chip Bridge (UK) with 42.

As usual, some of the choices went off my chart, since bots are not equipped to cope with multiple-choice quizzes. Only Problem 3 produced deviations that deserved merit: GIB won two clubs, D K, H A and ducked a heart; Bridge Buff won three clubs but cashed the H K in between. Both of these lines (indicated as G) are flawed, but a lock is lost only about 15 percent of the time. I felt an award of 6 was in line with my scoring model. The remaining aberrations on Problems 1-3 (indicated as H for hopeless) were clearly without merit and scored the same as the worst listed option.

Problem 6 was interesting with the winkle squeeze, and two bots found the correct start. I was curious whether this was a true understanding of the position, or just an intelligent guess, so I let them play it out. The results: GIB got it right and made 5 D, but Bridge Buff went astray. Remind me never to double GIB again.

HAL was pissed with the resurgence of GIB and vowed to make giblets out of it next time. When I asked HAL how it expected to do this, being barely able to follow suit on its own, it threatened me with a Pavlov dog experiment. Sigh. What I have to put up with around here. Bang, zoom — free computer parts!

August 2005 Rankings
RankScoreCCProgram version123456
147USBridge Baron 15.0ACHFFB
244USGIB 6.1.3BBGBED
342UKBlue Chip Bridge 4.2.5BFDEFE
440CABridge Buff 11.0AHGEFD
540NLJack 3.01BFACEB
630JPMicro Bridge 11.00HDHEEA
727DEQ-plus Bridge 7.1ABHEDA
812USHAL 9003FBFCAF

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 8X47 MainChallengeAnalysesTop August 2005 Scores

© 2005 Richard Pavlicek