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Play Contest Bot Results

by Richard Pavlicek

From February 2001 to August 2006, I tested various computer bridge programs on the problems in my bimonthly play contests. Results summarized here should not be considered rigid analyses, because certain factors could not be equalized, e.g., deductions from understanding the bidding, and the time required for each play. Programs with adjustable skill levels were tested at the highest setting not to exceed 60 seconds per play.

Overall Stats

Play Contests

Participants (alphabetical)

Program	Author/Creator	Country
Blue Chip Bridge	Ian Trackman and Mike Whittaker	United Kingdom
Bridge Baron	Tom Throop and Stephen Smith	United States
Bridge Buff	Doug Bennion	Canada
Finesse Bridge (defunct)	Mark and Aaron Marin	United States
GIB	Matthew Ginsberg	United States
HAL 9000*	someone with a warped mind	outer space
Jack	Hans Kuijf	Netherlands
Micro Bridge	Tomio and Yumiko Uchida	Japan
Q-plus Bridge	Hans Leber	Germany

*fake bot included for amusement — call it payback for misdeeds in 2001: A Space Odyssey. HAL’s scores were appreciated,
not only for their perpetual stake on last place but for lowering the average bot score, making the real bots look better.

Final Year Rankings (September 2005 to July 2006)

Rank	Average	Best	Program	Oct	Dec	Feb	Apr	Jun	Aug
1	49.25	1	Jack	34	48	40	49	49	51
2	47.75	1	GIB	30	48	47	51	44	45
3	41.00	1	Micro Bridge	30	34	48	31	42	40
4	39.00	1	Q-plus Bridge	35	33	45	27	34	42
5	39.00	2	Bridge Baron	35	36	42	35	42	36
6	38.00	3	Blue Chip Bridge	34	29	43	33	42	29
7	35.25	1	Bridge Buff	27	30	35	24	49	24
8	21.00	8	HAL 9000	22	10	24	11	24	14

Only the best four (of six) scores are used to calculate average.

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Top Play Contest Bot Results

Overall Stats

Listed below are the bot leaders in various categories for all tested play contests (February 2001 to August 2006). Each category lists the top three places. Average score is used to break ties.

Highest Average Score

Rank	Avg	Name	Location
1	45.85	GIB	United States
2	45.43	Jack	Netherlands
2	37.97	Bridge Buff	Canada

Most 50+ Scores

Rank	Times	Name	Location
1	8	GIB	United States
2	7	Jack	Netherlands
3	1	Bridge Buff	Canada

Most Times Above Average

Rank	Times	Name	Location
1	28	GIB	United States
2	18	Jack	Netherlands
3	15	Bridge Buff	Canada

Highest Percent Times Above Average

Rank	Percent	Name	Location
1	84.85	GIB	United States
2	78.26	Jack	Netherlands
3	45.45	Bridge Buff	Canada

Highest Average Rank

Rank	Avg	Name	Location
1	2.03	GIB	United States
2	2.70	Jack	Netherlands
3	4.03	Bridge Buff	Canada

Most Wins

Rank	Times	Name	Location
1	15	GIB	United States
2	7	Jack	Netherlands
3	4	Bridge Buff	Canada

Most Times Winner or Runner-up

Rank	Times	Name	Location
1	25	GIB	United States
2	15	Jack	Netherlands
3	7	Bridge Buff	Canada

Most Top 3 Finishes

Rank	Times	Name	Location
1	30	GIB	United States
2	16	Jack	Netherlands
3	14	Q-plus Bridge	Germany

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Top Play Contest Bot Results

Play Contests

Below are the bot rankings for each of the 33 play contests tested. The version number of each program is shown. Headings show the number of human entries and the average score, which does not include bot scores. Click on the date to see the actual play contest.

February 2001 (204 humans 37.19 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	48	GIB 4.1.2	7	J	2	7	2	6
2	42	Bridge Buff 8.0	J	4	9	7	3	6
3	39	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	7	J	9	7	6	6
4	36	Micro Bridge 9.01	7	J	9	2	3	6
5	32	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.0	7	J	5	A	3	6
6	31	Finesse Bridge 2.5	7	J	A	J	6	5
7	27	Bridge Baron 11.0	7	J	9	A	2	6
8	9	HAL 9000	A	J	A	A	5	7

June 2001 (335 humans 40.46 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	40	GIB 4.1.2	8	A	A	2	K	K
2	36	Micro Bridge 9.01	8	2	A	2	K	K
3	32	Bridge Buff 8.0	5	J	A	2	K	2
4	32	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	5	2	A	2	K	A
5	30	Bridge Baron 11.0	5	J	A	2	K	K
6	29	Finesse Bridge 2.5	5	2	A	2	K	K
7	11	HAL 9000	2	5	A	4	J	3

August 2001 (327 humans 41.88 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	49	Bridge Buff 8.0	A	E	A	C	C	F
2	35	GIB 4.1.12	A	E	C	G	G	E
3	32	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	A	E	E	G	B	B
4	28	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	A	G	A	G	C	A
5	18	Finesse Bridge 2.5	G	B	D	G	G	A
6	16	Bridge Baron 11.0	G	G	A	G	G	G
7	13	Micro Bridge 9.01	E	G	B	A	G	G
8	10	HAL 9000	G	G	G	G	G	G

October 2001 (526 humans 41.77 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	50	GIB 4.1.12	D	A	B	A	C	A
2	46	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	A	A	B	A	F	C
3	42	Bridge Buff 8.0	B	A	B	A	G	G
4	30	Finesse Bridge 2.5	B	C	B	G	G	G
5	29	Bridge Baron 11.0	G	G	B	A	G	C
6	29	Micro Bridge 9.01	C	C	B	F	G	C
7	20	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	G	G	F	A	G	G
8	13	HAL 9000	G	G	G	G	G	G

December 2001 (522 humans 39.90 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	48	GIB 4.1.12	3	A	5	4	J	5
2	44	Bridge Buff 8.0	A	A	5	4	J	K
3	43	Micro Bridge 9.01	2	A	5	4	2	K
4	40	Bridge Baron 11.0	A	A	5	2	7	K
5	37	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	J	4	5	3	J	5
6	36	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	9	8	5	3	7	K
7	33	Finesse Bridge 2.5	A	4	5	2	7	K
8	11	HAL 9000	5	4	Q	5	A	K

February 2002 (754 humans 42.75 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	55	GIB 4.1.12	10	A	J	5	Q	10
2	55	Micro Bridge 9.01	2	K	J	5	Q	4
3	51	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	10	A	4	J	J	10
4	49	Bridge Buff 8.0	Q	K	8	J	Q	4
5	43	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	2	6	J	2	3	A
6	40	Bridge Baron 11.0	8	J	A	2	Q	4
7	31	Finesse Bridge 2.5	10	J	A	J	3	5
8	16	HAL 9000	3	K	3	J	A	K

April 2002 (687 humans 37.71 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	42	GIB 4.1.12	F	A	A	A	B	B
2	33	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	F	E	G	G	E	D
3	18	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	C	G	G	G	F	G
4	18	Finesse Bridge 2.5	E	G	G	G	G	F
5	17	Bridge Buff 8.0	C	G	G	G	B	G
6	15	Bridge Baron 11.0	G	G	G	G	D	G
7	15	Micro Bridge 9.01	E	G	G	G	D	G
8	13	HAL 9000	G	G	G	G	G	G

June 2002 (566 humans 37.55 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	46	GIB 4.1.12	D	G	D	E	G	F
2	37	Bridge Baron 11.0	F	D	D	E	F	G
3	33	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	C	E	E	A	F	G
4	32	Bridge Buff 8.0	E	G	C	E	F	G
5	32	Finesse Bridge 2.5	D	G	F	E	F	G
6	23	Micro Bridge 9.01	G	F	E	F	G	B
7	18	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	F	B	F	G	G	G
8	10	HAL 9000	C	C	F	D	A	E

August 2002 (638 humans 39.24 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	42	Micro Bridge 9.01	7	A	A	2	2	10
2	42	GIB 4.1.12	7	3	9	2	3	A
3	36	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	7	3	A	5	2	2
4	32	Bridge Buff 8.0	7	A	A	2	Q	A
5	30	Bridge Baron 11.0	7	A	A	2	4	A
6	26	Finesse Bridge 2.5	6	3	A	2	4	A
7	25	Blue Chip Bridge 3.4.3	6	8	3	5	3	A
8	11	HAL 9000	9	2	A	5	7	A

October 2002 (662 humans 39.66 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	54	GIB 6.1.0	E	A	B	E	E	A
2	43	Bridge Buff 8.0	B	G	E	E	G	A
3	36	Q-plus Bridge 6.1	E	G	E	G	E	F
4	28	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.0	E	G	E	G	G	F
5	28	Micro Bridge 9.01	F	G	E	A	G	D
6	21	Finesse Bridge 2.5	G	G	E	G	G	D
7	15	Bridge Baron 11.0	G	G	D	G	G	D
8	12	HAL 9000	A	F	D	C	B	B

December 2002 (637 humans 40.64 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	43	GIB 6.1.0	B	D	E	C	E	D
2	42	Jack 2.0	B	G	E	C	B	D
3	34	Bridge Buff 8.0	B	A	G	F	B	D
4	31	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.1	E	G	A	D	E	C
5	30	Micro Bridge 9.01	E	G	G	C	G	A
6	27	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	E	G	F	D	G	G
7	18	Bridge Baron 11.0	A	G	G	D	A	G
8	12	HAL 9000	A	C	D	E	E	E

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Top Play Contest Bot Results

February 2003 (776 humans 38.87 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	53	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.1	7	8	K	9	J	E
2	43	Jack 2.0	5	8	Q	3	A	A
3	41	GIB 6.1.3	5	J	10	3	6	A
4	36	Bridge Buff 8.0	7	A	Q	A	6	A
5	31	Bridge Baron 11.0	2	8	10	A	A	A
6	28	Micro Bridge 9.01	2	A	Q	A	A	A
7	26	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	2	7	K	A	A	A
8	10	HAL 9000	K	7	8	6	A	A

April 2003 (732 humans 40.06 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	40	GIB 6.1.3	D	A	E	C	G	F
2	39	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.5	G	C	A	F	G	F
3	39	Bridge Buff 8.0	F	A	E	F	G	E
4	36	Bridge Baron 11.0	G	A	F	F	E	E
5	36	Micro Bridge 9.01	G	C	A	F	G	E
6	34	Jack 2.0	D	E	D	E	G	E
7	29	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	E	C	D	C	G	F
8	11	HAL 9000	E	H	C	C	G	A

June 2003 (752 humans 39.10 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	44	Jack 2.0	A	9	J	3	A	6
2	43	GIB 6.1.3	K	9	J	5	A	9
3	41	Bridge Buff 8.0	6	10	J	6	A	5
4	39	Bridge Baron 11.0	K	5	7	6	A	5
5	38	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.6	6	3	10	Q	5	5
6	37	Micro Bridge 10.01	K	9	J	6	A	8
7	31	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	K	A	10	3	Q	6
8	10	HAL 9000	8	5	A	J	2	Q

August 2003 (838 humans 37.32 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	43	GIB 6.1.3	A	F	A	B	D	C
2	42	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.7	G	E	A	A	B	D
3	38	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	D	F	A	B	G	D
4	37	Jack 2.0	A	F	C	C	E	C
5	35	Bridge Baron 11.0	F	B	A	E	E	C
6	34	Bridge Buff 8.0	C	E	E	G	E	C
7	33	Micro Bridge 10.01	A	B	A	A	G	C
8	11	HAL 9000	B	C	F	F	C	F

December 2003 (854 humans 40.47 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	55	Jack 2.0	A	A	Q	5	4	B
2	46	Bridge Baron 14.0	A	A	Q	3	4	A
3	45	Micro Bridge 10.01	Q	A	Q	3	4	B
4	44	Blue Chip Bridge 4.0.8	Q	A	Q	5	A	B
5	44	GIB 6.1.3	Q	A	Q	3	4	B
6	34	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	2	A	Q	3	4	F
7	31	Bridge Buff 8.0	2	A	Q	3	A	F
8	12	HAL 9000	K	Q	2	3	2	F

February 2004 (838 humans 37.80 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	56	GIB 6.1.3	B	D	F	A	C	C
2	48	Jack 2.03	C	D	D	A	D	A
3	36	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	C	C	A	G	C	C
4	33	Bridge Baron 14.0	D	C	A	H	D	C
5	33	Bridge Buff 11.0	H	E	F	H	D	D
6	26	Micro Bridge 10.02	D	C	A	G	F	H
7	25	Blue Chip Bridge 4.1.0	H	B	A	G	G	H
8	9	HAL 9000	F	A	B	D	A	D

April 2004 (908 humans 38.91 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	48	Blue Chip Bridge 4.1.1	Q	6	K	7	6	C
2	48	GIB 6.1.3	9	J	K	2	10	D
3	45	Bridge Buff 11.0	Q	J	K	7	10	F
4	43	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	J	6	K	7	10	F
5	41	Micro Bridge 10.02	Q	J	K	7	6	D
6	37	Bridge Baron 14.0	3	6	A	7	6	D
7	35	Jack 2.03	9	3	A	7	6	B
8	10	HAL 9001	A	Q	3	Q	7	E

June 2004 (891 humans 37.88 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	56	Jack 2.03	D	B	E	D	D	A
2	55	GIB 6.1.3	D	B	E	A	D	A
3	40	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	F	C	E	D	C	A
4	39	Bridge Buff 11.0	G	B	C	D	E	A
5	29	Bridge Baron 14.0	A	A	G	A	G	A
6	20	Blue Chip Bridge 4.1.3	G	D	B	A	G	G
7	17	Micro Bridge 10.02	G	A	G	G	B	C
8	11	HAL 9001	E	A	A	F	B	F

August 2004 (871 humans 37.88 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	56	Bridge Buff 11.0	B	D	F	F	F	A
2	55	Jack 2.04	A	D	F	F	F	A
3	53	GIB 6.1.3	A	D	F	D	F	B
4	44	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.0	A	D	G	F	F	B
5	40	Micro Bridge 10.02	G	A	E	A	F	B
6	26	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	H	D	B	G	H	F
7	17	Bridge Baron 14.0	G	B	H	A	G	G
8	14	HAL 9002	C	C	D	E	C	F

October 2004 (902 humans 40.90 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	51	Jack 2.04	J	J	5	J	Q	J
2	49	Bridge Baron 14.0	J	4	Q	J	Q	5
3	49	GIB 6.1.3	J	4	A	J	A	J
4	48	Bridge Buff 11.0	J	4	A	J	Q	10
5	43	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.0	2	4	3	Q	Q	J
6	42	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	2	4	J	J	Q	10
7	32	Micro Bridge 10.02	5	J	A	J	Q	5
8	23	HAL 9002	4	K	J	K	A	5

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Top Play Contest Bot Results

December 2004 (1040 humans 38.38 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	48	Bridge Baron 15.0	B	A	B	C	B	B
2	47	Jack 2.04	B	A	B	B	B	B
3	45	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	B	A	B	B	B	G
4	45	Bridge Buff 11.0	G	A	B	B	B	C
5	39	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.1	B	D	C	D	B	B
6	37	GIB 6.1.3	B	A	A	B	G	B
7	31	Micro Bridge 11.0	G	D	A	D	B	B
8	26	HAL 9002	F	E	E	F	F	E

February 2005 (1135 humans 38.44 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	49	Bridge Buff 11.0	E	D	B	F	C	C
2	48	GIB 6.1.3	G	G	B	A	C	A
3	43	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.2	H	D	B	D	C	E
4	39	Jack 2.04	H	C	F	F	C	A
5	36	Bridge Baron 15.0	E	C	B	H	F	C
6	29	Micro Bridge 11.00	H	C	F	B	H	G
7	29	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	B	H	F	A	F	G
8	23	HAL 9003	B	A	D	B	A	D

April 2005 (964 humans 40.70 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	52	GIB 6.1.3	C	E	B	E	A	B
2	51	Jack 2.04	C	A	B	E	A	C
3	47	Micro Bridge 11.00	C	A	B	E	A	F
4	46	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.3	C	A	B	F	A	F
5	42	Bridge Baron 15.0	C	H	B	B	D	C
6	36	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	F	A	F	G	A	C
7	34	Bridge Buff 11.0	D	F	F	E	A	C
8	11	HAL 9003	D	C	F	C	E	D

June 2005 (966 humans 39.60 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	44	GIB 6.1.3	B	A	A	H	D	E
2	43	Micro Bridge 11.00	A	A	G	D	D	E
3	43	Jack 3.01	A	E	G	B	C	A
4	38	Bridge Baron 15.0	B	B	A	H	G	E
5	33	Bridge Buff 11.0	G	A	F	H	D	C
6	28	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.4	A	H	G	D	F	C
7	25	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	A	A	D	H	F	H
8	14	HAL 9003	G	O	H	A	L	!

August 2005 (897 humans 40.99 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	47	Bridge Baron 15.0	A	C	H	F	F	B
2	44	GIB 6.1.3	B	B	G	B	E	D
3	42	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.5	B	F	D	E	F	E
4	40	Bridge Buff 11.0	A	H	G	E	F	D
5	40	Jack 3.01	B	F	A	C	E	B
6	30	Micro Bridge 11.00	H	D	H	E	E	A
7	27	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	A	B	H	E	D	A
8	12	HAL 9003	F	B	F	C	A	F

October 2005 (904 humans 38.87 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	35	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	B	F	A	C	E	C
2	35	Bridge Baron 16.0	D	E	A	B	C	B
3	34	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.6	F	B	B	B	E	C
4	34	Jack 3.01	D	C	A	A	C	C
5	30	Micro Bridge 11.00	B	E	A	A	B	A
6	30	GIB 6.1.3	D	E	A	G	E	B
7	27	Bridge Buff 11.0	B	E	A	B	E	B
8	22	HAL 9003	A	E	A	A	E	A

December 2005 (1108 humans 42.18 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	48	Jack 3.01	D	E	F	E	H	A
2	48	GIB 6.1.3	E	G	F	E	A	D
3	36	Bridge Baron 15.0	F	G	F	F	B	F
4	34	Micro Bridge 11.00	B	E	A	F	B	A
5	33	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	E	E	F	C	B	H
6	30	Bridge Buff 11.0	A	C	A	B	A	H
7	29	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.6	E	G	C	D	C	C
8	10	HAL 9003	C	D	A	C	E	C

February 2006 (1053 humans 39.69 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	48	Micro Bridge 11.00	Q	5	10	F	A	E
2	47	GIB 6.1.3	Q	4	J	F	A	E
3	45	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	Q	5	J	F	A	E
4	43	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.8	Q	4	J	D	A	C
5	42	Bridge Baron 16.0	2	3	10	D	A	E
6	40	Jack 3.01	Q	5	J	C	A	E
7	35	Bridge Buff 11.0	Q	5	10	F	3	A
8	24	HAL 9004	2	6	J	C	3	C

April 2006 (1056 humans 41.86 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	51	GIB 6.1.3	D	D	D	B	F	C
2	49	Jack 3.01	G	A	D	E	F	C
3	35	Bridge Baron 16.0	C	D	F	H	F	B
4	33	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.9	D	H	B	H	F	F
5	31	Micro Bridge 11.00	C	A	H	B	D	B
6	27	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	C	G	B	B	H	H
7	24	Bridge Buff 11.0	C	A	H	H	H	F
8	11	HAL 9004	F	F	C	D	C	D

June 2006 (952 humans 38.33 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	49	Bridge Buff 11.0	10	5	J	J	4	K
2	49	Jack 3.01	10	5	J	9	4	7
3	44	GIB 6.1.3	10	A	J	5	3	K
4	42	Micro Bridge 11.00	10	A	J	3	4	Q
5	42	Bridge Baron 16.0	10	5	2	9	4	Q
6	42	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.9	10	A	J	9	3	7
7	34	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	5	5	J	3	3	Q
8	24	HAL 9004	4	5	2	3	7	5

August 2006 (1001 humans 43.51 average)

Rank	Score	Program version	1	2	3	4	5	6
1	51	Jack 3.01	B	E	E	A	F	E
2	45	GIB 6.1.3	D	G	D	C	F	F
3	42	Q-plus Bridge 7.1	D	B	E	A	F	F
4	40	Micro Bridge 11.00	A	D	A	A	D	E
5	36	Bridge Baron 16.0	A	E	D	G	H	C
6	29	Blue Chip Bridge 4.2.9	C	H	E	G	D	E
7	24	Bridge Buff 11.0	B	H	H	A	H	H
8	14	HAL 9004	C	I	A	F	B	I

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