Bill Gates: "Even I can probably beat the best..."

[MadRat]

Gates: Computers Can't Play Bridge

By The Associated Press

August 20, 2002, 6:42 AM EDT

MONTREAL -- Even the titan of the computer revolution
says machines can't beat humans at the strategic
game of bridge.

"In terms of the game of bridge itself, computers can't
play at any reasonable level," Microsoft Chairman Bill
Gates said Monday during a break at the World Bridge
Championships. "Even I can probably beat the best
bridge software that exists today."

Gates was competing in his first world championships,
where he failed to advance to the final round.

A self-described bridge addict, Gates said he plays
about half his games online.

Computers provide incredible instruction and foster a
sense of community among players, he said. But they
don't match the ability of programs for other games like
chess.

Since taking up the game four years ago, Gates has surrounded himself with
world champions and some of the card game's best players, including a pair of
Canadians who won an Olympic exhibition last winter before the Salt Lake City
Games.

He said bridge requires logic and offers mental challenges similar to his day job
as head of the Redmond, Wash.- based software giant.

"That kind of mental acuity is handy for anything you want to do with excellence,"
he said. "Bridge keeps your mind very, very active."

Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Bah! Can't be seen playing the same game as Mr. '666' Gates! Guess I'll stop playing Bridge then
(Haven't played it in a few years now anyway, but still)

The reason computers suck at Bridge is that they do not control signalling and psychological warfare yet. Throw away a strange card and your partner knows more about the hands in play, or throw away a card to make the opposite party believe it will be an easy game. Bluff during bidding to get a contract you won't be able to make, but which will keep the enemy out of a contract they can make which would be worth more.

You can program all standard biddings in a computer, but then still you can mess with him in the playing of the game itself. I used to do that when playing with 3 computer players once in a while: bid the highest you think you can make with your partner if he has at least a few decent cards, and if he doesn't have any the others should have played a contact anyway, if he doesn't have much he'll stop bidding, if he has a nice hand he'll bid and you can decide on a new limit.

Edit: A preemptive bid is usually made based on very few points, but a long colour. The opposition would have to bid very high to be able to find out what their partner has, and will most likely end too high. If you bid on points instead, and the opposition has a decent hand and actually tries to bid based on the thought that you have not much and his partner must have something, you just double him and knock him out.

 

[geoff2k]

So he's moved on from Solitaire and FreeCell, has he?

 

[dweezill]

Hey I am here in Montreal, from my office I can see the hotel where the tournament took place...