Your First Hand on Our Computer

This is your first real hand on the platform — not a graduation ceremony. Fumble freely. The hint button is there on purpose.

1. You are always South

Screenshot 1 — seats

• Your cards appear at the bottom of the screen.
• North is your partner; East and West are opponents (played by the computer).
• The white bidding pad in the centre shows each player's bid under N, E, S, W.

2. Making a bid

Screenshot 2 — bidding panel

• Use the arrows beside the bidding panel to place your bid inside the red box, then click the box to confirm.
• The computer bids for the other three players and stops when it is your turn again.
• Three consecutive Passes (P) end the auction — the bidding pad disappears and play begins.
• Unsure? Click the ? hint button on the blue menu bar. Ask as often as you like.

3. Playing the cards

Screenshot 3 — play

• If your side won the auction and you are declarer, you play your hand and dummy.
• A defender always makes the opening lead first; then dummy comes down face-up.
• Look for the golden halo — it marks whose turn it is. Click a card from that hand.
• The blue menu bar shows the final contract and a running trick count for NS and EW.
• When you win a trick, cards stay visible until you lead to the next; when the computer wins, it clears and leads.

4. After the hand

Screenshot 4 — review

• All four hands are shown so you can review the play.
• Redeal replays the same deal — use it until the hand feels comfortable.
• Home returns you to the lesson you came from.

Quick check

Seats, bidding pad, hint button, golden halo, redeal. That's the whole control panel for your first sessions.

Next: connect the auction to the play — making (or defeating) the contract.