Book: Standard Bidding with SAYC

在開發Android WeWeWeb橋牌的叫牌引擎時，我們需要選擇一個叫牌系統，讓玩家可以毫無困難地與機械人溝通。在這裡我們可以有一些不同的選擇，但無可否認SAYC（標準美國黃卡）應該是一個首選。該系統簡單易學，相信是網上世界最流行的的自然叫牌系統。

當然，我們需要有一些文獻參考，才可以將這個叫牌系統編寫於叫牌引擎程式內。ABCL的SAYC系統8頁小冊子（2006）應該是一個好的開始。該文件描述了所有有關這個系統的基礎。然而，它還是不足夠讓你學習SAYC的，我們需要一本更全面的書。因此我建議<<Standard Bidding with Sayc>>由Ned Downey和llen Pomer合著（ISBN：978-1897106037）這本書給你。事實上，以SAYC為主題的書籍很少，這是我認為最好的一本。

這本書的編排十分好，它是根據黃咭所列的各個部分來編j寫。你需要學習的SAYC材料則十分齊全。此外，它還列舉許多清楚例子作解釋。更妙的是，它在每節結束時j都有一個總結，讓你可以作一些快速尋找及參考。

那麼，為什麼在網絡世界中的SAYC是這般的流行？這不只是因為玩家易於上手，更重要的是程序編寫員易於植入機器人的叫牌引擎內。如果你有編寫過有關SAYC和ACOL叫牌引擎的經驗，我相信你會有相同的感受。

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English version:

In developing the bidding engine in Android WeWeWeb Bridge, we need to select a bidding system so that a player can communicate with the bot without difficulty. There are a number of different options, but it is hardly to deny that SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card) should be the number one candidate. The system is easy to learn and believed to be the most popular natural system for the online bridge world.

Of course, we need to have some references which can refer to in order to implement this standard to the program. The standing point should be ABCL's SAYC system 8 pages booklet (2006). The document describes all the basics about the system. However, it is not enough for you to learn SAYC. In order to have a more comprehensive book, I suggest the book <<

Standard Bidding with Sayc>> by Ned Downey and Ellen Pomer (ISBN: 978-1897106037). In fact, there are few SAYC books around and this is the best one I suppose.

The organization of the book is excellent which is based on the sections in the Yellow Card. It has everything you need for learning SAYC. Also, there are many examples which clear explanations. Even better is that it has a summary at the end of each section so that you can refer to them quickly in case you have forgotten something.

So, why is SAYC so popular in the online world? It is not only friendly to users but also friendly to those programmers who implement it into the robot's bidding engine. If you have the experiences on implementing both the SAYC and ACOL into the robot, you will believe how such a statement is stated.

Book: Guide to Better Card Play

在 WeWeWeb Bridge 遊戲內, 打牌引擎 (Play Engine) 是一個非常重要的元件, 因為機械人(Bot) 需要使用他來決定怎樣出牌. 為了開發和完善該組件, 本人參考過不少有關資料, 當中包括人工智能的參考文獻, 亦有關於橋牌的技術叢書. 在這裡, 我不打算談論人工智能, 因為我相信大部份人都沒有興趣. 所以, 還是回到橋牌技巧吧. 打牌技術其實是博大精深的. 想信大家還是初學者的時侯, 都聽過前輩教的簡單橋牌智慧, 例如: "第二家出小"和"第三家出大"等. 但如果我們不明所以, 將此兩個規則單簡地植入打牌引擎內, 我想信機械人打牌或會比新手更差呢!

要更能明白及掌握打牌理論和技巧, 參考 Ron Klinger 所著的 <<Guide to Better Card Play>> (ISBN: 978-0304357697) 是一個不錯的選擇. 這本書分為四個部分：一）基本的防守打法; 二）基本莊家技巧; 三） 改善防守打法;及  四）改善莊家技巧. 雖然本書只有不足二百頁, 但它大部份材料亦寫得非常詳盡，其中包括理論，解釋，例子和練習等項目。如果你不是專家級數的橋手，我相信你一定能在書中找到一些新鮮或以前沒有留意過的材料。

此書我能想到的唯一缺點是頁面排版相當“濃縮”，這解釋了為什麼一本200頁的書可以包含這麼多的信息。此外，從圖書館借來的這本於1990年印刷的紙質不是很好。除此之外，我對這本書的評價是優秀。

如果你是一個新手或中級玩家，想要提高打牌水平，我推薦這本書給你。

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English version:

One of the important components in the WeWeWeb Bridge program is the play engine which is used by the bot to play the 4 hands. In order to develop and improve that component, I've read a number of references. Some of them are related to A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and some of them are specific to the Bridge Game domain. We are not talking about A.I.in here as most of you do not have interest in it. So, back to the Bridge game, in fact, there are numerous play skills and techniques exist. For example, for novice, one must have heard those rules like: "Second hand plays little" & "Third hand plays big". However, if you simply implement these rules into the engine, I believe the robot will be weaker than a novice!

To understanding more about the play techniques and theories, the book <<Guide to Better Card Play>> by Ron Klinger (ISBN:978-0304357697) is one of the options. This book is divided into 4 parts: i) Basic defensive play; ii) Basic declarer play; iii) Better defensive play; & iv) Better declarer play. Though it has only about 200 pages, but it explains most of the items in detail which includes theories, explanations, examples and exercises. If you are not an expert, I believe some of the points it mentioned may be fresh to you.

The only drawback I can think of is the layout of the pages are quite "condense", that's explain why a 200 pages book can contain so much information. Also, the paper quality is not good as mine edition borrowed from library is printed in 1990. Apart from these, my rating to the book is excellent.

If you are a player ranged from novice to intermediate and want to improve the game, I recommend this book to you.

 

衹羡鴛鴦不羡仙

今日係"哥哥"張國禁既死忌, 電視台重播返<<倩女幽魂>>. 呢套戲我本已看過退多次, 不過仍然係百看不厭. 片中有一個情節, 講及小倩同寧采臣夜半挑燈談心, 兩人將字畫既詩, 再吟寫一次. 當中意景, 實在觸動人心. 可能大家對首詩冇乜印象 , 佢既內容如下:

十里平湖霜满天，寸寸青絲愁華年。
對月形單望相護，衹羡鴛鴦不羡仙。

唔...."衹羡鴛鴦不羡仙"呢句, 係咪好熟, 好有意境呢? 其實呢首詩唔係原作, 翻查資料, 發覺佢係抄以下呢首詩:

十里平湖綠滿天，玉簪暗暗惜華年。
若得雨蓋能相護，衹羡鴛鴦不羡仙。

咁, 究竟佢係乜人作既呢? 原來係出自59年李翰祥拍既<<倩女幽魂>>. 不過佢亦都唔係原創, 只係係下面兩首古詩內抄橋:

《别思》 白衣卿相(柳永)

十里長亭霜滿天，青絲白髮度何年？
今生無悔今生錯，來世有缘來世遷。
笑靨如花堪繾綣，容顏似水怎纏綿？
情濃渺恰相思淡，自在蓬山舞復躚。

《長安古意》 盧照鄰

...
借問吹蕭向紫煙，曾經學舞度芳年。
得成比目何辭死，願作鴛鴦不羡仙。
...


原來好既文章, 唔一定要原作. "天下文章一大抄", 真係講得冇錯既.