Scores 8X15 MainChallenge


December 2004 Scores


Analyses by Richard Pavlicek

The “Let Your Heart Be Light” play contest had 1040 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 participants1040
Number of locations116
Highest score59
Median score38
Lowest score19
Average score38.38

Top 100

RankScoreCCName123456
159USilCharles BlairBBFBAE
257PLJarek GasiorBAFCAE
357BESebastien LouveauxCCFCAE
457UKenFrances HindenBAFCAE
557USohCarolyn AhlertBBFBBE
657UScaRob StevensBCFCBE
757DERainer HerrmannBDFBAE
857NLGijsbert van RijtBAFCAE
956ESGonzalo GodedBAFBAE
1056UKenJonathan MestelBAFCAC
1155CNWuping LuCDFBAE
1255USinTim DeLaneyBDFBBE
1355FRPatrice PiganeauCAFCAE
1455USwaN. Scott CardellBBFBEE
1554CNRoger SunCBFBDE
1654HUImre CsiszarCAFBAE
1754UKenGareth BirdsallCCFBBE
1853CNBilly ChenBBFBFE
1953SIEgon NovakEDFCBE
2053USohJerry FinkBBFBBA
2153HULajos LinczmayerCAFCBE
2252CHHelene LariviereBDBBBC
2352UScaJohn KozeroCAFBBE
2452PTManuel PauloDAFCAE
2552AUBruce NeillBFFBAE
2652CNXiongwen GuBAFCAB
2752UKscNigel GuthrieBDFCFE
2852CNWeidong YangCAFCDE
2952UKenJulian WightwickCAFBBE
3051BGOgnian SmilianovEAFCDE
3151ZWLeif-Erik StabellABFCAE
3250USmoDing-Hwa HsiehBAFBAF
3350FRAlbert OhanaDCFCEE
3450USksSteve DayEBABAE
3550USmiGordon ParnesCCFBFE
3650USilMichael FosseCBFBBB
3750UKenJohn EnglandCBFBFC
3850ZAUlrich NellBAFBAF
3950UKenToby KenneyCFFBAE
4050UScaJim MundayBAFBAF
4150SECarsten KofoedBAFBFE
4249CAonEdward DisenhausEBCCAA
4349USorDottie AllisonEBFBBB
4449UKscShelagh LorimerCDFBFE
4549PTManuel OliveiraCAFBAB
4649CApqMarius MoldovanEBFBBB
4749UKwaJulian PottageCDFBAF
4849NLJ.J. GassEDBBBC
4949SEP.A. ErikssonBAFCEA
5049AUBill PowellACFBAE
5148PLDarek KardasAAFCAE
5248PLJulka KowalskaAAFCAE
5348USmiJoseph MountDDFBAA
5448ITFranco GalleniCAFBFE
5548UScaMark WilsonEDFBBA
5648UScoNelson BrentlingerEBBBBA
5748CAonFintan ChurchFAFBAC
5848NLJan TesselaarBEFBAF
5948USflKay JonesCECBAE
6048UKenDavid HodgeBEFBAF
6148CAnsJim MathersCAFBAF
6248TRSitki SonmezerCBCCAF
6348ESJordi SabateCAFBAF
6448BGIvan KolevBAABBE
6548INNeelotpal SahaiEAFCAF
6648PLRoman KujaczynskiABFCDE
6747BEAlon AmselBCFBFB
6847ROLiviu OpreaCAABAC
6947UKenDavid KendrickCAFBFC
7047NLYke SmitCAFBFC
7147UScaRon JacksierCAFBBB
7247USpaJack FishmanCAFBBB
7347USncFaye SattinDBFBBB
7447USflDavid GoldsteinDDFBAB
7547UKenJohn ReardonACFBBE
7647USwyRick KnightDDFBAB
7747USflJohn RidenourBABBBB
7847UStxRuth WestDDBBBC
7947CAnsJim SotvedtCBFBFA
8047UScaMartin HertzCCCBAB
8147UKenEspen ErichsenCEFCAF
8247TRM. Fahir UzumcuCBABAA
8347FIJuha TamminenCDBBBA
8447USflLee EltonCBFBFA
8547CAonFred LepinskieEDFBFC
8647USpaSteve WhiteAAFBAE
8747USncTim HemphillCBFBFA
8847TRGuray SunamakBECAAE
8946JPMark LaForgeCCFCFB
9046USwaMichael DekkerCBFBFB
9146PLSlawek CwiekAAFCBE
9246USlaCarolyn SongyEBFBFA
9346USazBill SchrammCBFBFB
9446AUAndy ChanCEABAE
9546CNHero LiCAFBBF
9646CAonLeone WilsonDDFBBA
9746USmiRose BurkeCBFBFB
9846UStnCharles CohenDBFBBF
9946UScaTodd UyedaEEFBAB
10046USazSteven PriceCEFBFE

Scores 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 Scores

Places 101-200

RankScoreCCName123456
10146UScaJeff GoldsmithADFBBE
10246UScoJohn BortinsEDFAAB
10346USmdTanya RodichEDFAAB
10446USnyGregg DeitchEAFBBB
10546USflFrank NankinDDFBBA
10646FIJouko PaganusDEFAAE
10746EEMeelis TiitsonCBACBA
10846TROsman OzcanCDCCAF
10946AUSandy McCullochCCFBCC
11046USnyGrace LloydCDFBBD
11146USnyJay LevyCCCBAF
11246CAonSheila PuzCBFBFB
11346UKenRoderick EwanCBFBFB
11445USmdJerrold MillerCBFBFF
11545PLWojtek UrbanAAFCDE
11645IEBreda ScanlanEDBBBB
11745BGGeorgi BachevCAFAAF
11845IEJeannie FitzgeraldBEFBBD
11945INSushi NatrajBBFBCB
12045UScoJeanne AchzigerCBFBFF
12145USflCecil LivingstonEDBBBB
12245UScaSharon FaussDAFCFC
12345USazLarry WatsonDBFFDE
12445UStnDiane BlackwoodEBFBFB
12545USnjMani GuptaBAFBFB
12645ROGabriel DinescuCBBBFA
12745CAnsBrian LaffertyCAFCFA
12845UStxRobert SzafranskiCDFBFA
12945USmoThomas KniestCAFBDF
13045USmdBrad TheurerEACBAA
13145USpaMark PascaleCBFBFF
13245CAnsGerald MurphyCDFBFA
13345EEJan TartanADFBBC
13445CAonRoss TaylorCAFBBD
13545VESally AltmannEDBBBB
13645PTFrancisco EspregueiraDDBBAB
13745USflJane KilleleaDDFBBB
13845USnyAlbert FeasleyBDCCBD
13945BGZahary ZaharievAAFCDE
14045USnjRobert GalloBDBBFA
14145AUCatherine RitterCBFBFF
14245ILRafi AmadoCABBFC
14345TWLemon ChiouCBFBFF
14445INMadhukar BapuBCACDB
14545USorJohn LuskyCFFEAE
14644FRChristian OstermanCDABAB
14744USwaJosh SinnettCACBFE
14844PLMarcin ZbrojaAAFCEE
14944PLAndrzej KrakowiakAAFAAE
15044TWHang ChangCDCBBB
15144ILMoshe WhiteCDFEBA
15244CAonRobert LakeCAFBCC
15344CNNing LiuCAFCFB
15444CNJet ChjCAFBEF
15544SGMingfeng LiuCCFBFF
15644USokWinston MunnECCBFC
15744NLArno EversdijkEDFDBC
15844USflJune ByrneCDFBFB
15944CAonRomeo LalondeEEFBBB
16044VEFrances HansenDBFABB
16144UScaBarbara WareDBFABB
16244USpaKarl BarthCDFBFB
16344TRYavuz OvacikCAABAA
16444UKenMark SheedyEBDCBA
16544ILMargalit Ben-AmiCDFBFB
16644ILAmiram MilletBAFCFD
16744BGAlexander MakaveevCBFBFD
16844USilNancie FlaxmanBABABB
16944USflClive Stuart-FindlayBAFEBB
17044USalDon KempCDABAB
17144UScaMike RoneyCBABBB
17244NOKristian KjorstadCFFFAE
17344UScaKat TurtleEDFABB
17444UKenRoger GibbonsCACBAF
17544UStxChad HarrisDBFEAB
17644USmaRichard KatzeffCDDBAA
17744CAonRoy MelvinEBFCFD
17844UScaJimmie SwanEABAAA
17944ROAndrei CosmanescuDFBBAC
18044USmaHelen WeckerDDFAAB
18144CAnsRosemary SampsonCBABAD
18244UStxBill BreslinEDCCBB
18343UScaTysen StreibEBABBB
18443UKenAshley SawyerCAFBFB
18543USilRick KirbyCBBBFF
18643UScaAl GoldspielCFFBBB
18743USmaThomas RaymondCDFBFF
18843CAonTracey FuhrEBFBFD
18943USpaDavid LeavittCDFBFF
19043NZLinda SloanDDBBBB
19143INRavi RamamurthiCDCBBF
19243FIJoakim FabritiusCACBBB
19343CLEduardo HurtadoDDBBBB
19443USmdRichard KvalnesEDFBFB
19543USmdMarty BleyDDBBBB
19643HKPui Kong ChiuCDFBFF
19743CAonRandy BreuerCDFBFF
19843CAonGordon HumphrysEDABAB
19943GRSpiros KotinasCBBBFF
20043NOGeir NostdahlCCFBFD

Scores 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 Scores

Places 201-300

RankScoreCCName123456
20143CApqLise LapointeCEFBDF
20243GTBela RussDDBBBB
20343USorAtul KhareCAFBFB
20443USohCharles BisesiDDBBBB
20543USmaK. Scott KimballCAFBFB
20643NLTess StoellerCDFBFF
20743FIRiku ErkkilaCDBCED
20843TWMing-Ta TsaiCACBFC
20943USinDan SpainCDFBFF
21043FIMauri SaastamoinenBAFFAD
21143FRJean-Pierre BlochEDABAB
21243USmaMark GreenbergEDFBFB
21343INVenkataramanayya KesirajuCDFBFF
21443USmdPaul WolfertDDBAAA
21543TRTezcan SenCEBCBF
21643CAbcBrent MooderEEBBBA
21743USkyMike HarneyCDFBFF
21843NZHamish BrownEAFBFA
21943UScaMarvin FrenchBCCCFF
22043UKwaBerk ElliciEBABFC
22143TRHakan PeksenCEFBEB
22243LVJanis DzenisCDABFE
22343CApqPaul ParadisCBDBBB
22443LBFadi FattoucheCDFBFF
22543PTJose OliveiraCBDBAD
22643FITaru SuppulaEBDBAF
22742UStxJimmy HubbardCDBBFB
22842UScaLen VishnevskyEACBFC
22942UScoKay SlaatsDDFBCC
23042HRDean PokornyAAFCFE
23142CAabDaniel BertrandCCCBEF
23242UScaJack ShifferEBCCFB
23342USilGeorge KlemicCAFBFF
23442USkyMax HooverCACBBF
23542SGJia KeCAFBFF
23642UScaJohn HardyCDFBCA
23742CAonMatthew MasonCBCBFB
23842NZBruce KellyDABBBB
23942SGCharles LeongEDFBFF
24042UKjeChris HillDBBBFA
24142USctJim BrennanDBFDAB
24242CApqSolange BouchardECFFAD
24342USmnKirk BituEABABA
24442USnjStephen StraussCAFBFF
24542USmdMitch EdelmanCDFBFD
24642CNHongjun ZhongEAFCFF
24742USgaKenneth HardcastleCBCBFB
24842CAnsKerry LaffertyDFFBAB
24942UStxSteve JolleyDBBBCC
25042USnjJane FullerDDFABB
25142UStxPeter HudsonCEFCFB
25242CAonDavid ColbertDDBBBF
25342CAonPearl GoodmanEBDBFC
25442NLMonique van de SandeCBCBFB
25542CApqMatthew SzavayCACBBF
25642TRCengiz SekerCDFBFD
25742UStxMike DoyleCACBBF
25842UKenGeoff MorrisCDFBFD
25942USmaJeffrey GertzCAFBFF
26042CAonNick WongCAFBFF
26142UScaSteven HoughCDCBBD
26242USflPeter MooneyFBFAFC
26342CNPingfan ZhuCACCDF
26442USinPatrick DoveCBCBFB
26542UScaJames WeeksCAFBFF
26642UScaGary PeckEDFBFF
26742UStxStephen GerhardDBFBFF
26842DEDetlev KroeningCDABBB
26942USiaRichard NewellCAFBFF
27042CHPedro BilarCAFCFD
27142UScaRena FarberDDFABB
27242USflPatrick ThomasEDBEAB
27342USnjAustin FitzgeraldDBFBFF
27442GRSpiros LiarakosAAFCAF
27542SGShen Ting AngDBABBA
27642ILAlex DovCDFBFD
27742TROmer KizilokCEFBEF
27842GRThanos KalentzosAABBBC
27942HKWing Ho LoEBDBFC
28042PTJoao CruzCABBCC
28142TRMelike SonCDABBB
28242CAbcCorrie DeRooyDAABBC
28342CApqAnsar BurneyCAFBFF
28442AUJustin BrownDBAABC
28542UScaHarold SimonCCBBFF
28642AURobin KnightDBFBFF
28742ITGianpaolo CentioliECFBFD
28842CNSamuel G.L.CDFBFD
28942CAabSheldon SpierCAFBFF
29042INSneha SridharCAABAF
29142UKenSteve KitchingCDDBBA
29242CAonChris BalyoCABBCC
29342DEChristian GlubrechtCDFBFD
29442ESJavier CarboneroEAFBFB
29542PLAndrzej MatuszewskiACDBAE
29642USmdTibor RobertsCDFBFD
29742USwaRoberta TarrDBBABB
29842UKscMyles EllisonCAFBFF
29942UKenJohn HaslegraveEFCAAE
30041UScaMatt MatuszewskiEBCBFB

Scores 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 Scores

Places 301-400

RankScoreCCName123456
30141ITPaolo PaolicchiEDABBB
30241ILOr ShohamEDBBFB
30341DKJacob GrabowskiDDBCCC
30441UKenMark GurneyCDCCFB
30541TRDeniz YuretCAAAAA
30641CAonKaiyu QianCBDBBD
30741USmnPeter KebbekusEAACBB
30841USvaJohn ConoverFABBBA
30941USwaHendrik SharplesCACBDF
31041SEJohnny JohanssonCAABFC
31141NLAlbert ReijnenCAABFC
31241JPMakiko SatoCBCBFF
31341UKenVictor MilmanCBCBFF
31441INAshwani MehtaCAABFC
31541FRGillian PatyEAFBFF
31641PTAugusto LopesCBCBFF
31741DEZuzana HerrmannCBACFB
31841USflBeth LudwigDBBBFB
31941BEEugeen VannutenEBCBFB
32041CApqChantal SeigneurEBBBCA
32141USnyChuck LampreyAAFBFE
32241USnyRita SierocinskiDBFAFA
32341UKenAndrew BillsonDDBABA
32441NLNils VerhoeveCBABFA
32541UKenRichard FranklinDAFBCC
32641UScaHon HoCDBBFF
32741UScaMichael BaianoCDDBBB
32841INSubramaniam BalachandranCBCCFD
32941CAonPaul CrosslandCADBAF
33041PKAhsan QureshiEAFBFF
33141ESPilar Gonzalez-HontoriaCAABBB
33241CAonGabriel Nita-SagunaAAFFAE
33341CApqMichel LalondeCADBFE
33441AUEverald HewsonDDFBFB
33541EEAllar PadariCDDBBB
33641AUSimon BradyEDFDBA
33741USflMel KleinCDDBBB
33841USnySaul SeinbergCBDBBD
33941USksSteve StewartCACBDF
34041CAonDavid LindopCDABBF
34141CZDalibor ProchazkaDAFBFA
34241USnhRichard BatorCADBFE
34341UKenRoger MortonCAFDAF
34441UKenBiddy SmythEDABFC
34541INSubhash BhavnaniEECBFE
34641CAnsAlan DoaneCDABBF
34741AUPeter TallDBABBB
34841MZPaul FauvetCDFDFC
34941CApqLuc FavreauEDFBCA
35041USctTerry LubmanCDBBFF
35141IEEamon GalliganCBDBCE
35241USazTom SchlangenCADBFE
35341CAbcKathy TurnerACFAAB
35441UScaDan ScarolaCBCBFF
35541SELars-G LarssonCBCBFF
35640USalQianjun LiDBFAFB
35740SGAdam KingCECBBF
35840CApqPearl CooperEDFDAD
35940USlaRobert BlackEBDBBD
36040PTJorge CastanheiraCEFBFF
36140NLVictor BaakmanCBCBFD
36240HKClinton YuEBBCCF
36340USvaLeah BoyerDDFEBB
36440CAonTerry NosanchukCCCBFF
36540SGGary AngCBDABB
36640HKSimon CheungECCDEE
36740SKStefan ChomaCDABBD
36840UStxAlexander LabryCDBBFD
36940HKShuino WongCAABBF
37040UScoSteve MarxCABBFF
37140UScaJoseph ChinDDABBA
37240USksCarl WhiteCEFBFF
37340AUInez GlangerEDDBBB
37440CNOlivine HeCEFBFF
37540USlaLorraine SteinerDAFBFB
37640UScaVicki LesterCBABFB
37740CAbcBrian WrightCEBBFA
37840UScoDaniel WilliamsCBABFB
37940CAonDoug McAvoyCAABBF
38040NZMark HangartnerCADBBB
38140LVIvars RubenisEAABBB
38240ROOana CherciuCBACFF
38340UKenBill MichellADBBFE
38440NOEspen SkarpholtCDDBBF
38540UScaDanny KleinmanECCBFB
38640USncJim MassonCAABBF
38740CAonJordan CohenCAABBF
38840USnyKenneth HermanDAABAB
38940KRRick WakemanCFFBFA
39040USnyBruce RossCBDBFA
39140USmaArun SannutiEDDBFC
39240USohBob StittCDABBD
39340UKenCharlotte VineEDDBBB
39440USctScott MaramoCDABBD
39540USmaFrank MorganEBCEFC
39640UKenDavid ParkEBCBFF
39740CApeJudy ReillyCDDBDB
39840AUSteve HalliwellFDFAAD
39940RODorin ToparceanuCDABBD
40040BGKamelia BalabanovaEDDBFC

Scores 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 Scores

All Others Above Average

RankScoreCCName123456
40140USilAmnon HarelCADBBB
40240USmnNick ErpeldingEDBDAB
40340USmiAllan TushmanFBABBA
40440USflHy GlantzDACBAD
40540CNPeijie ZangCDDBBF
40640USflMeg BongirneDCFEEA
40740USpaJacqualyn NewmanEBAABB
40840USnhClint HepnerDEFABA
40940USflJohn LiporiDBFDBB
41040CNXinjian HuangCECCDF
41140CApqJack NayerEAFBFD
41240USilEugene DilleCABBFF
41340USnjEileen CohenEAABBB
41440IEPatricia GreenAAABAC
41540UScaJohn ChenCACBDD
41640USpaBarbara ReinoehlDAABAB
41740PTCarlos CabrinhaCABBFF
41840USncLee LofflerEBFAFD
41940CAonRagnar PaulsonCAFAFB
42040USnyWilliam BascomCAFDFC
42140NZStephen CullenDBFAFB
42240PLJacek ZwolinskiDDCBBF
42340TROkan OzcanCCCBFF
42440PTPaulino CorreaCFBCDF
42540USnjMarilyn TaylorDDBBCC
42640CAonBala IyerCEFBFF
42740ILMichael TillesCECBBF
42840SETord WageniusCBABFB
42940HUJozsef SzikszaiDACBFC
43040CHAziza RusconiEDFDBB
43140UKenGareth StoneDBDBBB
43240CAonKeith DonaldsonDDBBCC
43339PLKazik DrozdzAAFCCE
43439TRSenih InalCDBBCB
43539UScaCurt ReevesEDCBFB
43639USnyGerald CohenCEFBFD
43739PLJacek MasiarekAAFCCE
43839PLZbych BednarekCCCBFD
43939USwaJim WiitalaCDDBBD
44039AUBernard NightingaleEBDCFB
44139USsdShirley GentryDDABBB
44239USflBert KabathCCFDCC
44339USmnTony AmesCDCBFF
44439USflJoseph GlazarCBFDFB
44539USvaJudy BatesCBDBFB
44639UScaBrian GilbertCDCBFF
44739CAmbDavid SiredCAABEB
44839CAbcAllan BeckerEBDCFB
44939AERavi ShivramCDCBFF
45039TRLeyla KezerCBABFF
45139BEAlan PiotrowskiECCBFF
45239UKenJohn CondonDDABBB
45339NLJacco HopCADBBF
45439NOJostein AmundsenDDBABF
45539CApqMathieu PellerinDABBCC
45639HKDavid MokCBABFF
45739USflJohn David PhillipDAACBB
45839USohJessie GoodwinFDCBBB
45939UScaBarbara TaftFDFBFB
46039UStnJoseph HawesCBFDFB
46139USnmMark JarmieDDABBB
46239UKenQuentin StephensDAFDAB
46339USnjChazz RearickDDABDA
46439ATKarl EigenbauerCBDBFB
46539UKenDom GoodwinCCCBFD
46639NOMagnus GulbrandsenCBDBFB
46739TRUgur TasCECBBD
46839UKwaAlan StephensonCDCBFF
46939UKenAdam DickinsonCCACFF
47039USalJim MendelsohnFDDCAB
47139TRAzer InalDDABBB
47239USflEleanor GarberFAFBCC
47339UKenMartin GreeleyCACBFB
47439UStxLarry SmithCDCBFF
47539USmaMark AquinoCACBFB
47639CAbcSamuel KriklerFADBDE
47739UStxFredi WeinbaumDDFBCA
47839USgaRichard WimberleyCDCBFF
47939TRKadir Ahmet GoregeCEABBB
48039USorBarry WhiteADFCDD
48139CAonJoel ShapiroDDFBFD
48239USdcBarry LevyABCBBB
48339UScaBob KleinCDCBFF
48439INArpan BanerjeeCDCBFF
48539USmdAllen ShawEAFDBB
48639NLThijs VeugenAEFBAF
48739USncRobert BirthiselFBFBFD
48839AUPeter StrideCBABFF
48939UScaNancy SommervilleEDFDBF
49039AUStephen FischerEADBBB
49139USmoJohn StewartDDFBCA
49239CAbcDale StewartDDBBFB
49339NLRinus BalkenendeCDABEF
49439TRAltay AlpCEABBB
49539NLFrans BuijsenEBFEFF
49639UKniArnond RotrugsaEEFBFF
49739UScoDon HincheyCADBBF
49839NOMagnus SkaarCEABFC
49939CApqNorm GordonAEFBFE
50039PTJorgez PedrazCBABFF
50139USwaCraig ZasteraAAFBBF

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 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 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
142.8316HUHungary6
242.192PLPoland16
341.4022CHSwitzerland5
440.867DEGermany7
540.8612USinIndiana7
640.80143TWTaiwan5
740.6261CAnsNova Scotia13
840.6030BGBulgaria10
940.36103USmdMaryland14
1040.3211CNChina25
1140.30142ILIsrael10
1240.231USilIllinois13
1340.1343USorOregon8
1439.80243USmnMinnesota5
1539.755USohOhio12
1639.4327UKscScotland7
1739.3893USazArizona8
1839.25196HKHong Kong8
1939.20199GRGreece5
2039.189ESSpain11
2139.1078UStxTexas20
2239.0914USwaWashington11
2339.00116IEIreland6
2438.866UScaCalifornia78
2538.8256UScoColorado11
2638.804UKenEngland64
2738.7873USncNorth Carolina9
2838.6862TRTurkey31
2938.5054ITItaly6
3038.4472USpaPennsylvania18
3138.40155SGSingapore10
3238.3368RORomania15
3338.20308USvaVirginia5
3438.1625AUAustralia32
3538.1346CApqQuebec23
3638.1138ZASouth Africa9
3738.083BEBelgium12
3838.0813FRFrance12
3938.0865INIndia26
4038.0032USmoMissouri7
4138.0035USmiMichigan8
4237.8542CAonOntario52
4337.74176USmaMassachusetts23
4437.67190NZNew Zealand9
4537.5441SESweden13
4637.54216CAbcBritish Columbia13
4737.50231CAabAlberta6
4837.4024PTPortugal25
4937.40125USnjNew Jersey20
5037.318NLNetherlands29
5137.23172NONorway13
5237.20135VEVenezuela5
5336.8383FIFinland12
5436.7759USflFlorida52
5536.50104USnyNew York28
5635.80222LVLatvia5
5733.71247USgaGeorgia7

RankAverageBestCCLocationEntries
5851.0031ZWZimbabwe1
5947.0076USwyWyoming1
6043.6734USksKansas3
6143.6747UKwaWales3
6243.5089JPJapan2
6343.00202GTGuatemala1
6443.00224LBLebanon1
6542.50107EEEstonia4
6642.00240UKjeJersey & Guernsey1
6742.00269USiaIowa1
6841.0092USlaLouisiana4
6941.0098UStnTennessee4
7041.00241USctConnecticut3
7141.00303DKDenmark1
7241.00330PKPakistan1
7341.00348MZMozambique1
7440.00170USalAlabama4
7540.00367SKSlovakia1
7640.00389KRKorea (South)1
7739.50193CLChile2
7839.00441USsdSouth Dakota1
7939.00496UKniNorthern Ireland1
8038.50217USkyKentucky4
8138.33156USokOklahoma3
8238.25342USnhNew Hampshire4
8338.00514VIVirgin Islands US1
8438.00518CRCosta Rica1
8538.00525CAnfNewfoundland1
8638.00540USwvWest Virginia1
8738.00551MKMacedonia1
8837.50397CApePrince Edward Island2
8937.50553USdeDelaware2
9037.00589USnvNevada1
9137.00605USarArkansas1
9237.00641USneNebraska1
9336.75482USdcWashington DC4
9436.67341CZCzech Republic3
9536.00674CDCongo (Dem Republic)1
9636.00708BCBasque Country1
9735.67464ATAustria3
9835.50230HRCroatia4
9935.2519SISlovenia4
10035.25447CAmbManitoba4
10135.00461USnmNew Mexico4
10235.00741MYMalaysia1
10334.67697USakAlaska3
10434.50513USwiWisconsin2
10534.00526RSSerbia2
10634.00806TTTrinidad & Tobago1
10733.67661USmeMaine3
10833.50449AEUnited Arab Emirates2
10933.00837EGEgypt2
11032.50750IDIndonesia4
11132.00904USmsMississippi1
11230.50786THThailand2
11330.00945USscSouth Carolina1
11430.00954ISIceland1
11529.00976MTMalta1
11629.00984USidIdaho1

Scores 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 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 all the bots with a respectable score of 48, narrowly edging out perennial champ Jack (Netherlands) with 47. Five of the seven real bots (HAL qualifies as unreal in more ways than one) topped the average human score. This is especially noteworthy since the bots were incapable of understanding some of the signaling methods — mainly, the use of suit preference (middle to encourage) when third hand has shown a long suit.

As usual, there were a few wayward defenses, indicated as Choice G. On Problem 1, Bridge Buff and Micro Bridge signaled with the H 10 (options were H Q, H 7 or H 2); while dangerously high, this is surely better than the H Q, so I awarded it 4. On Problem 5, GIB signaled with the H 3 (options were H J, H 8 or H 2) — not quite as bad as the horrible H 2, so I gave it 2. On Problem 6, Q-plus Bridge overtook with the ace and returned the H 3, which might be a spectacular move if partner led a stiff king; but on planet Earth, it’s lucky to get 3 (same as the worst listed option).

In general, the bots favored signaling (or in some cases, I suspect just following suit) to the more aggressive overtaking plays. The exception was HAL, who seemed to think it was James Bond, as its MP3 player bellowed out the “Diamonds are Forever” theme. Sure enough, on every problem, HAL overtook with ace and led a diamond, proving once again that any consistent approach will outscore its judgment.

December 2004 Rankings
RankScoreCCProgram version123456
148USBridge Baron 15.0BABCBB
247NLJack 2.04BABBBB
345DEQ-plus Bridge 7.1BABBBG
445CABridge Buff 11.0GABBBC
539UKBlue Chip Bridge 4.2.1BDCDBB
637USGIB 6.1.3BAABGB
731JPMicro Bridge 11.0GDADBB
826USHAL 9002FEEFFE

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 8X15 MainChallengeAnalysesTop December 2004 Scores

© 2004 Richard Pavlicek