Saitek 311 Using the Escape KEY AN Important Note, To select the Random Deal option, as

Pro Bridge manual final.qxd 2/8/2006 11:42 AM Page 9

USING THE ESCAPE KEY:

AN IMPORTANT NOTE!

Pressing ESCAPE at any time during bidding or play (unless you're canceling a mode, as specifically directed), will result in the immediate termination of your current hand. Be careful not to press ESCAPE inadvertently during your game!

XB	-	Bidding systems
XL	-	Language
XR	-	Reset score

Each of these Main Menu options will be discussed in detail in Section 2. For now, let's concentrate on starting our game!

To select Play Mode, as indicated by the flashing P, press ENTER. The computer will now switch to the Deal Menu, with a display of RNES. Notice that the R is flashing, and Random deal shows in Line 2, indicating the currently selected option. If necessary, press X or W until the R flashes. The X key cycles through the remaining option choices, as follows:

R - Random deal

XN - By deal no.

XE - After edit

XS - Same deal

Each of these Deal Menu options will be discussed in detail in Section 3. For now, let's allow the computer to deal randomly.

To select the Random Deal option, as

indicated by the flashing R, press ENTER. The computer will now shuffle the deck, deal 13 cards to each of the four players, and the bidding can begin! If you don't like the random hand that's just been dealt, return to the Deal Menu with ESCAPE, and press ENTER again to generate another randomly- dealt hand.

1.4 Learn to Bid…

After the cards have been dealt, your hand for South will appear on the lower portion of the display. Any bids already made will show under the appropriate Player Indicators, and SOUTH will flash when it's your turn to bid.

The vulnerability, if any, will also be displayed.

Line 1 of the display now shows all the symbols necessary to make your bid:

Pw e r q N (Pass/Clubs/Diamonds/Hearts/

Spades/No Trump), and Line 2 prompts you to make a bid for South. There are two different ways to bid:

•Direct Key Bidding: Press a Suit Key (q r e w ) or NO TRUMP, and then a

Value Key (2/3/4…), in that order. As soon as the Suit Key is pressed, the symbol for that suit will appear on Line 2 of the display. Likewise, when the Value Key is pressed, that value will also appear on Line 2, and the display will

prompt you to Press Enter.

Confirm your bid by pressing ENTER. To pass, press PASS and ENTER.

•Cursor Key Bidding: Press > or < to move the flashing cursor along the characters in Line 1 of the display, until you reach your desired suit symbol. Next, press ? to copy that suit symbol to Line 2 of the display. Line 1 now changes to show the possible bid values: 1234567. Press X or W to position the flashing cursor over your desired bid value, and press T to copy that number to Line 2. Finally, press ENTER to confirm your bid.

After you submit your bid with ENTER, using either of the above methods, the computer will bid the remaining hands. When flashes again, it's time to enter your SOUTH . For this and subsequent bids, Line 1 of the display will again show the bid symbols as before, with the addition of d for double or R for redouble, if appropriate. Enter your bid as described above. If you decide to double or redouble, either press DOUBLE and then ENTER, or use T to move the d or R down to Line 2, and then press ENTER.

Continue bidding until there have been three consecutive passes. At this point, the computer will take you directly into the playing phase.

Note that the computer's default settings are Team of Four (Duplicate Bridge), and American Standard (Five-Card Majors).