1.GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS
1.1 Power On
Your Pro Bridge 3000 runs on four "AAA"(AM4/R03) batteries. Locate the battery compartment in the base of the unit, at the top, and slide off the cover in the direction of the arrows. Insert the batteries, making sure that you observe the correct polarity (+/-), as marked inside the compartment. We recommend fresh alkaline batteries for longer battery life.
Important: To ensure that memory contents are not lost if your computer is unplugged, try to keep batteries installed.
To turn the computer on, press GO/ STOP. After a brief start-up display, you'll see the Main Menu (PGSIBLR), indicating that the computer is ready to play. If the unit doesn't respond, static discharge may have caused it to lock up. To reset the unit, use a paper clip or another sharp object to press down into the hole marked ACL in the base of the unit for at least one full second. This clears the memory and resets the computer to its default settings.
1.2 Get to Know the Menu System
Before learning how to play, you should take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the Pro Bridge 3000's integrated menu system. Once you understand the basic concept, it will be easier for you to explore all the special features and options which are accessed via the menus!
To get an overview of how the menus work, take a look at the Menu System Chart on the previous page. It provides a graphic representation of the primary menus you'll encounter as you select various options and get ready to play. The dashed displays in the chart signify further menu options, which are described individually in the appropriate sections of the manual. If you should ever find yourself confused by where you are within the menu system, simply refer back to the chart. Back up to the previous menu by pressing ESCAPE, if necessary, to locate your place on the chart. Also, keep in mind that pressing ESCAPE repeatedly will return you to the Main Menu at any time.
See the Menu System Chart in Section 2 for an illustrated overview of your menu choices and options!
Follow these guidelines when using the Menu System:
•The flashing character indicates the current option/menu choice.
• | The | and keys move the flashing |
| cursor through the current choices. |
• | The | key moves the flashing character |
| (suit, value, etc.) from Line 1 of the |
| display to Line 2 during bidding and play. |
| Some option selections are also made |
| this way. |
• | The | key cancels the last Line 2 input |
| during bidding and play (before pressing |
| ENTER). |
•ENTER selects and confirms the currently flashing option.
•ESCAPE returns you to the most recent major menu: the Main Menu, Deal Menu, or Edit Menu. Pressing
ESCAPE repeatedly takes you back to the Main Menu.
1.3 Ready? Time to Deal!
After pressing GO/STOP to turn the Pro Bridge 3000 on, the display will show the Main Menu (PGSIBLR). If necessary, press ESCAPE until this display shows. Notice that the P is flashing, and Play shows on Line 2. The flashing letter indicates the current option choice. The key cycles through the remaining options, as follows:
P - Play
G - Game level
S - Sound on/off
I - BL Intensity
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!
B - Bidding systems
L - Language
R - 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 or | until the R flashes. The key |
cycles through the remaining option choices, as follows:
R | - | Random | deal |
N | - | By deal no. |
E | - | After | edit |
S | - | 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 | or to position the |
flashing cursor over your desired bid |
value, and press | 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 SOUTH flashes again, it's time to enter your next bid. 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 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).
