Bridge Hand Creator and Replay Files

This is a hand create, analyzer, and replay tool
for the card game of Bridge written in Java. 

You need a recent Java Runtime Environment.
Download the JRE from Oracle. The open JRE will
work too.

To start the program, double click on
"bridge.jar". If that does not work, enter "java
-jar bridge.jar" in a command line.

For a complete download, including sources and the
double dummy analysis (currently for Windows
64-bit only), download "package.zip".

The "dds.dll" and "dds.exe" files must be placed
in the directory, where "bridge.jar" is started.

The DDS used in this program is the work of Bo
Haglund. 

Versions

2026-02-02
- HTML output is now always to the user home directory ("\users\name\").

2026-02-01
- Directory is now saved betwee sessions.

2026-01-11
- Fixed PBN compatibility.

2025-12-23
- Cleared the red flag after escape key.

2025-12-11
- Fixed the centering.

2025-12-03
- N/S hands now center by default.
- Changed the logic of hands display in HTML.

2025-07-08
- Added an option to export hands in one line.

2025-11-05
- Fixed "Get Current Hand" in German mode.
- Fixed "/tr>" in HTML files.

2025-26-01
- Save PBN as a set of one board now. 

2024-09-01
- Fixed point restrictions in constraints.
- Shuffle button now shuffles and starts bidding.

2024-08-31
- Allowed point ranges like =8-10 in constraints.
- Setting suits now needs := to avoid confusion.

2024-08-30
- Read PBN files with multiple hands.

2024-08-28
- Analysis of boards given by constraints
  by repeated shuffling and computing the medians.

2024-05-12
- Added explanation of sidebar to help.
- Fixed the error flag.

2024-05-04
- Fixed vulnerability on hands loaded from
  IntoBridge via the Cliboard, or from LIN
  files.

2024-04-29
- Option added to load the current distribution
  into the constraints.
- Fixed shuffling of the oponents in autoplay.

2024-03-30
- On HTML output while bidding, the current 
  player is marked with a question mark.
- Options to show 2 or 4 hands in HTML
  output while bidding.

2024-03-13
- Constraints can now contain the contract.
- The constraints editor can be closed by 
  Ctr-Enter or Escape.
- The cards of the opponents of the current 
  declarer can be shuffled for double dummy 
  analysis or new play.

2024-02-10
- Option to show only the South hand and the table
  on Replay.

2024-01-29
- Names are read from LIN files or IntoBridge.
- Names can optionally be displayed in HTML output.
- Fixed error flag at start of play.

2024-01-22
- Fixed the shortcut for deals with constraints
  (now Ctrl-6).
- Better error message in constraints.
- Improved click response.
- Collecting tricks with Enter works better.

2024-01-08
- Fixed a problem with double.

2023-12-19
- Fixed copying from clipboard.

2023-12-07
- Made the bidding box smaller (optionally).

2023-12-06
- Fixed "go to start of replay".
- Added instructions to "readme.txt".

2023-12-03
- Trumps can now be sorted to the start of the
  hand display.
- Fixed rotation of hands.
- Take back now works better in Autoplay mode.

2023-12-01
- "Show Bids" has been changed from a flag to
  a command. The bids will vanish when a key
  is pressed or with a mouse click. There is
  now a toolbar button for this. The keyboard
  shortcut is B.
- The click regions for back and forth in replay
  are now smaller in the lower left and right corner.
- You can now autoplay as one of the opponents.
- A red flag showing errors in play can be enabled.

2023-11-30
- A new Replay button will only go to the start
  of the replay, and not start the playing.

2023-11-29
- You can now declare against opponents. They will
  play Double Dummy.
- New icon bar with shortcuts to often used functions.
  Some shortcuts depend on the previously selected
  menu item.

2023-11-28
- Double dummy solver now shows scores for cards
  to play, optionally always or only in replay.
- All sources and files in a package for download.

2023-11-23
- Fixed an error in the replay of the bidding.

2023-11-22
- First Version of a local double dummy solver using
  the DLL by Bo Haglund. You need to download the
  DLL and the EXE (only for Windows 64-bit) and
  place both in the directory of bridge.jar.

2023-10-26
- Fixed an error with the backspace key in play if the
  trick has been completed and is shown.

2023-10-19
- Fixed a bug with trick count in replay after escape.
- Gave up German menus and help file. German cards and 
  constraints still work.

2023-10-18
- Option to highlight next played card

2023-08-23
- Option to set large font (requires restart)
- Fixed font in Options menu

2023-08-20
- Added Option to add G to constraints.
- Fixes in German Version

2023-08-18
- German Version

2023-08-10
- Bidding exports to HTML in a table.

2023-08-09
- Added dealer to HTML export.

2023-08-08
- Browser should now work in Linux too.
- Save board in HTML and open browser.

2023-08-06
- Fixed a typing error in the documentation.

2023-07-31
- Can read boards from the clipboard (for IntoBridge)

2023-07-12
- Fixed PBN output of Dealer.
- Allowed PBN string "?" for dealer and contract.

2023-07-11
- Constraints are no longer case sensitive.
- Y for other HC cards in constraints now.
- Fix: NT can now be doubled.

2023-07-10
- New constraint sAK>3.
- Fixed LIN file loading.

2023-07-09
- First non-Beta version.

Installation

- Install a Java Runtime Environment from Oracle (or www.javasoft.com).
- Download the bridge.jar file.
- Double click bridge.jar.
- Or: Open a command line and enter "java -jar bridge.jar"