## Deal 3.1

### A bridge hand generator

#### by Thomas Andrews

#### Latest version: 3.1.9

Features:

- Easy to use for quick, simple dealing
- Customizable output formats
- Infinitely extensible via TCL
- Easily portable to most platforms
- Free (GNU public license)

## Information found on these pages:

- Downloading and Building Instructions
- New! Google Code Project - I've placed the Deal source code in a Google Code Project, with complete source control history from version 3.1.1 and later.
- New! Built-in double-dummy solver
- New! Release announcement blog. Just subscribe to the feed if you want to received news about new releases.
- An Introductory Tutorial for Windows
- An Introductory Tutorial for Unix
- An Advanced User's Guide
- An indexed list of all Deal 3.1 Commands
- Example Scripts
- External Resources
- History

## Things you can do with Deal:

- Dealing: Generate random deals for your club.
- Bidding practice: Practice general bidding, or specific situations
- Settle arguments: Was bidding game wise over that limit raise? Was that spade nine really the best lead?
- Statistical experiments: How often does a bid occur? How often does this slam make?
- "Problem solver" contests: Solve magazine problems, and learn where even the experts go wrong
- Interface with other programs: Deal 3.1 comes with the ability to call the GIB double dummy solver.

## What is Tcl?

Tcl, pronounced "tickle," stands for "Tool command language." If you are a Windows user, think of it as the Unix equivalent to Visual Basic. But, unlike Visual Basic, Tcl works on almost all operating systems, not just those made by Bill Gates.

Tcl is used in a variety of different software, from testing tools to web software (AOL Server, Vignette) and, of most interest to bridge players, Floater, the free online bridge program.

The people in charge of Tcl are Scriptics. But don't let their web site fool you - the basic software is free.

| Thomas Andrews (deal@thomasoandrews.com) Copyright 1996-2010. Deal is covered by the GNU General Public License. Plane Dealing graphic above created using POV-Ray.