BACKGAMMON 2.0
(Atari, North Star, and CP/M Only)
This program (by Giga, Chicago, IL) tests your backgammon skills and will also improve your game. A human can compete against the computer or against another human. The computer can even play itself! Either the computer or human can double or generate dice rolls. Board positions can be created or saved for replay. BACKGAMMON 2.0 is played in accordance with the official rules of backgammon, and is sure to provide many fascinating sessions of backgammon play.
Price: $14.95 Cassette $18.95 Diskette $21.45 8″ MBASIC Disk
POKER PARTY
If you enjoy draw poker, then this is the software package for you.
POKER PARTY is better classified as a simulation than as a game. As a simulation, POKER PARTY is an excellent (and inexpensive) tool for learning the subtleties of draw poker. As a game, it is simply fascinating!
POKER PARTY differs from most microcomputer poker games in the following two important ways. First, the level of play engaged by the computer opponents on the whole is quite high. Second, it is not just a two-handed game (how often do people play two-handed draw poker in real life?), but rather seven-handed. The usual rules of draw poker are followed, including a maximum of three rounds of betting before the draw (up to five cards), and at most three after. Aces may be used either high or low in straights, and there is a wild card.
The six computer players each have a different "personality" ranging from conservative to risk-taking. You can get to know your opponents with time, but it will require careful observation of the betting patterns. Your seating position changes from game to game. Sometimes you will follow a bluffer, other times he (she) will follow you.
Spend an evening with POKER PARTY for enjoyment or practice for that next money game!
Price: $17.95 (Cassette) $21.95 (Diskette) $24.45 (8″ MBASIC Disk)
STUD POKER
(Atari Only, 16K)
STUD POKER contains two menu selectable versions of this popular poker game. One version displays all your cards and three of the computer's. You then bet on the cards that you see. The other version provides a round of betting after each card is dealt. You will find the computer to be a worthy opponent who occasionally bluffs but never cheats! STUD POKER employs all of the Atari's sound, color, and graphics capabilities and will run on 16K systems.
Price: $11.95 Cassette $15.95 Diskette
CHESS MASTER
(For North Star and TRS-80 Only)
CHESS MASTER is a computer program which will challenge your chess playing ability with its aggressive style of play. Written in assembly language (by SOFTWARE SPECIALISTS of Norco, California), this program employs the full graphics capability of the TRS-80 and also provides the North Star user (either Z80 or 8080 microprocessor) with two different board sizes to select from.
You may choose between five different playing skills for your computer opponent, ranging from beginner (but a tough opponent when playing "lightning" chess!) to expert. Besides providing for King or Queen-side castling, en passant captures and pawn promotion, CHESS MASTER also allows you to preset the board in any configuration which you may find of interest. This allows for the examination of book situations or the replaying of interesting positions occurring during previous games.
Moves are conveniently made by entering the number of the square you are moving from and the number of the square which you are moving to. The program checks all moves for legality and then displays the moves in standard chess notation.
Price: $19.95 Cassette $23.95 Diskette
Sample:
(North Star, small board)
CHECK
80 - *N - - - - *R -
70 *R *P - - R - - -
60 - *K - - - - - -
50 *P - - - P - *P -
40 P P N *P - - - -
30 - - - B - - - -
20 - - P - - - - P
10 - - - - - - K -
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
FROM SQUARE: 62
TO SQUARE: 61
16 BL K - QR3
17 WH QNP - QN5
CHECK
** CHECKMATE **
80 - *N - - - - *R -
70 *R *P - - R - - -
60 *K - - - - - - -
50 *P P - - P - *P -
40 P - N *P - - - -
30 - - - B - - - -
20 - - P - - - - P
10 - - - - - - K -
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
