10-18-2014, 12:23 AM
We are starting to roll our our next batch of training tools.
Just added today is "Beginner's Hand Classifier.
Beginner's Hand Classifier can be found in the Basics dropmenu (4th item in the list).
This must not be confused as an end-all be-all way to classify hands.
This is set up to assist a first-time player in progressing through their first game of pinochle, bearing in mind that it may actually be the first time they've ever played a card game with bidding, trump, or meld.
Although rakbeater and I have our grievances with CABS, the future toolsets will all be geared toward players learning how to better use CABS.
Priorities for this tool have been set with "Safety" first, followed closely by "Simplicity".
I'll explain that more specifically:
The program takes any hand that you generate, and gives up to 3 of 4 generalized ways it can be used to bid.
Each of the 4 classes of hands will be used to assist a player in making the correct calculated/specific bid in the next toolset.
The 4 classes are (in no particular order):
The Meld Hand requires 18 meld or more. This is only true for beginners, there are situations when 16 meld is sufficient but we are teaching concepts that are mostly safe and will keep a new player confident in their actions. The meld hand also describes a hand with meld of 76 or more as an "Unlimited Meld Hand." This is because in CABS there is no possible way to accurately distinguish meld amounts above that -- certainly not for beginners anyway. Mention of the "Unlimited Meld Hand" is for use in the next toolset.
The Aces Hand requires Aces Around (Single,Double,Triple,Quadruple). This is only true for beginners, there are situations when a hand without Aces Around might be considered an Aces Hand, but we are not teaching that to beginners. There is no Triple or Quadruple Aces Around Hand, because CABS doesn't have a bid devoted to them specifically; and if you are dealt either of them, have a cigar, it will never happen to you again!
The Declarer Hand, which might also be called "Control Hand", "Competing Hand", "Captaincy Hand", requires an 8 card suit with an ace and a marriage. This may seem too strict to experienced players. The justification we are using is that it is "safe." Statistically speaking, when you have an 8+ card trump suit, you are going to have more of that suit than anyone else. This means even a novice is going to have a better chance of maintaining control of the trump. Beginner's don't need to be bogged down with discussion about texture. For now, we will just advise beginners to identify strong hands (like 8+ in a suit) so that when they do win the auction, they have a high likelihood of saving. Partner saving hands are more situational and do not have a place in this beginner's toolset. Save Hands will addressed in future toolsets.
The Pass Hand is what a hand is labeled when it doesn't qualify as any of the 3 biddable classes above.
This toolset will soon offer a Training program, however there will be no Test program. The training program will not be timed like the Meld Training program. This toolset is just a stepping stone. Once you are competent in classifying hands, you will be ready to move on to the next toolset. We don't want to brainwash players at this level by offering a Test, we want you to learn it and keep progressing.
I invite all of our visitors to check out the page and click the "Generate New Random Hand" button as many times as you like. If you have used the Meld Calculator page, you'll find the controls are identical. The green ticked box means the hand qualifies for that respective class, and of course, the red X means the hand doesn't qualify. The permalink below the results can be used to save the current hand as a url. The url can then be sent to someone else for discussion purposes.
This thread can be used to post questions of clarification, or for constructive criticisms. Please refrain from arguing advanced pinochle points, as this is not the place.
Just added today is "Beginner's Hand Classifier.
Beginner's Hand Classifier can be found in the Basics dropmenu (4th item in the list).
This must not be confused as an end-all be-all way to classify hands.
This is set up to assist a first-time player in progressing through their first game of pinochle, bearing in mind that it may actually be the first time they've ever played a card game with bidding, trump, or meld.
Although rakbeater and I have our grievances with CABS, the future toolsets will all be geared toward players learning how to better use CABS.
Priorities for this tool have been set with "Safety" first, followed closely by "Simplicity".
I'll explain that more specifically:
The program takes any hand that you generate, and gives up to 3 of 4 generalized ways it can be used to bid.
Each of the 4 classes of hands will be used to assist a player in making the correct calculated/specific bid in the next toolset.
The 4 classes are (in no particular order):
- Meld Hand
- Aces Hand
- Declarer Hand
- Pass Hand
The Meld Hand requires 18 meld or more. This is only true for beginners, there are situations when 16 meld is sufficient but we are teaching concepts that are mostly safe and will keep a new player confident in their actions. The meld hand also describes a hand with meld of 76 or more as an "Unlimited Meld Hand." This is because in CABS there is no possible way to accurately distinguish meld amounts above that -- certainly not for beginners anyway. Mention of the "Unlimited Meld Hand" is for use in the next toolset.
The Aces Hand requires Aces Around (Single,Double,Triple,Quadruple). This is only true for beginners, there are situations when a hand without Aces Around might be considered an Aces Hand, but we are not teaching that to beginners. There is no Triple or Quadruple Aces Around Hand, because CABS doesn't have a bid devoted to them specifically; and if you are dealt either of them, have a cigar, it will never happen to you again!
The Declarer Hand, which might also be called "Control Hand", "Competing Hand", "Captaincy Hand", requires an 8 card suit with an ace and a marriage. This may seem too strict to experienced players. The justification we are using is that it is "safe." Statistically speaking, when you have an 8+ card trump suit, you are going to have more of that suit than anyone else. This means even a novice is going to have a better chance of maintaining control of the trump. Beginner's don't need to be bogged down with discussion about texture. For now, we will just advise beginners to identify strong hands (like 8+ in a suit) so that when they do win the auction, they have a high likelihood of saving. Partner saving hands are more situational and do not have a place in this beginner's toolset. Save Hands will addressed in future toolsets.
The Pass Hand is what a hand is labeled when it doesn't qualify as any of the 3 biddable classes above.
This toolset will soon offer a Training program, however there will be no Test program. The training program will not be timed like the Meld Training program. This toolset is just a stepping stone. Once you are competent in classifying hands, you will be ready to move on to the next toolset. We don't want to brainwash players at this level by offering a Test, we want you to learn it and keep progressing.
I invite all of our visitors to check out the page and click the "Generate New Random Hand" button as many times as you like. If you have used the Meld Calculator page, you'll find the controls are identical. The green ticked box means the hand qualifies for that respective class, and of course, the red X means the hand doesn't qualify. The permalink below the results can be used to save the current hand as a url. The url can then be sent to someone else for discussion purposes.
This thread can be used to post questions of clarification, or for constructive criticisms. Please refrain from arguing advanced pinochle points, as this is not the place.
It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life. -- Mickey Mantle
