Off Topic: Does MS Hearts Cheat?

[From]

Lots of computer experts here so I thought I would start here.

My aunt says she is sure that Hearts cheats. She also listens to KOGO
late at night, a la Art Bell, so I don't trust her completely.

I don't know Hearts but she said that tricks that she played are later
played again by the computer. A google search only led me to one site
that was showing examples of game scores and I didn't understand it.

Anyone know of this? I would expect that it would be more ammunition
agains MS and, to my knowledge, it has never been used.

http://www.planetmike.com/games/hearts/

Thanks, and I hope I have lightened up this group a bit.

[Edwin Kruse]

My experience with Hearts was that no matter how good I got, I could not
win consistently. The program seems to "revolve" in that if you play
correctly using proper judgement you will win several games, but then
you will get dealt really bad things for two to three games. When I
play I get really lopsided scores.

Edwin Kruse
Network Services Manager
TWC San Diego

Post by From
Lots of computer experts here so I thought I would start here.
My aunt says she is sure that Hearts cheats. She also listens to KOGO
late at night, a la Art Bell, so I don't trust her completely.
I don't know Hearts but she said that tricks that she played are later
played again by the computer. A google search only led me to one site
that was showing examples of game scores and I didn't understand it.
Anyone know of this? I would expect that it would be more ammunition
agains MS and, to my knowledge, it has never been used.
http://www.planetmike.com/games/hearts/
Thanks, and I hope I have lightened up this group a bit.

[Darren New]

Post by From
Anyone know of this? I would expect that it would be more ammunition
agains MS and, to my knowledge, it has never been used.

Ammunition for what, if I might ask?

[Scott Lindner]

Post by Darren New

Post by From
Anyone know of this? I would expect that it would be more ammunition
agains MS and, to my knowledge, it has never been used.

Ammunition for what, if I might ask?

I think you know what he's hinting at, but it isn't relevant in my opinion.
MS Hearts cheating is in no way related to any of the reasons why people
dislike the Microsoft corporation. I've never observed it, but I don't play
many computer games either.

Scott

[Bob Cunningham]

Post by Scott Lindner

Post by Darren New

Post by From
Anyone know of this? I would expect that it would be more ammunition
agains MS and, to my knowledge, it has never been used.

Ammunition for what, if I might ask?

I think you know what he's hinting at, but it isn't relevant in my opinion.
MS Hearts cheating is in no way related to any of the reasons why people
dislike the Microsoft corporation. I've never observed it, but I don't play
many computer games either.

I've been watching this thread for a while, and am surprised the
following obvious fact wasn't mentioned: Each MS Hearts computer player
has a perfect memory for every card that's been played. Once players
start running out of one suit or another, a computer player is perfectly
able to lead a card to force you to take a trick.

I have seen no evidence that the computer players collude in any way
whatsoever.

If your memory for cards played isn't perfect (imperfect tactics), then
you need to rely on superior strategy. MS Hearts understands only the
simplest of strategies. This is typical of every computer Hearts game
I've played.

MS Hearts will detect an "obvious" attempt to run the hand, but will
miss nearly all more subtle techniques. Stay away from your strong
suits, playing out your weak suits first. Play your aces early, if you
know it won't hurt you, then stop playing the suit. Put off taking the
queen of spades for as long as possible. And never run hearts unless
you already have the queen of spades or have nothing but hearts left.

Using various strategies has me consistently winning more games than the
three computer players combined.

While I can easily wail on computer players, I now officially suck when
playing Hearts against other humans.


-BobC

[Darren New]

Post by Scott Lindner
I think you know what he's hinting at, but it isn't relevant in my opinion.

Yeah. It's called a rhetorical question. ;-)

[Scott Lindner]

Post by Darren New
Yeah. It's called a rhetorical question. ;-)

Oops. Rhetoric and sarcasm don't always come through in text. Doh....