45s Game
Game Setup
Upon startup of the program, the setup window is displayed
to allow the user to choose game options and start the game.
Number of Players – Allows the user to select the
number of players (2 to 6).
Game Type – Allows the user to select whether the game will
be partners or cutthroat. If the number
of players is 6 and the game is partners, there will be choices for 2-person or
3-person teams.
Show all Cards checkbox – Selecting this option will result
in all cards being dealt face-up. This
is mainly used for debugging.
Double Sheets checkbox – Selecting this option means sets
where the bidder overbid another bidder or bidders will be counted as an
additional set for each player that was overbid (e.g. if a player bids 15 and
another bids 20 and gets set, 2 sets will be scored).
Pick Names button – Clicking the Pick
Start Game button – Clicking the Start Game button
exits the setup dialog and launches the main play window.
Play-By-Play – The play-by play box is on the lower
right of the main playing screen and displays messages about the status and
progress of the game.
Dealing
Cards are dealt to all players. Player whose turn it is will have their name
highlighted in green and their cards displayed. The play-by-play display will also indicate
whose turn it is. Cards will be sorted
by suit (in alphabetical order, so clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades).
Bidding
Player at lower left starts bidding (on first hand). Player whose turn it is will have their name
highlighted in green and their cards displayed. The play-by-play display will also indicate
whose turn it is.
Player selects bid from the available list. Each player’s bid will be displayed in the “Bid”
box (blank fir a pass). After all
players have bid, the winning bidder selects the trump suit from the list. After trumps have been selected, the “Bid” box
of the winning bidder will display the first letter of the trump suit.
Discarding
After trumps are named, each player draws cards by selecting
the checkbox under each card they want to keep and clicking the green discard
button. Cards will be displayed when it
is a player’ turn to discard. The
computer will suggest what cards to keep by pre-selecting the “Keep” checkboxes
but the player can change these selections (as long as no more than 4 cards are
drawn if 5 players or less, 3 max draw for 6 players). The number of cards drawn will be displayed
in the “Draw” box. After all players
have discarded, cards will be dealt (and re-sorted).
Playing
After the draw cards have been dealt, the bidder’s cards are
displayed and they start play by selecting the “Play” checkbox under the card
they want to play and clicking the green “Play” button. The play-by-play display will also indicate
whose turn it is.
After the trick lead, the player whose turn it is will only have
the checkboxes of cards that can be legally played available. The computer might suggest the card to play
by pre-selecting the “Play” checkbox but the player can change the selection to
a different legal play.
As tricks are won, the “Tricks” box is updated with the
number of total tricks won for the team (or individual, if cutthroat game) this
hand. If the high card (i.e. the 5 of
trumps) has been played, the “Tricks” box will also display “+ H” (for high card).
Scoring
At the end of the hand, the scoresheet will be updated with
the score from the hand and total game score.
If a set or thirty occurred, a ‘T’ or ‘S’ (or multiple “S’s, if playing double
shoots) will be added to the top of the scoresheet. The play-by-play display will also report the
result of the hand and the game score as well as whenever a team is “on the
green” (score of 90 or up) and whether “bidder goes up or out” applies
(multiple teams on the green).
End of Game
The game ends when a team reaches 120. After the end of the game, the play-by-play
display will show who won and what is owed for sets and thirties.
At this point, the user should select the “Close” button to
return to the setup window. At point the
user can exit or start another game.