A one-trick pony with zero flexibility
This app is apparently built without ANY option for customization. You have no choice or control that I could find. That includes what conventions are taught, point ranges are used, or anything else. So if you don’t want to play Garbage Stayman you’re apparently out of luck. (I could be wrong about that one example, I’ve not studied the app exhaustively, but there’s no place to make choices like that where I could find it.) And GS is not part of SAYC in the first place!
The other huge problem here is that there’s no room for judgement calls. For instance, how would you and your partner prefer to open a hand with 15-17 HCP and a good 5-card Spade suit? SAYC “allows” you to open that at 1NT but does not require it, yet this app treats the 1S response as “incorrect”.
In explanation it says that partner can use Stayman to find the Spade fit, but that isn’t entirely true. Partner can only use Stayman to find the 5-4 Spade fit, but NOT the 5-3 fit.
Of course it’s easier to build a system where everything is absolute and you don’t have to evaluate a response based on data input by the user. Personally I would love to see this app become a bit more flexible. Maybe my beginning partner and I aren’t quire ready for ALL of the SAYC card at once - and by the time we get there, we will probably be beyond the need for this app. That would be unfortunate.
The other huge problem here is that there’s no room for judgement calls. For instance, how would you and your partner prefer to open a hand with 15-17 HCP and a good 5-card Spade suit? SAYC “allows” you to open that at 1NT but does not require it, yet this app treats the 1S response as “incorrect”.
In explanation it says that partner can use Stayman to find the Spade fit, but that isn’t entirely true. Partner can only use Stayman to find the 5-4 Spade fit, but NOT the 5-3 fit.
Of course it’s easier to build a system where everything is absolute and you don’t have to evaluate a response based on data input by the user. Personally I would love to see this app become a bit more flexible. Maybe my beginning partner and I aren’t quire ready for ALL of the SAYC card at once - and by the time we get there, we will probably be beyond the need for this app. That would be unfortunate.
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Odd sequence analysis
Only offers specific sequences. If i have AKQ in one hand and xxx in another it does not matter in which order to discard. But noooo, trainer insists on specific order. Next, finesse sequences do not take into account returns like in AKJ in one hand and xxx in another, play A and then small to K… but how did i get there? And playing AK is somehow bad in this case?
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Response from developer
the app is updated with a new design
