Online bridge has given us the advent of the bridge bot. 

It’s not built for conversation, but instead systems like GIB have been created with the bridge player in mind. 

Other games have their own bots: There’s a fair amount of chess-related bots out there, and every game that involves electronic competition has an algorithm or bot behind it.

I’ve always been of the opinion that there are a few elements of the game I’d rather leave to the bots. 

Here are a few things that bots have learned to do better.

1. Shuffling 

My shuffling technique leaves much to be desired, and I’m certainly not about to win any Shuffler-of-the-Month awards. 

I’m sure there are thousands of bridge players out there who feel the same – and it’s time to admit that even the best electronic card shufflers can’t shuffle at the speed of a bot for the purposes of a game. 

2. Scoring

Whether you’re right in the middle of a TCG like Yu-Gi-Oh! Or taking on a rival bridge partnership through BBO, scoring is almost always better handled by a bot.

Scoring and computing is something that bots do faster (and more accurately) than humans. 

The use of bots (and apps) for scoring purposes is great. Never again do you have to stop a game to keep score, and there are many apps that keep score so that human players don’t have to.

3. Practice 

Practice against live, human opponents has its place, but so does practice against bots. 

Players who are still self-conscious about their moves, play and games are encouraged to practice their play against bots before trying the same plays against humans.

Bots don’t judge. Bots don’t comment, and bots don’t really give a damn how badly you play. 

Thus, they’re perfect for practice (even for players who are still finding their feet).

4. Patience

About a week ago, I took a five minute recess from a bridge game and returned only to find that the game had been waiting exactly as I left it. 

Had it been a real-life game, I might have gotten back to an empty table. 

Bots are great at patience: Another reason they’re great for players who are still practicing – or ones who just need a quick game with no strings attached (and no human players present to tick off).