Behind the table

Clear rules. Fair computers.

A card game should make sense, including the parts you cannot see.

Rules before shortcuts

Each game has a written default ruleset. The rules guide, scoring page and game behavior are checked together. We document house choices so a local variation is never presented as the only correct way to play.

The computers play by the same rules

Computer players use their own hand and information visible at the table. Their decision interface excludes other players' cards, unopened feet and the order of the stock. Computer moves pass through the same move validation as your moves.

A move saves as a whole

The server checks a move before saving it. If a move fails, your earlier position stays intact. If two browser tabs try to change the same game, the older view refreshes instead of overwriting the newer one.

Checks at every level

  • Rule tests for melds, wild cards, discards and scoring.
  • Simulated games that check legal moves and account for every card.
  • Database checks for persistence and competing requests.
  • Browser checks for keyboard use, card selection and small screens.

A continuing responsibility

Tests help us find mistakes; they do not prove that every possible problem has been found. If you encounter something unexpected, tell us the game and move on our Contact page.

What automated matches can verify

A simulated match repeatedly chooses an action, applies the rules and checks the resulting state until the game ends. The test checks that every card still exists exactly once and that every table combination remains legal. Separate cases cover specific openings, frozen pickups, hand-to-foot transitions, threes and final exits. Rejected moves are checked for leaving the previous state unchanged.

These checks are useful for catching a card that disappears, a move that bypasses a requirement or a match that cannot finish. They do not prove that every computer choice is optimal or that every explanation is easy for a beginner. A successful test result is evidence about the conditions it checked, not a guarantee about every possible experience.

What browser checks add

Browser checks exercise the controls that connect the table to the rules: preparing several melds, confirming a move, handling a rejection, saving, reloading and changing display settings. They also check accessible labels, keyboard actions and whether cards and controls fit selected phone, tablet and desktop sizes.

The PDF sheets are checked separately for page size, text, layout and consistency with the documented scores. Content links and downloads are tested without entering a game. Manual feedback still matters for readability, pace and the moments when a technically correct message leaves someone uncertain about the next step.

We’d like to hear from you

Something to tell us? A problem to report or a suggestion to share? Write to us by email.

A moment before you continue

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