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News from DreamQuest Software
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Boy it's hot out there! Be sure to slather on some sunscreen and stay hydrated this month as we reach record highs across the United States this summer. Beat the heat this August with our new sale! Also check out our new Championship Hearts released in Beta and try it out before its final release in late 2006!
It's too hot to play outside so keep cool by staying inside with your favorite Championship Pro game!
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Beat the Heat Deal!
 You can beat the heat this summer by taking advantage of our Penny Sale here at DreamQuest Software! Buy Championship Rummy Pro, and get Championship Checkers Pro for a penny! That's practically two games for the price of one. Had your eye on our new Rummy game, but haven't forced yourself to purchase it yet? Well there's no point making excuses now, because with two games for the price of one you can't get a better deal!
Beat the heat this summer by staying inside and playing your favorite card and board games with us!
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New Championship Hearts Pro in Beta
Have you heard the news? We have a new beta of Championship Hearts! Here at DreamQuest Software, we've been busy this month updating our entire lineup of Championship Pro games!
In this newest update of the Championship Pro series for Windows, you'll notice easier menu toggling, with quick buttons "hint" and "undo" for gameplay without disruption. Now you can increase your skills and strategy whenever you click "hint!" Read the colorful tips that tell you why a certain move is the most strategic move. Championship Hearts beta will send you on your way to becoming an expert Hearts player!
 You'll notice the top menu bar providing a drop-down menu is absent, designed to make your game look more like a real card game. Playing variations of Hearts like Spot, Jack and Modern are a simple click away! No more hassles with clicking through drop-down menus; choose your variation in a colorful menu at the start of every new game.
Check out the newest version of our Championship games in our Championship Hearts beta. This gives YOU, our newsletter readers, the chance to try it out before anybody else! Let us know how you like the new menu, graphics, and gameplay. Be vocal and give us your feedback. We make the game for you, and here's your chance to tell us what you like! Find a bad play or want to report a bug? Simply click on "Send Bad Play/Bug Report" from within the game, and send it to .
Take advantage of this Beta release of Championship Hearts and play the newest version of Championship Hearts Pro before its final release next month! Get your copy at http://dqsoft.com/beta.html
Thanks for your help!
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Hearts Tips with Joe Andrews
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In honor of our new Championship Hearts in Beta, we wanted to help you brush up on your Hearts game while you're testing this beta!
We can't mention Hearts tips without referring to our friend, Joe Andrews, author of Win at Hearts. Check out his tips and techniques to better your hearts game! These tips as well as many others are located at dqsoft.com/heartstips.html.
Here we want to utilize certain card combinations in the Spade and Club suits. Let us look at two hands. It is the beginning of a game, or the pass is to the left during the course of a game. Assume in the latter case that the score is close:
Hand #1  A 10 3  K 10 2  K Q 6 5  A 5 2
Hand #2 K J 5 A Q 9 4 3 Q 9 4 A 10
Hand #3 A 5 3 2 K Q 7 K A K J 3
Remember the pass is to the left here. In each of these hands, you hold a high spade, the Ace of Clubs, and no reasonable expectation for a Moon, barring poor defense or a ridiculous pass of high Hearts. Here is the best way to handle the pass for each hand.
Hand #1
You have a very flat hand here, that is, there are no distributional features. The impulse is to pass the Ace of spades and two other cards. Give yourself a better chance! Pass the Ace of Clubs, Ten of Hearts, and a high Diamond. Keep the big Spade! The idea is to induce West to take the Ace of Clubs on the first trick and to lead a Spade to your Ace. This strategy might backfire if West holds the Queen of Spades (a one out of three possibility). You have a really bad Diamond suit, and two rather chunky Hearts. Passing the Ten of Hearts will save four points, and will stop a possible Moon by West. Shortening the Diamond suit is an improvement. Unloading the high Club helps as well. Finally, if the Spade Queen is passed to you, the Ace is another backer.
Hand #2
This is a lot easier. Drop the two Clubs and the Nine of Hearts. I like keeping the Queen of Hearts here, in case the player on your right is greedy and passes the King of Hearts and the Jack of Hearts to you. Now, you have a void in clubs, and a possible place to unload the Spade King, if you don't receive a Spade lead from the left.
Hand #3
This hand gets mixed reviews. You do hold Ace - fourth of Spades, and I recommend that you always keep the Ace or King of Spades whenever you have at least three low supporting spades. The only kicker here is that accompanying Spades are really small and Spades leads from the right could be a problem. Drop the stiff Diamond, the Ace of Clubs, and the Queen of Hearts. Now you have a potential void in a minor suit, and the same chance of receiving a favorable Spade lead. If the Spade Queen is passed to you, she will fit in nicely with those four Spades. I would not object to the alternate pass of the Ace and King of Clubs and the Heart Queen.
Summary:
When holding Ace or King of Spades and at least two other smaller Spades, as well as a side Ace of Clubs, keep the big Spade, and pass the Ace of Clubs, a middle (stopper) Heart, and another card of your choice. This technique will save you a lot of points.
Got tips you want to share? Send them to .
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| In this Issue |
Weather Trivia
This past January through August has been the warmest first half of any year since records began in 1895. We want to test your weather knowledge with this month's trivia question!
Question: What was the average temperature from January to August in 2006?
- A: 45.8 Degrees F
- B: 51.8 Degrees F
- C: 60.0 Degrees F
- D: 72.3 Degrees F
Three correct entries chosen at random will receive a deck of DreamQuest Software playing cards. Submit entries to by August 16.
Last Month's Contest - Graduation Trivia
Question: What will not break if you throw it off the highest building in the world, but will break if you place it in the ocean?
Answer: a tissue
Contest Winners:
- Robin Plummer
- Peggy Thweatt
- Dominique Dallaire
Congratulations! Thanks for playing.
Questie's New Look!
Have you noticed Questie's new look? While we've been updating our website, we also thought that Questie could use a makeover too! You'll notice the new Questie popping up more often as we work to update the entire website.
Visit the DQ Zone Internet Lobby!
Have you visited our internet lobby at http://www.dqzone.com/? Meet and challenge other Championship Pro gamers as you compete in free tournaments and exciting gameplay! Choose your favorite Championship Pro title and join a game! Be sure to scope out the top twenty-five player lists to see if you rank among the best!
At www.dqzone.com/ you'll be able to change online gameplay variations, join other users' games or host one of your own. Change your profile picture so your friends can recognize you when you sign on. Catch up with other gamers in the DQ forum to exchange tips, gameplay strategies and more. Best part is, you have complete access to this online community with a single purchase of one of our Championship Pro games!
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