diff --git a/pysollib/app.py b/pysollib/app.py
index c8aaa04c..c45aa5ec 100644
--- a/pysollib/app.py
+++ b/pysollib/app.py
@@ -812,11 +812,13 @@ class Application:
 
     def checkCompatibleCardsetType(self, gi, cs):
         assert gi is not None
-        assert cs is not None
+        cs_type = "None"
+        cs_subtype = "None"
         gc = gi.category
         gs = gi.subcategory
-        cs_type = cs.si.type
-        cs_subtype = cs.si.subtype
+        if cs is not None:
+            cs_type = cs.si.type
+            cs_subtype = cs.si.subtype
         t0, t1 = None, None
         if gc == GI.GC_FRENCH:
             t0 = "French"
@@ -908,14 +910,14 @@ class Application:
         # ask
         return None, 0, t
 
-    def requestCompatibleCardsetType(self, id):
+    def requestCompatibleCardsetType(self, id, progress=None):
         gi = self.getGameInfo(id)
         #
         cs, cs_update_flag, t = self.getCompatibleCardset(gi, self.cardset)
         if cs is self.cardset:
             return 0
         if cs is not None:
-            self.loadCardset(cs, update=1)
+            self.loadCardset(cs, update=1, progress=progress)
             return 1
 
         self.requestCompatibleCardsetTypeDialog(self.cardset, gi, t)
@@ -923,7 +925,7 @@ class Application:
         cs = self.__selectCardsetDialog(t)
         if cs is None:
             return -1
-        self.loadCardset(cs, id=id)
+        self.loadCardset(cs, id=id, progress=progress)
         return 1
 
     def requestCompatibleCardsetTypeDialog(self, cardset, gi, t):
diff --git a/pysollib/main.py b/pysollib/main.py
index 22d9e95b..d8cec27f 100644
--- a/pysollib/main.py
+++ b/pysollib/main.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def parse_option(argv):
     for i in optlist:
         if i[0] in ("-h", "--help"):
             opts["help"] = True
-        elif i[0] in ("--deal"):
+        elif i[0] == "--deal":
             opts["deal"] = i[1]
         elif i[0] in ("-g", "--game"):
             opts["game"] = i[1]
@@ -127,11 +127,12 @@ def parse_option(argv):
     if opts["help"]:
         print(_("""Usage: %s [OPTIONS] [FILE]
   -g    --game=GAMENAME        start game GAMENAME
-  -i    --gameid=GAMEID
-        --french-only
-        --sound-mod=MOD
+  -i    --gameid=GAMEID        start game with ID GAMEID
+        --deal=DEAL            start game deal by number DEAL
+        --french-only          disable non-french games
+        --sound-mod=MOD        use a certain sound module
         --nosound              disable sound support
-        --noplugins            disable load plugins
+        --noplugins            disable loading plugins
   -h    --help                 display this help and exit
 
   FILE - file name of a saved game
@@ -403,19 +404,38 @@ Cardsets package is up to date.
     app.loadImages3()
     app.loadImages4()
 
-    # load cardset
-    progress = app.intro.progress
-    if not app.loadCardset(cardset, progress=progress, id=app.opt.last_gameid):
-        if not cardset:
-            for cardset in app.cardset_manager.getAll():
-                progress.reset()
+    startgameid = app.opt.last_gameid
 
-                if app.loadCardset(cardset, progress=progress,
-                                   id=app.opt.last_gameid):
-                    break
-            else:
-                fatal_no_cardsets(app)
-                return 3
+    if app.commandline.loadgame:
+        pass
+    elif app.commandline.game is not None:
+        gameid = app.gdb.getGameByName(app.commandline.game)
+        if gameid is None:
+            print_err(_("can't find game: %(game)s") % {
+                'game': app.commandline.game})
+            sys.exit(-1)
+        else:
+            startgameid = gameid
+    elif app.commandline.gameid is not None:
+        startgameid = app.commandline.gameid
+
+    progress = app.intro.progress
+    # load cardset
+    if startgameid != app.opt.last_gameid:
+        success = app.requestCompatibleCardsetType(startgameid,
+                                                   progress=progress)
+    else:
+        success = app.loadCardset(cardset, progress=progress, id=startgameid)
+    if not success and not cardset:
+        for cardset in app.cardset_manager.getAll():
+            progress.reset()
+
+            if app.loadCardset(cardset, progress=progress,
+                               id=startgameid):
+                break
+        else:
+            fatal_no_cardsets(app)
+            return 3
 
     # ok
     return 0