500 Game Surplus/XSurplus.iso/662/BJHELP.TXT

Text File | 1996-10-03 | 14KB | 272 lines

                              WELCOME TO BLACKJACK

    Blackjack Plus
    Copyright (C) 1996 Ronald L. Mueller
    All Rights Reserved

    Blackjack is a Shareware program for Windows that calculates real time
    probabilites and also simulates the card game head to head with the
    dealer.  The program calculates all probabilities of the game of
    blackjack, depending on various casino rules and what cards have been
    played.  The probabilites of Standing, Drawing, Doubling Down and
    Splitting are calculated continuously as the cards are dealt.  The basic
    probablity tables can be calculated for any variation of the game.  The
    dealers probabilities of reaching 17 throught 21 or busting are
    calculated.  All these probabilities are calculated as the player takes on
    the dealer with a graphical user interface that is like a real casino.
    Take it out for a test drive free; if you like it register; if you don't
    like it, please delete it.  Thanks for trying blackjack.

    The blackjack program is a copyrighted Shareware program, and if you find
    it useful it should be registered with the author at the cost of $39.00.
    When the program is registered, you will receive the latest registered
    version, all future updates, fixes, and full product support.

                            BASIC RULES OF BLACKJACK

    The object of the game is to obtain a total that is greater than that of
    the dealer without going over a total of 21.  Aces have a value of either
    1 or 11; face cards (Jack, Queen and King) have a value of 10, and the
    value of the other cards is their face value.  The player and the dealer
    are each dealt two initial cards.  One of the dealers card is dealt face
    up and the player uses this information and his/her cards to determine
    playing strategy.  If the first two cards dealt either to the dealer or
    the player consist of an ace and a 10 value card, it is a blackjack.
    Players with blackjack get paid 3 to 2 in most casinos.  If the dealer and
    player have the same final total, it is a "push" and no money is lost or
    won.  The player may either "draw" additional cards, "stand" on his/her
    present count, or under certain conditions "double" down or "split" pairs.
    When all the players have drawn their cards, the dealer turns up his/her
    hole card, and draws cards until the total is 17 or greater.  If one of
    the dealers cards is an ace, and counting it as 11 would bring his/her
    total to 17 or more (a "soft" count), he/she must stand.  In some casinos
    the dealer hits a soft 17 and stands on a soft 18 or more.


    Splitting:

    If the players initial two cards are numerically equal, they may be
    "split" into two seperate hands, at the cost of an additional bet equal to
    the original bet.  The split hands are then played seperately as
    individual hands.  In the case of split aces most casino rules allow only
    one additional card on each ace.  Also if split aces receive a 10 count as
    the second card, it is not a blackjack; it counts as an ordinary 21.

    Doubling Down:

    A player may elect to "double down" on his/her hand by doubling his/her
    bet; double down hands receive only one additional card.  Some casinos
    allow doubling down on any first two cards; some only allow doubling on a
    count of 10 or 11; some allow 9, 10 or 11; a few allow doubling on any
    count, anytime.

    Insurance:

    If the dealers up card is an ace, a side bet of "insurance" is offered at
    half the original bet.  If the dealer has a blackjack the side bet pays 2
    to 1.  If the dealer doesn't have blackjack the side bet is lost.

    Surrender:

    Some casinos will allow a player to drop out of the hand by "surrendering"
    one-half of their original bet.  Players could, after looking at their
    first two cards and the dealer's up-card, "surrender" instead of
    continuing play.  There are two variations, "late" and "early."  The "late
    surrender" permits the player to throw in his/her hand after it has been
    determined that the dealer doesn't have a blackjack.  "Early surrender"
    permits the player to surrender his/her hand before the dealer checks
    his/her hand for a blackjack.  Early surrender has been discontinued in
    almost every casino in the world.

                                 CASINO OPTIONS

    The Casino options allow the player to select the rules of any casino,
    then all probabilities and card play are based on these selections.  To
    change the options, use your mouse to click on the radio (option) buttons
    of your choice.  The player can change the number decks, the dealers rules
    such as hitting a soft 17, peeking at his/her hole card, etc..  After
    selecting the casino rules, the blackjack simulator software will use this
    information to calculate all the probabilities - from the basic
    probability tables, to the correct playing strategy and the expectancy of
    the hand.  Once you select these options, the blackjack simulation
    software will follow these rules, and cards will be dealt accordingly.

    Play Blackjack Command:

    Click on the "Play Blackjack" command when you want to go the Blackjack
    simulation program.

    What if? Command:

    Click on the "What if?" command to find out the correct strategy and
    probabilities with different combinations of card possibilities.  For
    example: What if the player has a 9 and a 2 with the dealer showing an
    ace; should you draw or double down?

    Calc. Basic Prob. Command:

    Click on this command to "calculate the basic probability" tables for the
    selected casino options.  These calculations takes some time (45 seconds
    for 60 Mhz Pentium), so be patient.  The tables will be displayed showing
    the correct basic strategy for drawing, doubling, splitting, hard totals,
    soft totals, etc..  The tables are saved to disk for future reference and
    can also be printed from the "Basic Probability Tables" window.

    Number of Decks:

    The number of decks may be from one to eight.  This number affects the
    calculated probabilities of the player and dealer.

    Dealer Peeks:

    If the dealer "Peeks under Aces and 10's", then all dealer blackjacks are
    settled immediately and the player gets no more cards.  If the dealer
    doesn't have blackjack, the probabilities will reflect that and play
    continues.  If the dealer "Peeks under Aces Only", then if the dealers up
    card is an ace and she has a blackjack, bets are settled immediately.  If
    the dealer shows a 10 count, play continues as usual with the possiblity
    that she could have a blackjack.  If the dealer "doesn't peek" under aces
    or 10 counts, play continues with the possibility of a dealer blackjack.
    The player can split, double down, hit or possibly bust.  All bets and
    cards are left on the table until it is determined if the dealer has
    blackjack; if he/she does, only the amount of the original bet is lost.

    Double Down On:

    "Any First Two Cards" - Player may double down with any hard or soft 2
    card total.  If double down after splitting is permitted, then and 2 cards
    can be doubled after a split.

    "First 2 Cards Total of 9-10-11" - A player may double down on his first
    two cards only if the total is 9, 10, or 11.

    "First 2 Cards Total 10-11" - A player may double down on his first two
    cards only if the total is 10 or 11.

    "Any No. of Cards, Any Total" - A player may double down on any number of
    cards, or with any hard or soft total dealt to his hand at any time.

    Splitting:

    "Splitting Aces" - Most casinos allow split aces to receive only one
    additional card.  Some casinos will allow split aces to receive any number
    of hits.

    "Doubling Down after Splitting" - Some casinos allow doubling down on a
    split pair.  All the house rules on doubling would be in effect.

    Insurance:

    Most casinos offer the side bet of insurance when the dealers up-card is
    an ace.  If the dealer has a blackjack, insurance pays 2 to 1.

    Blackjack:

    When the player has 21 on first two cards, most casinos pay off at 3 to 2.
    But there are a few that just pay it off like a regular bet.

    Surrender:

    Only "late Surrender" or "no surrender" is offered with the blackjack
    simulation software program.

                              HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK

    The initial Blackjack window shows a table with a deck of cards spread
    out, with dealer chips in the upper left corner and player chips in the
    lower right corner.  Command buttons such as "Drawing or Standing" are
    displayed lower center on the screen.

    Start by clicking on the "Shuffle" command button.  The cards will be
    shuffled randomly into the dealers deck.  To make a bet, click on any of
    the player chips.  The chip will automatically go to the betting area of
    the table, and the cards will be dealt.  The player then makes a decision
    to draw, stand, double down, etc., by clicking on a command button.

    Strategy/Advantage:

    The Strategy/Advantage box is displayed in the upper right corner of the
    screen.  The best strategy for "Splitting", "Standing", "Drawing", or
    "Doubling" is highlighted in green.  The players "advantage" is the
    numerical value displayed in the strategy box.  The player expects to win,
    on the average, the unit bet times the advantage.  The probabilities are
    calculated each time a hand or a card is dealt, using the remaining cards
    in the deck.  The Strategy/Advantage box shows the best strategy to use as
    the play progresses and will vary from the basic strategy tables.

    Running and True Count:

    Card counting is a method of gathering information about the deck, that
    can be used in decision making and varying the size of the bet.  Blackjack
    uses the easiest, most popular, and efficient "High-Low" system.  High-Low
    is based on a players favorable deck, rich in aces and 10 value cards,
    versus a dealer favorable deck, rich in small cards, 2 through 6's.  Face
    cards, 10's, and aces are counted as a minus one (-1); cards 2 through 6
    are counted as a plus 1 (+1); while cards 7, 8, and 9 are counted as zero
    (0).  A "running count" of the cards is kept as they are played.  A more
    meaningful count, especially for multiple deck games, is the "true count."
    The true count is calculated by dividing the running count by the number
    of decks, or fraction of decks, yet to be played.  The higher a plus count
    becomes, the more favorable the deck is toward the player; the more
    negative, the less favorable the deck.  The higher the plus count, the
    higher the bet should be; the more negative, the smaller the bet should
    be.  The player will be more inclined to stand, double down and split on
    plus counts, because of the richness of 10's left in the deck.  In minus
    counts, the player will hit more, while doubling and splitting less.

    Insurance:

    When the dealers up card is an ace, an insurance window will open in the
    left center of the screen.  To take insurance click on the "yes" option
    button.  Insurance is a good bet only when more than one-third of the
    remaining deck consist of 10 value cards.  As a general rule, take
    insurance when the true count is plus three (+3) or greater.

                                    WHAT IF?

    The "What If?" window lets the player select the dealers show card, and
    the two cards that the player will receive, then the program calculates
    the probabilites and correct strategy for the situation.  These
    probabilities are based on the cards selected and the casino rules that
    were selected in the "Casino Options" window.

    Selecting Cards:

    Click on the option buttons for "Dealer Shows", "Your First Card", and
    "Your Second Card"; then click on the "Probabilities" command button to
    calculate probabilities and strategy.

    Probabilities Command:

    Click on this command to calculate the probabilities, strategies and
    advantage.  Probabilities are calculated based on the casino options,
    selected in the "Casino Options" window, and with dealer show card, and
    players two cards removed from the deck.

    Strategy/Advantage:

    The best strategy for "Splitting", "Standing", "Drawing", or "Doubling" is
    highlighted in green.  The players "advantage" is the numerical value
    displayed in the strategy box.  The player expects to win, on the average,
    the unit bet times the advantage.  For example, if the players bet is $1
    and the advantage of Drawing is .500, he/she expects to gain $.50 on the
    $1 bet.  If the advantage of Doubling Down is .560, the player can expect
    to gain $.56 on the $2 bet ($1 initial bet, plus $1 to Double Down).  The
    player should double down.

    The probability of drawing is based on multiple possible draws with the
    player using the correct strategy decisions as based in the basic strategy
    tables.  Some times the players advantage is negative, i.e., the player
    expects to lose money; in these cases, the correct strategy is to minimize
    the possible loss.  If the best strategy has an advantage of less then
    -.500, the player should Surrender if the casino rules permit.

    Probabilities of the Dealer:

    These are the probabilities of the dealer getting a total count of 17
    through 21, and busting.  The probabilities are based on the casino
    options and the players 2 cards plus the dealers up card missing from the
    deck.  The probabilities will be different, depending on the casino
    options such as, the number of decks, if the dealer hits a soft 17, and if
    the dealer peeks under aces or tens to check for blackjack.