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- +----------------------------------+
- | WELCOME TO BLACKJACK! |
- | = YOUR KEY TO WINNING PLAY = |
- +----------------------------------+
-
- Please be sure that you received all of the files listed in PACKING.LST.
- If any of these files are missing please contact the ShareWare distributor and
- Glencoe Computing
- Donald L. Granger
- 1100 Highway C
- Glencoe, MO 63038-1404
-
- To print the documentation type PRINTBJ [Enter] at the DOS prompt.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- COMPATIBILITY NOTES
-
- - Windows 3.x
- BlackJack! should run without problems as a DOS application under
- Windows 3.x. It has been tested on a 386 system where the only
- side effect has been slower operation. The following files are
- provided for Windows support:
-
- BJ-386.PIF - For use with Windows 386 enhanced mode
- BJ-STD.PIF - For use with Windows standard mode
- BJ.ICO - An icon for BlackJack!
-
- The PIF files assume that BlackJack! is installed on the C: drive
- and is located in a directory named BJ. You can use PIF EDIT
- (supplied with Windows) to modify the path in the PIF files
- as needed.
-
- - VGA systems using VGA monochrome monitors.
-
- If you experience an error regarding the graphics hardware on
- startup, try running the DOS command
- MODE CO80
- prior to loading BlackJack!.
-
- - Peculiar operation when numbers are involved, or system lock-up.
-
- Some computers errantly indicate the presence of an 80x87 math
- coprocessor, others, particularly some '386 systems with 80287 math
- coprocessors, cause errors. If you experience system lock-up
- or peculiar results when numbers are involved try issuing the
- follow command from the DOS prompt.
- SET 87=N
- It is important that no spaces be included in "87=N".
-
- The included batch file BJ87.BAT will automate the above fix.
- In place of invoking BlackJack! with the BJ command just use
- BJ87. When you exit BlackJack! the 87 variable will be cleared
- from the enviornment.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- New features & changes in V-2.20
-
- Mode Of Play: [M] or [+] from the Setup Menu
- An additional mode of play has been added, REALISTIC MODE.
- Realistic Mode more accurately simulates the flow of play in an
- actual casino setting. Player's cards are retrieved, and bets
- settled in the order of play. Bust and surrendered hands are
- immediately removed from the table before play progresses to the next
- player. All cards are cleared prior to the Press Any Key To
- Continue message. Realistic Mode is provided to better simulate the
- amount of time that card counters have to asses the values of cards
- on the table. Normal Mode remains unchanged.
-
- The Setup Menu has the following entry
-
- + Mode Of Play [Normal]
-
- You toggle between Normal and Realistic play by pressing either
- [M] or [+] ([=] works too) while in the Setup Menu. The currently
- active mode of play is displayed in brackets to the right.
-
- The speed of Realistic Mode corresponds to the AUTO PLAYER - SPEED
- setting. You may need to experiment to find a speed that you like,
- but for most the Normal setting should be good. As with all play
- options, the play mode is saved with Configuration Save.
-
- User Defined Betting Progression: [9] or [W] from Setup Menu
- The first entry in the User Betting Progression now represents the
- initial wager for the progression. This allows using a system that
- calls for more than the table minimun as the opening bet.
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- New features & changes in V-2.21
-
- Sreak Stats:
- BlackJack!'s streak tracking has been extended to keep count of how
- many streaks of each length occur. Streak lengths of 2 through 11 are
- distinctly tracked. A sample streak report follows:
-
- Len 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12+
- 123 45 23 26 16 0 4 0 1 0 0
- 101 52 21 19 28 3 0 0 0 1 1
-
- Win streaks are listed in the first row in GREEN.
- Loss streaks are listed in the second row in RED.
- The longest streaks are still reported, even if they exceed 11.
-
- Streak tracking has been modified as follows
- Surrender No effect on streak counting.
- Split The net result of the split used. For example, a split
- that results in one win and one loss will have no effect
- on the streak tracking. Two winning hands from the split
- will advance a win streak by one.
-
- Basic Strategy Drill:
- The Basic Strategy Drill now has an `Error Pause'. When Error Pause
- is active the drill waits for a keypress before proceeding to the next
- hand. Error Pause is toggled by pressing [E]. A message at the screen
- bottom indicates whether Error Pause is active.
-
- Basic Strategy Tables:
- The strategy tables now contain the following play option,
-
- N - double dowN if allowed otherwise stand
-
- This corrects an oversight on my part, and also provides for correct
- play in certain situations when a true count over rules Double Down
- for a soft hand. The following line from Table 4 is the only change:
-
- Dealer 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A
- -------------------------------------------------
- A-7 S N N N N S S H H H
- -------------------------------------------------
-
- Card Counting Practice:
- The Card Counting Practice Drill now allows for up to 5 cards to be
- dealt simultaneously. You can also have BlackJack! deal a random
- number of cards ranging from 1 to 5. The drill setup choice is
-
- Number of cards displayed [1-5], [R]andom?
-
- Press [1]-[5] for a fixed number of cards, or [R] for random.
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- New features & changes in V-2.22
-
- Limited "Red Seven" Count System Support
-
- BlackJack! supports the "Red-7" card counting system. There are two
- methods available via command line switches.
-
- Count alternating sevens (/A7 from the command line):
- This method counts every other seven that is dealt. The alternation
- is reset with each shuffle and the first seven of each deck or shoe
- is not counted. This is the more accurate but harder to utilize mode.
-
- Count only red sevens (/R7 from the command line):
- Only red sevens are counted regardless of the order which they appear.
-
- The value given to sevens is that which is defined in the User Count
- System. For example, if sevens are given a value of 1 then every other
- (or every red) seven will increase the running count by 1. With an
- otherwise balanced counting system, the ending count value for a single
- deck will be 2. Since the standard plus/minus system uses a value of 0
- for sevens, this has no effect, and BlackJack! will appear to count
- normally. You must select USER in the Active Count System field of the
- Setup Menu to see a ny effect. Note that the accuracy of the True Count
- may be adversely influenced by unbalanced counting systems.
-
- The /A7 or /R7 switches can be combined with any of the other command
- line options. Be sure to seperate all switches with a space.
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- New features & changes in V-2.25
-
- Early Surrender:
- BlackJack! allows for early surrender. This rule allows the a player's
- surrender to be allowed even if the dealer has blackjack.
-
- Dealer Peeks / Doesn't Peek:
- If the dealer doesn't peek all hands are played out prior to his checking
- his down card for blackjack. Any splits or doubles are ignored if the
- dealer does have blackjack.
-
- The above options are enabled via the Edit Casinos option from the main menu.
-
- A tone now sounds to indicate completion of fully automated play sessions.
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- New features & changes in V-2.30
-
- The way BlackJack! handles automated betting and betting advice has
- been completely revised. Review "Setup BlackJack!" (pgs: 12-16) and
- "Automated Betting" (pg: 24) in the user's manual for details of the
- new features. In short there are now two user defined betting systems
- available, Progression Based and Count Based. You are able to select
- wagering style from the following:
-
- FLAT: The table minimum is bet on each hand.
- PROGRESSIVE: The Progressive Wagers table is used.
- COUNT BASED: The Count Based Wagers table is used.
- COUNT & PROGRESSIVE: Both of the above are used.
-
-
- +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
- | DO NOT MIX ANY FILES FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS ! ! |
- +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-
- +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
- |*** To print this file type COPY README.ME PRN at the DOS prompt. ***|
- +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-