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Text File | 1992-12-11 | 31KB | 610 lines

ULTIMATE BLACKJACK (C) COPYRIGHT 1993 HYPERWARE Table of contents 1. Game features 2. System requirements 3. Registration 4. Installation / Set up 5. Game startup 6. Command line options 7. Playing the game 8. Special subjects GAME FEATURES 1. Play BLACKJACK with up to 4 computer generated players. 2. Set the number of decks to be used (up to six decks). 3. Change the game rules to match any casino rules. 4. Monitor game statistics as the game progresses. 5. Use BET UNITS to systematically increase bets as the card count sweetens. 6. Use one or both built in count systems to verify or develop your own. 7. Modify a count system to suit your own needs. 8. Let the computer play your hand with a strategy you develop in the simulations "BUILD STRATEGY" choice. Tailor this strategy with a custom "TUTOR" and "CUSTOM COUNT" systems if desired. 9. Use the "SIMULATION FEATURE" (see 8 above) to test your theories in long term play (speed up the game and let it play up to 30000 hands in a short period of time. 10. Change your table position and the number of players at the table at any time. 11. Monitor your table mates strategy and bets, see how they fare over the long term. 12. Recall your last game and continue play just as you left it last time if so desired. 13. See a quick BIOGRAPHY of other players you may encounter at the table. 14. Monitor both count systems with the touch of a key before placing a bet. 15. Use the "TUTOR" as a graphic illustration of the statistically correct move, or use a quick key selection to verify your choice before deciding what to do when it's your turn to take a card. 16. Have the computer display your hand total as an aid if desired. 17. Intuitive easy to use interface. 18. Easy registration for a low price. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 1. IBM or 100% compatible computer. 2. EGA or VGA compatible display with 256K RAM on the video card. 3. Hard disk. 4. 512K of free RAM (450 with extended memory) Desired equipment: 1. 80286 or better processor. 2. Mouse. 3. 550K/510K of free RAM (to read the game manual during game play). REGISTRATION 1. The game supplied is an unregistered version. This version is provided as a demonstration of the game capabilities and provides a fully functioning BLACKJACK simulation. Some game enhancements are reserved for those users who find this game to be a worthwhile investment. Shareware is a try before you buy marketing method. If you make regular use of this software, you are expected to "purchase" it by paying the registration fee. As an additional incentive to register your copy of this program, I will supply you with the means to convert your unregistered version to a registered version. The registered version has several game enhancements not available in the unregistered copy. These features are listed below. REGISTRATION BENEFITS 1. Your registered version will no longer have registration reminders on screen. 2. Your registered version will allow you to select the amount of money you will have when starting the game. The unregistered version will always start you with $1000.00. 3. Your registered version will allow you to save and recall the previous game just as you left it. 4. Your registered version will allow you to access the "CUSTOM CARD COUNT" system so that you may modify it as you desire. Your custom system will be saved under the name you signed in with and will be available for each subsequent game you play and sign in with using that name. 5. Your registered version will save any "CUSTOM TUTOR" screen you develop. It will be saved and reloaded as in #3 above. 6. Your registered version will no longer be limited to 100 hands during a "SIMULATION". Up to 30000 hands may be completed for each simulation. 7. Sound Blaster support is provided. If you have a Sound Blaster or 100% compatible system, you can order the optional voice files for this game. These files will allow you to hear digital recordings of the words seen in the talk balloons. This provides for a more realistic and entertain- ing game. NOTE: When all voice files are decompressed to your hard disk, they will occupy more than 1.2 mega bytes of space. REGISTRATION FEE Basic game --------------------- $10.00 Send this amount for game only Sound Blaster Voice Files ------- $5.00 Voice file shipping & handling -- $3.00 --------------------------------------- Total Fee for Basic + Sound -- $18.00 Send this amount for game & sound Sound Blaster files will be shipped on a 720K disk unless you specify 5 1/4 inch disks. Please send a check or money order to HYPERWARE 13245 SKIOMAH RD. APPLE VALLEY, CA. 92307 (619) 247-2804 If you don't have a shareware version of this game but want to order the basic game, please add $3.00 for shipping and handling. Only one shipping and handling fee applies to each order so if you want both the basic game and sound files the above price applies. A registration form can be printed out using this utility. Press "P" and select choice #2. Specific printer support is not provided, but the form is ASCII text and should print on most printers. If you can't print out of copy of the registration / order form, please provide the game version number when registering and the disk type desired if ordering. INSTALLATION / SET UP The game should be installed to your hard disk with the install program provided. All required game files are compressed to the file "ULTIMABJ.EXE". A listing of all required files can be found in the text file "PACKLIST.TXT". GAME STARTUP Type "UBJ" to run the program once it is installed on your hard disk. COMMAND LINE OPTIONS /N /D /S 1. /N = No extended memory. This game will use extended memory if It is available. If the program functions erratically, it may be due to a problem with the EXTENDED MEMORY interface. If this is the case, starting the program by typing "UBJ /N" may solve the problem. 2. /S = SOUND BLASTER OFF. If you have a SOUND BLASTER and the associated voice files, the game will start with the voice files loaded and talking. If you want to start without the SOUND BLASTER, type "UBJ /S" and no sound effects will be heard. 3. /D = DEMO. A DEMO mode is available, to run the DEMO mode, type "UBJ DEMO" to start the game. Push F2 to stop the DEMO. The DEMO can be started in the silent mode by typing "UBJ /D /S". PLAYING THE GAME The following information refers to the registered version of this game. Some features will not be available in the unregistered version. See REGISTRATION BENEFITS above for a listing of these features. Sign in with the name you want to use for this game. Your game will be saved under this name. If a custom count system or custom tutor page is developed for this game it will also be saved under this name. This allows players the option of continuing the game if they sign in with this name at a future time. Your position at the table is always occupied with the "generic person". This character can be easily recognized because he/she has no face or other features, and has a prominent "U" in the middle of his/her chest. The "generic person" will have a name tag with your name on it to indicate that he/she is playing as your proxy. You have complete control over this character during game play (consider it to be your slave ready to serve your every whim). If you have selected a SIMULATION, U will play for you with the strategy you have selected. Each menu is active when the hand pointer appears. To select an item from the menu, move the hand pointer to the desired item (use your mouse or the keyboard) then press Enter or the left mouse button. Alternately, you may use key that corresponds to the letter in parenthesis () to select the item. Use the "ESCAPE" key to exit any menu. MAIN MENU (B)et (D)ecks (C)ount Cu(S)tom S(T)atistics Bet (U)uits (G)ame speed (O)ptions QUIT BET: This selection accesses the bet menu. If a previous bet has been made, you may "(R)epeat" the last bet without going to this menu by pushing the "R" key. The bet is always made in a number of "bet units". The amount of money that one bet unit represents can be changed through the Bet (U)nits selection. The initial value of the "bet unit" is $2.00. BET UNIT $2 (1) Unit (2) Units (3) Units (4) Units (5) Units (N)o bet When in this menu, you can access the information in both count systems before placing a bet if desired. To get the "CURRENT COUNT" and "TRUE COUNT" either press the space bar or the right mouse button. To get the information concerning the current count ratio, press the "R" key. See "CUSTOMIZE" for a discussion of these topics. Use NO BET or "ESCAPE" to exit this menu without placing a bet. Once a bet is selected the game will continue with the dealer dealing the cards to all players. Select all desired options before making a bet. DECKS: This option allows you to choose a new deck or decks if more than one is being used. If a different number of decks is chosen, or (N)ew decks is selected a reshuffle of the cards will occur. SHUFFLE PROCEDURE - When new deck(s) are brought into play, the deck(s) are shuffled and cut a random number of times. To keep the card shuffle and deal as realistic as possible, THE SHUFFLE ROUTINE does not use a random number generator, but rather starts with a complete deck or decks of 52 cards. The example below illustrates the shuffle procedure used. EXAMPLE WITH 6 DECKS 1. The six new decks are placed on top of each other to produce the playing stack of cards. ---------- -- | deck 1 | | ---------- | | deck 2 | | ---------- | | deck 3 | | split point ---> ---------- > playing stack before shuffle | deck 4 | | ---------- | | deck 5 | | ---------- | | deck 6 | | ---------- -- 2. This stack is split into two equal stacks and then shuffled with 1/2 the deck to be shuffled coming from each 1/2 stack. This is done six times so that all cards have now been shuffled. The shuffled decks are put back into a stack, the stack is then cut and the process begins again. This happens a random number of times with each shuffle. Possible selections are.... (O)ne deck (T)wo decks (F)our decks (S)ix decks (N)ew decks If a different number of decks are selected, a shuffle is forced and you will be asked to cut the cards. To leave the number of decks the same simply push ESCAPE or reselect the same number of decks again. CUTTING CARDS. This performs an actual cut of the cards as would happen in the real world. Move the hand pointer to the desired point in the card stack (will be shown as a percent of the deck from bottom to top - you will be able to select from 15% to 80%), then press the left mouse button or RETURN. If you push the SPACE bar the deck will be cut at a computer deter- mined random point. COUNT: This selection will display your current hand value when it is your turn to play. CUSTOM: This selection opens a sub menu with the following selections. 1. TUTOR: This allows you access to the custom tutor page. This is designed to allow you to change the tutor page as you desire. Follow the prompts to make your own custom tutor page. When complete push ESCAPE and your custom screen will be saved. NOTE: The new screen will be saved under the name you signed on with, any time you sign on with this name in the future the CUSTOM TUTOR screen will be loaded. You may change back to the original TUTOR screen by selecting TUTOR then pushing "D" for default. You can use a CUSTOM TUTOR screen in conjunction with SIMULATIONS to test your theories for long term play. This screen is designed to provide a visual learning tool to select the statistically correct action based on your hand value (card count) and the dealers UP (visible) card. 2. COUNT SYSTEMS: Use this screen to see how the card count is progressing. Also available is a quick look at the other players at the table. Each players money, their last bet and the type strategy they are using is shown. Two count systems are shown on this page. One can be modified to accommodate your own count system if desired. The current RATIO and current COUNT can both be seen on the small tv monitor at the top right of the game by pressing "R" for RATIO or SPACE BAR (right mouse button) when in the bet menu. a. RATIO - This provides a current ratio of "other" cards to "10 value" cards in the unused portion of the deck. When the ratio becomes smaller (i.e. there are proportionally more ten value cards left in the unused cards (shoe) than small cards) the player has a mathematical advantage and may want increase his bet. See the discussion on CARD COUNTING SYSTEMS at the end of this file for more information. b. POINT COUNT SYSTEM - This system is provided with the values assigned to each card so that a full shoe of cards will provide a count of "0". As the cards are dealt, if more small value cards (counted as +1) are dealt, the count will go positive indicating the remaining shoe is rich in face cards, 10s, and aces. A positive count indicates that an advantageous situation for the player may be developing and an increase in the bet may be warranted. The values associated with each card will change the overall count total. If you are attempting to develop your own counting strategy, you can change these values as desired. See the discussion on CARD COUNTING SYSTEMS at the end of this file for more information. BET UNITS: This selection allows you to change the amount of money represented by one bet unit. The initial setting for the bet unit is $2.00. The range of possible bet unit assignment is $1.00 to $100.00. STATISTICS: This selection will display many statics of the play. Such as the number of hands dealt, whether you are up or down and by how much. Also included is a YOURS vs STATS display, this lets you know the percentage of decisions that are statistically correct according to the TUTOR. Many other items are show when statistics are displayed. GAME SPEED: The game speed may be adjusted from fastest (value 25) to slowest (value 1). The game speed is initially set to 16. If you have the SOUND BLASTER voice files, this provides the best setting to allow enough time for all voices to be heard. Sound Blaster talking can be heard at faster game settings (up to 18) after setting 18, no voices will be heard. At the highest game speeds some game animation is bypassed. The fastest settings are designed to be used with SIMULATIONS so that a large number of hands may be played in a short amount of time. OPTIONS MENU OPTIONS: This menu provides access to many of the options available for game customization. Nearly any combination of casino rules can be selected through this menu. SIMULATIONS: When selected, the player's hand is played by the computer. This is handy to allow the player to investigate the merits of different strategy and/or count systems for long term play. The SIMULATION function will play up to 30000 hands for you. Any game options selected are used during AUTO PLAY, including any changes you may make to the CUSTOM SUGGESTIONS screen, the CUSTOM COUNT option, and the BET UNITS. Use the game speed up feature to rapidly play a large number of hands to check strategy combinations over the long term. The strategy "U" will use during a SIMULATION is outlined below and are available on for review on the COUNT SYSTEMS screen. Strategy (1) Strategy (2) Strategy (3) Strategy (4) (B)uild strategy (N)o Simulation 1. Strategy #1 1. Hit on 16 or less 2. Stay on 17 or greater 3. Random bet $10 or $20 2. Strategy #2 1. Uses strategy from the TUTOR screen (custom or default whichever is selected) 2. Bet is your INITIAL BET AMOUNT 3. Increase bet if RATIO improves (see COUNT SCREEN) 3. Strategy #3 1. Hit on 16 or less 2. Stay on 17 or greater 3. Double on 11 count 4. Split Aces or 8s 5. Bet is same as in strategy #2 4. Strategy #4 1. Uses strategy from the TUTOR screen (custom or default whichever is selected) 2. Bet is INITIAL BET AMOUNT 3. Increase bet as TRUE COUNT increases (see COUNT SCREEN). 5 X INITIAL UNIT is max bet 5. Build strategy 1. Use this selection to build a strategy for the computer to use in the simulation 2. Additional information is displayed on the screen when this selection is chosen 3. See STRATEGY BUILDING at the end of this file for additional information 6. No simulation (Escape) 1. Terminates the SIMULATION selection. NOTE: If a SIMULATION is running, push F2 to stop the SIMULATION. You will hear a tone to let you know the simulation will end after the current round is played to a conclusion. A simulation will not start until you place the first bet. This allows you to select all desired options, game speed, bet units and modify the TUTOR or the POINT COUNT SYSTEM before the SIMULATION starts. If COUNT is not selected as an option before the SIMULATION starts, the CURRENT COUNT and TRUE COUNT or the RATIO of cards (depending on it's applicability for the strategy being used) will be displayed in the small TV at the top right of the playing screen instead of the player's count. The amount of money you wager as the first bet sets the base bet for all hands. This amount may be increased at different times by the computer depending on which strategy you have selected or built. PLAYERS: Opens a sub menu with the following headings. This menu is not accessible after a simulation has been initiated. 1. PLAYERS BIOS - Will bring up a screen of all the players you may encounter at the table. Provides a short biography of each. Push any key to exit the BIOS page. 2. CHANGE PLAYERS - You can change your sitting position at the table as well as change the number of other players at the table. Push Escape to exit this selection without changing anything. 3. CHANGE DEALER - You can change the dealer. Three are available and they will rotate each time this is selected. 4. DONE (Escape) - Returns you to the previous menu. DEALER CHECKS 10s: When selected (button down) the dealer will ask for an insurance bet and check for a blackjack with either a 10 or ACE showing as his up card. DEFAULT: dealer only checks for a possible blackjack with an ACE showing. ALL CARDS UP: When selected the dealer will deal all cards to the players face up. This will allow players to more easily perfect their count. DEFAULT: Cards are dealt to players face down. DOUBLE ON ANY: Allows the player to DOUBLE DOWN on any count of the first 2 cards dealt. DEFAULT: DOUBLE DOWN only allowed on 10 or 11 count of first 2 cards. DOUBLE ON SPLIT: Allows the player to DOUBLE DOWN after splitting cards. DEFAULT: No DOUBLE DOWN after a split allowed. If DOUBLE ANY HAND is selected these rules also apply after a split. SURRENDER ALLOWED: When selected the SURRENDER OPTION will be allowed. When surrender is allowed and selected as your choice, you will forfeit 1/2 your bet and turn your cards in to the dealer. NOTE: With SURRENDER ALLOWED you may surrender any hand (first 2 cards only) regardless of count. DONE (Escape): Return to the main menu. QUIT: This selection allows you to quit the game. The following will be saved for you. 1. All game statistics (see statistics above) 2. Your money 3. Your CUSTOMIZED COUNT SYSTEM 4. Your CUSTOMIZED TUTOR 5. The players you were playing with 6. The sitting positions of any players at the table 7. The game speed you have selected NOTE: When starting the game and you have a previous game on file, your last game results will be displayed and you will be asked if you want to START A NEW GAME (Y/N). If "N" is selected your last game will be restored and you can continue just as you left the game last time. Even if you decide to start a new game, the game speed you have been using and was saved will be used for the new game. DECISION MENU: After the dealer deals all cards to the players and it is your ("U"re next) turn, the following menu will be presented for you to make a choice. (T)utor (H)it (S)tay (D)ouble Su(R)ender S(P)lit 1. TUTOR: This selection will bring up the TUTOR screen. This screen shows you the statistically correct move based on your hand value and the dealers up card (shown at the top of the screen). The suggested move will be displayed in the box at the top of the screen as well as graphically depicted by a flashing square in the indicated box. If you have customized the tutor screen, "CUSTOM" will be displayed in the TUTOR box. If the screen has not been customized, the TUTOR box will say "DEFAULT". If the screen has been customized and you want to use or see the "DEFAULT" screen you can toggle between the 2 screens by alternately selecting "D" or "C". NOTE: The default tutor screen was derived from a compilation of information from a number of sources, If you believe you have a better set of "correct" moves, you should customize this screen as discussed earlier. The STATS vs YOUR selection under STATISTICS compares your move against the suggested move from this screen (uses CUSTOMIZED version if present) to compute a percent of your moves that were the same as that suggested by this screen. NOTE: The move suggested by the TUTOR can be seen in the small TV at the top left of the playing screen. Just push the SPACE BAR or the right mouse button. This allows you to verify correct recall of the proper move suggested by the TUTOR without accessing the tutor page. 2. HIT: Causes the dealer to "HIT" you with a card when selected. 3. STAY: Indicates to the dealer you do not want any more cards, the dealer will proceed to the next player in line. 4. DOUBLE: Causes the bet to be doubled - the dealer then deals you only one more card. NOTE: The default rule for DOUBLE only allows this when your first two card count is 10 or 11, and does not allow a DOUBLE after a split. Both of these limitations may be changed through the OPTIONS menu. 5. SURRENDER: When SURRENDER is selected, you turn your cards in to the dealer and forfeit 1/2 your bet wager. NOTE: The default rule is no surrender allowed. This can be changed through the OPTIONS menu. 6. SPLIT: When selected your first two cards will be SPLIT into 2 separate hands, you will then play each individually. Splits are only allowed when the first two cards dealt you are a pair or both equal a 10 count. Your bet is doubled. You can not split multiple times. NOTE: Only those selections you have set the game rules up for with the OPTIONS menu will be available to you. If an item is not available, it will not have a button next to it on the menu. MOUSE SUPPORT: Any Microsoft compatible mouse should work with this program. Drag the hand pointer to the desired selection then push the "LEFT" mouse button to select. When an item is selected the button corresponding to it will be down. If the game asks for a response in the form of a "Y/N" answer (i.e. INSURANCE?) the mouse buttons are implemented as follows. LEFT MOUSE BUTTON = "Y" RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON = "N" SPECIAL SUBJECTS CARD COUNTING SYSTEMS There are as many card counting systems as there are "EXPERTS" at blackjack. This game provides the RATIO system as a fixed card counter, and provides a flexible POINT COUNT SYSTEM. The POINT COUNT SYSTEM can be modified by the registered user to provide what ever count he desires based on values assigned to each card. Any system attempts to provide the player with an idea of whether the cards remaining to be played have relatively more 10 value cards versus lower value cards. Theoretically a shoe remaining that is high in 10 cards favors the player and is a disadvantage to the dealer and may warrant increasing the bet. CURRENT COUNT versus TRUE COUNT Point Count Systems may provide abnormally high or low counts in multiple deck games. This count is called the CURRENT COUNT, to provide a better estimate of the actual make up of the remaining cards, the TRUE COUNT was developed to average the current count over the number of decks remaining in the shoe. NOTE: These systems are provided as flexible tools to be used as the player desires. If you are serious about card counting in BLACKJACK I suggest you purchase one of the many books available on the subject. TUTOR If you are not a card counter or don't want to learn to count cards, the TUTOR is designed to provide a way of memorizing the best move based on your hand value(count) and the dealers "UP" (showing card). I don not claim this to be the "BEST" set of moves for every set of playing rules or every player. Users may modify this page to suit their ideas or theories. NOTE: If using a custom TUTOR in a SIMULATION, the split only on a pair or two 10s rule can be bypassed, any time a combination of cards shows up that falls within a split suggestion on a modified TUTOR page, "U" will dutifully split the cards for you. Again, you should purchase one of may books on the subject to become more knowledgeable about the best move based on your count and the dealers up card. BUILD STRATEGY & SIMULATIONS This is a powerful feature that commands the computer to play a large number of hands for you with a strategy you design. This should provide you with information on the merits of your strategy over the long term. When building a strategy, Instructions for each entry in the strategy builder form will appear as that item is selected. Follow the prompts to build your strategy, set the rules the way you want them, adjust the game speed and number of decks, modify the TUTOR page if desired, set your BET UNIT and finally place the initial bet to start the simulation. BUILD STRATEGY TERMS 1. BANK ROLL: The amount of money you will have at the start of this simulation. 2. SESSION STAKE: The amount of money that will define one betting session. A betting session will continue until the SESSION MONEY reaches $0 or if the TARGET WIN for that SESSION has been reached, and the SESSION MONEY later drops to that level. If a SESSION ends for one of these reasons, a new SESSION will start if money remains in the BANK ROLL. 3. TARGET WIN: The amount of money desired as a win goal for each betting SESSION. 4. SESSIONS WON: A SESSION is defined as winning if the session ends after the TARGET WIN has been reached. 5. SESSIONS LOST: A SESSION is a loss if it ends due to the SESSION MONEY reaching $0 and the TARGET WIN was never reached. 6. The number of betting sessions won or lost are displayed as the simulation proceeds. GAME LIMITATIONS This game works only with whole dollar amounts when computing bet payoffs or surrender amounts. For this reason, bet units should be set to an even value to insure accurate money computation. If a computed pay off or forfeiture is not an even number, the result will be rounded to the nearest dollar amount. The following may be rounded off if an odd bet unit is used. 1. Blackjack payoff - $1 Blackjack payoff is $1 due to rounding. 2. Surrender amounts - $1 bets surrendered result in no money loss to the better due to rounding.