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Documentation File for BJTutor
------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
------------
BJTutor is a shareware implementation of the popular casino game BlackJack.
The unregistered version is mostly functional (see exceptions below), but
will include a delay between hands that will be removed by registering the
game.
Registration is important as it will ensure bug-fixes and other titles by
the author. This implementation is written as a stand-alone program using
the Java language so it should be usable on any platform supporting a JVM.
This program requires version 1.0.2 or higher JVM.
BJTutor will teach you basic strategy, which the single most important
thing you may do to increase your chances of winning against the casino.
I have taken much time and effort in making it both entertaining and useful
for the beginner and advanced player alike, offering these features:
* Insurance if the dealer shows an Ace
* Splitting
* Doubling
* Played like in the casinos - no extra cards wasted if unnecessary,
play each hand one at a time after splitting, no more
than one card to a split ace, etc.
* The flexibility to choose options under which the game is
played, including:
* Number of decks in the shoe (One, Two, Four, Six, or Eight)
* The deck penetration before reshuffling (set anywhere from
0% to 90%)
* Double on any two cards vs. double on 10, 11 only
* Double allowed after splitting vs. not allowed
* Dealer hits soft 17 vs. stands on all 17s
* Splitting limit: unlimited, up to 2, 3, or 4 hands
* Re-split aces vs. no re-split allowed
* No surrender, late surrender, early surrender
BJTutor also includes a powerful integrated advisor/tutor to teach you basic
strategy. At any time in the game, you may ask for advise from the tutor.
The tutor will tell you what the correct play is according to basic
strategy and the game options that you chose to play. Optionally, the
tutor can let you know if you make a mistake in your play. This feature is
important to help you memorize basic strategy.
For more information on casino BlackJack or any of the options listed above,
check out the rec.gambling.blackjack frequently asked questions list.
You can find it in many places, including
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/gambling-faq/blackjack/faq.html
BENEFITS OF REGISTERING
-----------------------
Registering this product is important and carries many benefits, including:
* Support for the author in continuing to bring you this and similar
software.
* Avoiding the registration notice.
* The bet dialog will default to the amount of your last bet instead
of $5 every time, even if your last bet was in a different
session with the BJTutor.
* The registered version will remember the options you chose for the
next time you wish to use the BJTutor.
* The registered version will check if you can double, split, or
surrender before offering it to you as advice.
LICENSE
-------
You must read and agree to all terms and conditions set forth in the file
LICENSE.TXT that is distributed with this program. Use of the program
denotes agreement to the terms and conditions stated in that file.
INSTALLATION
------------
BJTutor is a standalone application written in Java. Therefore, you
must have a Java interpreter to run the program.
To install the program follow these steps:
1. Copy the BJTutor.zip or BJTutor.tar.gz file to a
permanent location and de-archive it.
2. Do not de-archive the BJTutor file that is created. This violates
the license you have been granted.
3. You may delete the BJTutor.zip or the BJTutor.tar archive.
RUNNING THE PROGRAM
------- --- -------
To invoke the program, go to the directory where you installed the BJTutor,
make sure that the java interpreter is in your path and type:
java -classpath <path to java classes><path separator><path to BJTutor> BJTutor
where
<path to java classes> is a path to your java classes, i.e.:
~/jdk/lib/classes.zip (for UNIX)
c:\java\lib\classes.zip (for PCs)
<path separator> is the path separator for your system, it is a
colon on UNIX systems and a semicolon on other systems.
<path to BJTutor> is a path to the BJTutor file distributed with
the archive. The path MUST end with the BJTutor file, i.e.:
c:\java\BJTutor
The command line for the example above (on a PC) would be:
java -classpath c:\java\lib\classes.zip;c:\java\BJTutor BJTutor
The program should now run.
INTERACTING WITH THE PROGRAM
----------- ---- --- -------
When you first run the program, it will put up two dialog boxes. One will
let you know that it is initializing the card images. The other will allow
you to choose the options under which to play (The options are described
in the introduction section of this file) and enter your name and starting
bankroll. Choose the options you want to play under and hit the Done button,
the 'd' key, or the enter key to continue. You may hit the Quit button, the
escape key, or the 'q' key to exit the game.
After you select the options to play under, you will be prompted by the
"Enter Bet" dialog. This dialog asks you to enter the amount of your initial
bet. You may edit the text area for the bet using the mouse and keyboard, or
use the number keys, decimal key, and backspace key to enter a bet. When you
are finished, press the Done button or the enter key to continue.
You may hit the Quit button or the Escape key to exit the game.
After you have settled on a bet, you will see the BlackJack layout showing
the dealer's upcard and you cards. If the dealer has an ace showing, you will
be asked if you want to take insurance. Whatever your answer, it will be
resolved immediately.
If the hand continues beyond insurance, you may hit one of the buttons at
the bottom of the screen to perform an action, or use one of the
following keyboard equivalents (Note: The lettering in the button has a
capitalized letter to denote the equivalent key):
Action Equivalent Key
------ --------------
Hit 'h' or '+'
Stand Enter or 's'
Double 'd'
Split 'p'
Surrender 'r'
Advice 'a' or '?'
After the hand is over, you will be prompted by the "Enter bet" dialog to
place your next bet.
PLAYING BLACKJACK
------- ---------
I am assuming that most people know how to play BlackJack (It is sometimes
called "21"). But, it does not hurt to offer an explanation of the mechanics
of BlackJack in case someone is not familiar with it or needs a refresher.
The normal play:
1. You place a bet.
2. The dealer will give you two cards and will take two for
himself, but will show you only one of his cards.
Cards values:
Ace 1 or 11 points
Ten, Jack, Queen, King 10 points
All others Face value
3. Object: To have a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, but
if you go over, you lose (This is called busting).
4. You start by looking at your cards (and usually at the dealer's
"up" card for information) and decide if you would like
to take additional cards one at a time (This is hitting).
You may stay with your current hand at any time (This is
standing).
5. After you stand, the dealer plays. The dealer must take a hit
until his hand's value is between 17 and 21, inclusive, or
busted. NOTE: The dealer is forced to act in this manner and
is not allowed to deviate from it, regardless of your hand's
value.
6. If you bust or the dealer's hand is closer to 21 than yours, you
lose your bet.
7. If you did not bust and your hand is closer to 21 than the
dealer's hand, the dealer will match your bet and you may
walk away richer or play another hand.
8. If you tie (called a Push), the delaer will leave your bet on the
table. You may pick it up an leave no better or worse off or
play another hand.
Doubling:
If you have two cards (sometimes the casino will stipulate that the
total value of those two cards is 10 or 11), you may double your bet. But,
to take advantage of this option, the dealer will give you one more card and
you are not allowed to take additional cards.
Splitting:
If your hand has only two cards they have the same value,
you may split the hand into two hands. You will have to place an additional
bet equal to your original bet so that both hand will have the same bet.
Both hands will begin with one of the two paired cards. After you split,
you play each hand in turn as if they were independent hands. These hands
are playing against the dealer only and not between themselves
(In other words, both can win or lose independent of the other).
** If you receive a pair of aces and you split them, you will only
receive one card to each split ace and will not be able to do anything else
unless you receive another ace and you are allowed to re-split aces.
Blackjack:
The BlackJack is the most coveted hand in the game. If you get one
and the dealer does not have one, you will receive 1.5 times your bet instead
of the usual equal match if you win.
BlackJack is when you have a hand value of 21 dealt to you with
your first two cards (Note: splitting a hand and then getting 21 with two
cards does NOT cout as BlackJack). In order to make a value of 21 with
two cards, one must be an Ace and the other must be a Ten, Jack, Queen,
or King.
Insurance:
If the dealer's "up" card is an ace, he will ask you if you would
like to take insurance. If you do, you have to place an additional 1/2 of
your bet on the table. After you choose whether or not to take insurance,
the dealer will check if he has a BlackJack (but he will not show you his
hidden card until later).
If you do not take insurance and the dealer has a BlackJack, he will
expose his cards and immediately take your bet (even if you have a
BlackJack yourself). If you do not take insurance and the dealer does not
have BlackJack, the hand will continue as normal.
If you take insurance and the dealer has a BlackJack, he will
expose his card, pay two times the insurance bet, and take your original bet.
The net effect of this will be that you will be at the same place you were
before you played the hand. If you take insurance and the dealer does not
have BlackJack, he will take your insurance money and the hand will continue
as normal.
Surrender:
If the casino offers surrender, you may be able to get out of a bad
hand and lose only half your bet (instead of losing the whole thing). You
may surrender only with your original two cards. If the casino offers early
surrender (I don't know any casinos that do), you will be able to get half
your bet back no matter what the dealer holds. If the casino offers late
surrender, you will be able to get half your bet back only if the dealer does
not have blackjack.
NOTES
-----
It is possible that the deck will run out of cards before the end of a hand.
In this case, the dealer will choose cards at random from an infinitely
large shoe. When the hand is over the dealer will shuffle. Although this is
not what the casinos do, it is a very rare circumstance and should not
affect your play.
If you receive a pair of aces and decide to split them, the program will
automatically split any subsequent pairs of aces you receive if you are
allowed to re-split aces. This saves you the effort of hitting the buttons.
DISTRIBUTION
------------
You may distribute the UNREGISTERED version of BJTutor freely as long as
all files from the original distribution are included and no modifications
are made.
You may not distribute the REGISTERED version of BJTutor in any way.
DISCLAIMER
----------
This software is distributed for entertainment only and should be viewed as
such. The author is not responsible for any other use of the software and is
not responsible for monetary or other losses from the use of this software.
This software does not promote gambling in any way and does not imply
that it should be used for such.
CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
---------- --- ------
You may contact the author via email or postal mail.
The email address is:
neil27@juno.com
The U.S. Postal address is:
Neil Aggarwal
13 Hackamore Court
Tinton Falls, NJ 07753
USA