********************************************************************* * BLACKJACK PLUS USER MANUAL (BJP_MAN.TXT) * * * * Designed and developed by Jon Turcsanyi * * Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993 All Rights Reserved * * * * MUSICODE SOFTWARE * * 40108 Hiway 49, Suite C-280 * * Oakhurst, CA 93644 * * * ********************************************************************* This program is for the IBM PC & Compatibles with EGA/VGA Graphics >>> A DOS program, also runs under Windows <<< COMING SOON: WINDOWS version will be sent to all registered users! ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS is a Shareware Product ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- You may evaluate this software before you buy it. If you use this program, you are legally required to pay for it. Send registration form (filename: BJP_REG.TXT) along with your check or money order for $20.00 plus $5 shipping/handling to MUSICODE SOFTWARE at the address above. As a bonus, you will be sent 'BLACKJACK PLUS PROFESSIONAL'. This version includes many additional features, including the ability to program any playing, betting, counting strategy & a printed manual! *** SEE COMPLETE LIST OF PROFESSIONAL FEATURES: BJP_INFO.TXT *** ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS Files ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- These five files must all be copied when sharing BLACKJACK PLUS: BJP.EXE BJP.RSC BJP_INFO.TXT BJP_MAN.TXT BJP_REG.TXT ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS Keyboard Functions & Program Navigation ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- If the cursor behaves erratically and you do not have a joystick connected to your system, press 'J' to disable the joystick port. Q - Quits program from three main screens: TABLE Screen DEALER Screen GAME SETUP Screen Esc - Returns to a main screen from any of the other screens. H - HELP screens CHANGE VALUES & CONTROLLER NAVIGATE & SELECT EXECUTE FUNCTIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------- Keyboard Arrow keys Enter or Space bar Mouse Left, right, up, down Left button Joystick Left, right, up, down Fire button While playing the game: C - Cycle Mode toggles ON or OFF. Cycle Mode allows you to take your time and step through the game action at your own speed, advancing only when you hit the space bar. P - Pause option ON or OFF. Press any time during play. At the end of the current hand, you will be given the option to quit or continue playing. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS Program Flow ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- | TABLE SCREEN | -------------- | --------------------------------------- | | ------------ ---------- | GAME SETUP | | DEALER | | Screen | | Screen | ------------ ---------- | | --------------------- ---------------- | | | | ------- ----------- ------------ -------- | HOUSE | | PLAYER | | STATISTICS | | START | | RULES | |STRATEGIES | | | | Game | ------- ----------- ------------ -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS GAME SETUP Screen ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- Enter the 'GAME SETUP' screen from the 'TABLE' screen by pressing the Enter key when the 'BLACKJACK PLUS' logo is selected. For each player: Set desired mode and strategy (explained below) and a table stake (1-99999). A player must have at least 1 unit to play. Note: Player's stakes will roll over to 0 when winnings push the stake total past 99999 units. PLAY MODES - There are four play modes. Each of the seven players can be individually set to any one of the following play modes: MANUAL - Play an accurate simulation of casino blackjack. You decide when to Stand, Hit, Double, Split, Surrender and take insurance. You may select 'HINT' to get help based on the chosen strategy. AUTO - Players set to this mode will play unassisted according to the strategy assigned to that player. Play under the exact conditions you will find in the casino. Put the desired number of players at the table with you at the table position you choose! FEEDBACK - Use the Feedback mode to learn and practice your strategies. You play manually, and if you select a play or bet that is not in agreement with the chosen strategy, you will receive a warning message. You will be given a chance to make the correct play or you may override the strategy and make any play you choose. BACKGROUND - Background is a powerful tool, most useful as an aid in the evaluation of different strategies, and how they perform over the long run. You may evaluate the results of playing blackjack using the basic strategies included with this program. 'BLACKJACK PLUS PROFESSIONAL' (programmable version) will be sent to you when you register this program. It allows you to change any of the strategy table settings to try other playing strategies. Quickly run simulations and compare the results! Now you are able to reach a conclusion as to which strategy performs best. Players set to Background mode will play automatically with no step-by-step play shown on the screen. When all the players (with a stake) are set to Background, the entire game is played without any screen action. Hundreds of hands can be played in seconds. Extensive statistics are accumulated and may be viewed and/or printed when play is completed. NUMBER OF DECKS - to be used: 1 to 9. PENETRATION - Dealing depth (when dealer shuffles): 0 to 99%. GAME SPEED - 0 to 9 (0 is slowest speed, while 9 is fastest) HOUSE RULES (displays the HOUSE RULES Screen) - SOFT 17 (HIT or STAND) Determines dealer action. DOUBLE DOWN (ANY, 9 10 11, or 10 11) Hands you may double on. AFTER SPLIT (YES or NO) Whether you can double after you split. SURRENDER (YES or NO) Allows the surrender option. PLAYER STRATEGIES (displays the PLAYER STRATEGY Screen) - The specified strategy table is displayed on the right side of the screen. The settings in the table determine the action a player takes in every game situation. The top row represents the dealer's up card. The column on the left side represents the current total for the player's hand. The intersection of the row and column shows what the player's action should be in that situation: S = STAND H = HIT D = DOUBLE P = SPLIT R = SURRENDER The strategy table assigned (by number) to a player on the SETUP screen will be used during play regardless of the play mode. Two basic strategies are provided for you; one for single deck play and one for multiple deck play. These strategies are not changeable. 'BLACKJACK PLUS PROFESSIONAL' version will be sent to you when you register this product. It will give you the ability to program any playing, betting & counting strategy settings into the strategy table. You may save the strategies you set up for future use and comparisions. Set up ones used by the pros: Canfield, Revere, Thorpe, Uston, Wong. Quickly run simulations of 1 million hands & check the statistics! NBR (1 - 7) - Number of the strategy table currently displayed. SINGL/MULTI - Single deck strategy or Multi deck strategy. INSURANCE - Yes or No, may be overridden in manual play mode. UNIT BET - 0 to 9999 Bet made at start of session, also used to determine a new bet (see betting strategy below). MAX BET - 0 to 9999 Maximum allowed bet. WIN/LOSE BETTING STRATEGY - Determines the next bet based on the result of the last hand. UNIT Unit bet, see above. MAX Maximum bet, see above. +UNIT x .00 Last bet + (unit bet x n.nn) -UNIT x .00 Last bet - (unit bet x n.nn) BET x n.nn Last bet x n.nn Changing the betting factor (n.nn) '+' on the keypad Increments '-' on the keypad Decrements '+' or '-' with Left Shift Coarse adjustment '0' on the keypad Default To return to 'GAME SETUP' screen, press the ESC key or select the title 'STRATEGIES' (using arrow keys) and press Enter. PROGRAM CONTROL - (Mouse or Joystick) Indicates mouse or joystick control of the game. To return to 'TABLE' screen, press the ESC key or select the title 'GAME SETUP' (using arrow keys) and press Enter. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS DEALER Screen ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- Access the 'DEALER' screen from the 'TABLE' screen: Select the title 'DEALER' using the arrow keys and then press the Enter key. HANDS - Set number of hand to be played: 1 to 999999 TOTALS - Set ON or OFF. Display card totals during play? START - Playing the game! STATISTICS - RESET - The statistics may be reset or they will continue to accumulate during the playing session. VIEW - (displays the STATISTICS Screen) - After a playing session you may view the accumulated statistics. PRINT - Print the accumulated statistics for evaluation. To return to 'TABLE' screen, press the ESC key or select the title 'DEALER' using the arrow keys & press Enter. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ** BLACKJACK PLUS First Time Tutorial ** ------------------------------------------------------------------- Execute program: BJP.EXE All selections may be made using the mouse, keyboard arrow keys or joysticks. This tutorial uses the keyboard. When 'TABLE' screen appears, select the BLACKJACK PLUS logo (using arrow keys), then press Enter to access the 'GAME SETUP' screen. Use arrow keys to select player #1 mode, use Enter key to change to MANUAL mode. Select player #6 and set to AUTO. Use the arrow keys to move to TABLE STAKE columns, then use the Enter key increment each column value. Any number of players may be set up to play the game. Remember, in order to play, players must have a table stake and be set to a playing mode (not OFF). Use arrow keys and Enter key to move to & change each any of the selections at the bottom of the Game Setup screen. Return to the 'TABLE' screen by pressing the Esc key or select the 'GAME SETUP' title (using arrow keys) and then press Enter. Select the 'DEALER' title (using arrow keys), then press Enter to access the 'DEALER' screen. Set the number of hands you wish to play: select each column using arrow keys and increment by pressing the Enter key. You may play 1 to 999,999 hands! Select 'START' (using arrow keys) and press Enter to begin play. Each player that is set to MANUAL mode will present a screen where you specify your bet. Use the arrow keys to move to each column and then the Enter key to scroll values. When you have specified the bet, use the arrow keys to move to the player # at the top and press Enter. Players set to AUTO mode will automatically bet the unit bet that is specified on the STRATEGIES screen (accessed from the GAME SETUP screen: "PLAYER STRATEGIES"). Play will continue until the specified amount of hands has been dealt. You may pause play by pressing P any time during play. At the end of the hand you will be given the option to quit play or continue. Press H to access HELP screen. A fully detailed printed manual, with examples and illustrations, will be sent to all registered users. ******************************************************** * MUSICODE SOFTWARE hopes you enjoy BLACKJACK PLUS * * and welcomes all comments and suggestions. * * THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR SHAREWARE AUTHORS! * ******************************************************** ********** END OF FILE: BJP_MAN.TXT **********