
















                 Ŀ
                                                          
                                BLACKJACK!                
                                                          
                      Your Key To Winning Casino Play     
                                                          
                 






                               Donald L. Granger
                               Glencoe Computing

                            Ŀ
                      Ŀ     
                    ĳ         o    
                         Ŀ   Association of
                                    Shareware
                      ĳ    o        Professionals
                    ĳ        
                              MEMBER

















           Copyright 1988  Donald L. Granger, Glencoe Computing ASP
                             All rights reserved




                     T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S



              BLACKJACK! License Provisions................. 3

              Acknowledgments............................... 3

              The ShareWare Concept......................... 4

              System Requirements........................... 4

              Quick Start................................... 4

              Introduction.................................. 5

              Start-Up...................................... 6
                  Backing Up BLACKJACK!..................... 6
                  Installation.............................. 6
                  Running BLACKJACK!........................ 7

              Blackjack Basics.............................. 7

              General Information........................... 8
                  Press & Enter............................. 8
                  Prompt Lines.............................. 9

              The BLACKJACK! Main Menu...................... 9

              At The Casino.................................10
                  Casino Table Set-Up.......................10
                  The Status Box............................10
                  Placing Bets..............................10
                  Playing The Hand..........................11
                  Borrowing Funds...........................11
                  Help......................................11

              The User Definable Casino.....................12
                  Editing The User Casino...................12

              Card Counting Practice........................12
                  Counting Basics...........................13

              Basic Strategy Practice.......................14

              Strategy Tables...............................15

              Betting & Money Management....................19

              The Casinos...................................21

              Problems......................................21

              Registration Form.............................22

                                                                 BLACKJACK!  3

      BLACKJACK! License Provisions


                      BLACKJACK! IS NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE
                      

           BLACKJACK! is the copyrighted property of Donald L. Granger,
           Glencoe Computing.  You are granted a limited license to use
           BLACKJACK!, to copy and distribute it, provided the following
           conditions are met:

           1.  No fee may be charged for such copying and
               distribution other than actual costs incurred.

           2.  BLACKJACK! may ONLY be distributed in its original,
               unmodified state, complete with data files and
               this documentation.

           3.  BLACKJACK! may not be distributed as part of a
               package or group of programs.

           4.  The paid registered version may NOT be distributed.


                             GLENCOE COMPUTING
                             DONALD L. GRANGER
                             1100 HIGHWAY C
                             GLENCOE, MISSOURI
                                      63038-1404

                                       NOTICE
                                       ------
           If you paid a "public domain" vendor for this program, you paid
           for the service of copying and distributing the program, and
           not for the program itself.  Rest assured that nothing ever
           gets to the originators of this product from such a sale.  You
           may evaluate this product, but if you make use of it, you
           should register your copy.

           The benifits of registration include the latest version of
           BLACKJACK!, the ability to use a custom defined card counting
           system, full product support, printer formatted documentation,
           and an overall good feeling.


      Acknowledgments
           My special thanks to the following:

                Bally's Park Place Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ
                The Peppermill Hotel & Casino, Reno, NV
                Caesar's Palace Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

                Stu Johnston for his help, and for just being Stu.

                Leslie Granger, A very special and very patient person
                who will never know just how much I appreciate and need
                her love and support.




                                                                 BLACKJACK!  4

       The ShareWare Concept
            The ShareWare concept is an attempt to provide software at low
            cost.  The cost of offering a new product by conventional chan-
            nels is staggering, and hence dissuades many independent au-
            thors and small companies from developing and promoting their
            ideas.  ShareWare is an attempt to develop a marketing channel
            where products can be introduced at low cost.

            If the ShareWare concept works, then everyone benefits.  The
            user will benefit by receiving quality products at low cost,
            and by being able to "test drive" software before purchasing
            it.  The author benefits by being able to enter the commercial
            software arena without first needing large sources of venture
            capital. But it can only work with your support.  We're not
            just talking about BLACKJACK! here, but about all user sup-
            ported software.  If you find that you are still using a pro-
            gram after a couple of weeks, then pretty obviously it is worth
            something to you, and you should register.

       System Requirements
            Due to BLACKJACK!'s very high resolution graphics, an EGA, VGA
            or Hercules compatible graphics adapter or equivalent is re-
            quired.  BLACKJACK! will NOT run with the CGA or MDA display
            adapters.  A minimum of 256K display memory is required on EGA
            type adapters.

            BLACKJACK! requires 256K of available system memory.

            BLACKJACK! will run on any floppy based system as well as fixed
            disk systems.

            BLACKJACK! is written in C and Assembler.

       Quick Start
            If you are like me you are impatient and figure you know enough
            about computers and software to figure just about any old pro-
            gram out without reading the docs.  Well you are probably
            right.  BLACKJACK! was designed to be easy to use and all but
            impossible to damage... so have at it if you must!  But please
            find the time to read these few pages, they contain quite a bit
            of valuable information about the game of Blackjack that could
            make your next sojourn to the tables much more enjoyable. OK,
            here goes. . .
            MAKE BACKUPS!
            Be sure program and data files are on the same diskette, or in
            the same fixed disk directory.  Type BJ from the DOS prompt,
            read the menus and prompts and have at it!




                                                                 BLACKJACK!  5


       Introduction
            The most popular casino game today, both for players and casino
            owners, is unquestionably Blackjack.  For the player the at-
            traction is the simplicity of the rules (just about everyone
            knows how to play "21") and the friendly atmosphere of the
            table.  For the owners the popularity is due to the fact that
            the Blackjack tables have become the most profitable real
            estate in the casino.**

            The purpose of BLACKJACK! is to do something about the latter!

            First off, let's make sure that the object of the game is
            clear.  We are not out to see who can get closest to 21 without
            going over... we are out to BEAT THE DEALER!  This is an impor-
            tant concept overlooked by many novice players, and it leads to
            fatter wallets for the casino bosses.  Although getting close
            to 21 is often the best strategy, it is just as important to
            know when to sit back and let the dealer beat himself.

            With Blackjack, as played in casinos, we always know exactly
            how the dealer is going to play his hand.  This is the key fea-
            ture that has allowed the development of Basic Strategy Tables,
            the most important tool at our disposal when  at the tables.

            The importance of learning the Basic Strategy Tables cannot be
            over stressed.  This is your key to winning!  By utilizing
            these strategies you can lower the house percentage (vigorish)
            from around 6% to close to 0%!  Often in a session the money is
            made on the secondary bets (splitting and doubling down) while
            the regular play ends up in a push.  With a firm knowledge of
            the basic strategy you will know when to make these bets.  You
            cannot play blackjack by the seat of your pants and expect to
            win.  The basic strategy tables are found under the Basic
            Strategy Practice heading of this manual.  I recommend that you
            print these tables for use as a reference while using
            BLACKJACK!.

            Card counting is the most talked about facet of Blackjack and
            when properly utilized can actually give the player up to a
            1.5% edge over the house.  The biggest problem with most count-
            ing strategies that they are quite complex and far too diffi-
            cult for the casual player to master.  Casinos also frown heav-
            ily on card counters and with certainty will ask a player sus-
            pected of counting to leave the tables (and maybe the casino).





       ____________________
            * Actually the slot machines are likely to account for
              more revenue per square foot.



                                                                 BLACKJACK!  6

            In the early seventies card counting became quite a popular
            subject, with many feature stories appearing on television and
            in magazines.  System sellers were quick to exploit this new
            awareness and a plethora of 'sure win' systems were touted and
            sold.  Curiously during this period the casino profits began to
            rise at a disproportional rate to the increase in table activ-
            ity.  Hmmmm, how could this be?  The answer is simple, too many
            casual players armed with too small bankrolls were attempting
            to apply extremely complex systems without the necessary long
            hours of preparation.  The only sure winners were the system
            sellers themselves and, of course, the casinos!

            Of the multitude of counting systems being touted and sold the
            simple "Plus / Minus" (+-) system is one of best choices for
            the average player.  BLACKJACK! will only employ the +- system
            of counting in this discussion.  Essentially this is the way it
            works.  The deck is divided into 3 parts, the low cards, the
            middle cards, and the high cards.  We will only concern our-
            selves with the low and high cards in the deck (this makes the
            job a little easier).  The +- system is discussed under the
            Card Counting Practice heading of this manual.  In spite of its
            simplicity, you should not even consider employing a counting
            system until you know the basic strategy tables inside out, be-
            ing able to make the correct decision on 100 out of 100 hands.

            I hope that you find BLACKJACK! a useful and fun to use tool,
            and that the next time you return from the tables it will take
            a truck to carry home your winnings.

       Start-Up
            Backing Up BLACKJACK!
                 It is strongly suggested that you make a backup copy of
                 your BLACKJACK! files.  Do this by inserting your original
                 BLACKJACK! diskette in drive A: and a blank formatted
                 diskette in drive B: (for single floppy systems refer to
                 the DOS manual for the correct procedure to make backups).
                 Enter the DOS command
                                  COPY A:*.* B: [enter]
                       or         DISKCOPY A: B: [enter]
                 Store your original BLACKJACK! diskette in a safe place
                 (just in case).

            Installation
                 BLACKJACK! does not require any special installation pro-
                 cedures prior to use.  If you are using a floppy disk
                 based system all files must be on the same diskette and
                 the program must be started from the default drive.
                 If you have a fixed disk you can copy the program and data
                 files onto the disk and run the program without the use of
                 floppies.  The following is an example for setting up the
                 program on a fixed disk (assume drive C:):

                           C>CD /      (switch to root directory)
                           C>MD BJ     (create directory named BJ)
                           C>CD /BJ    (switch to BJ directory)
                           C>Copy A:*.* C:  (copy all files)



                                                                 BLACKJACK!  7

                 It is important that all files be in the same directory
                 and that directory be selected as the default.  For more
                 information on fixed disks and directories please see your
                 DOS reference manual.

            Running BLACKJACK!
                 From the DOS prompt simply type BJ and press [Enter]

       Blackjack Basics
            In Blackjack each player wagers against the dealer's hand.  The
            object of the game for the player is to have a total point
            value of cards dealt to you that exceeds the total point value
            of the dealer's cards without going over 21.  The object of the
            game for the dealer is essentially the same.  You win by either
            having the total point value closest to 21 or by having the
            dealer exceed 21 (bust).  Cards count face value with the King,
            Queen, and Jack valued as 10.  The Ace can count as 1 or 11.

            Each player is dealt 2 cards, one at a time starting with the
            player to the dealer's left.  Each player card is dealt face
            up.  The dealer is dealt one card up and one card face down.

            Each player, from dealer left to right, is given the chance to
            "stand" (draw no more cards), "hit" (draw additional cards in
            hopes of getting closer to 21), or take one of the other op-
            tions described later.  You may hit until you have reached 21
            or gone over.  If you "bust" you lose regardless of the outcome
            of the dealer's hand.

            The dealer must play his hand according to strict rules.  He
            must always hit on a point total of 16 or less and must stand
            on a score of 17.  Some casinos allow the dealer to hit a "soft
            17" (a score of 17 that includes an Ace valued at 11, for exam-
            ple Ace - 6).  This is not a common practice and seems limited
            to the Reno - Tahoe area of Nevada.

            If the player is dealt blackjack (a 2 card score of 21) and the
            dealer does not also have blackjack you are an automatic winner
            and are paid at odds of 3:2.  If both dealer and player have
            blackjack it is a "push" (tie) and no chips change hands.  If
            the dealer has blackjack and the player has a total of 21 but
            with more than 2 cards the dealer wins the hand.  This last
            situation can occur when, for security reasons, the casino only
            allows the dealer to check his hand for blackjack when his up
            card is an Ace.  In these cases when the dealer does have
            blackjack only the player's original bets are lost.  Double
            down and split bets are not taken.



                                                                 BLACKJACK!  8

            OTHER OPTIONS:  other options available during the game

            SPLITTING PAIRS: If your first two cards have the same value
            you can split them into separate hands.  Note that any two
            cards with a 10 value may be split.  If you elect to split a
            pair you must place an additional bet equal to your original
            bet on the second hand.  Play is completed on the first hand
            before any cards are dealt to the second hand.  If a pair of
            Aces are split most casinos do not allow additional cards to be
            drawn.  Note that 2 card totals of 21 on split hands ARE NOT
            treated as a blackjack and pay only even money.  Some casinos
            allow for resplitting if the original split results in another
            pair.  BLACKJACK! allows a maximum of one resplit.

            DOUBLING DOWN: After you are dealt your first 2 cards you may
            elect to "double down" by making an additional wager up to the
            amount of your original wager and drawing only one additional
            card.  Note that BLACKJACK! only allows making the maximum
            wager on double downs.  Most all houses allow doubling down on
            split hands.  Rules vary among casinos on what point totals you
            may double down on, but the most common rule is any two cards.

            INSURANCE: If the dealer's face card is an Ace you will be of-
            fered the opportunity to take insurance.  To do this you make
            an additional wager of 1/2 your original bet.  If the dealer
            has blackjack your insurance bet is paid at 2:1, but your orig-
            inal bet is lost (unless of course you have blackjack).  If the
            dealer has any score other than blackjack the insurance bet is
            collected and play continues.

            SURRENDER: Some casinos will allow the player to drop out of
            the hand by giving up (surrendering) 1/2 their original bet.
            This can be an advantageous move when you hold what amounts to
            a hopeless hand.  For example, the dealer is showing an Ace and
            your hand count is 16.  You must indicate your desire to sur-
            render prior to drawing any cards.  Very few casinos still of-
            fer this option, but at the ones that do it is an important
            part of the basic strategy.

            "CUTE" RULES: Some casinos may offer special payoffs for situa-
            tions such as having 6 cards under 21 or 3 sevens.  These are
            rare and are not addressed in BLACKJACK!.

       General Information
         Press & Enter
              Throughout this documentation, and while playing
              BLACKJACK! 'Press' and 'Enter' have the following
              meanings:
              PRESS - just press the key corresponding to your
                      response.
              ENTER - press the key(s) corresponding to your
                      response and then press the [enter] key.


                                                                 BLACKJACK!  9
           Prompt Lines
                When BLACKJACK! is waiting for an input you will be
                prompted (usually across the bottom of the screen) for
                your response.  The available choices will be listed with
                the key letter enclosed in square braces [].  You make
                your selection by pressing the corresponding key.
                Selections that require pressing a function key will have
                the key represented as the letter F plus the key number.
                Example prompt lines:
                          [H]it     [S]tand     spli[T]
                          F1 Help         F2 Statistics
                To select SPLIT you would press T.
                To get help you would press function key F1

         The BLACKJACK! Main Menu

                               +---------------------------------+
                               |  CASINOS                        |
                               |    1 - User Casino              |
                               |    2 - Bally's Park Place       |
                               |    3 - Caesar's Palace          |
                               |    4 - Peppermill Casino        |
                               |  Other Options                  |
                               |    5 - View Casino Definitions  |
                               |    6 - Edit User Casino         |
                               |    7 - Card Counting Drill      |
                               |    8 - Basic Strategy Drill     |
                               |    9 - Registration Form        |
                               +---------------------------------+

              Load A Casino:
                   The top 4 menu choices represent the different casinos
                   that BLACKJACK! is programmed to simulate.  To select a
                   casino for play press the corresponding number.

              View Casino Data:
                   This option is selected by either pressing [5] or [V].  A
                   screen showing the name and house rules of the available
                   casinos will appear.  To scroll the different descriptions
                   press the arrow keys.  To play at the displayed casino
                   press [Enter], to return to the main menu press [Esc].

              Edit User Casino:
                   This option allows you to edit the configuration of the
                   user defined casino (number 1 on the main menu).  Select
                   this option by either pressing [6] or [E].

              Card Counting Practice:
                   You can sharpen your card counting skills by pressing [7]
                   or [C].

              Basic Strategy Practice:
                   For practice drills on the Basic Strategy Tables press [8]
                   or [B].

              Program Exit:
                   To exit BLACKJACK! and return to DOS press [Q] from the
                   Main Menu.


                                                                BLACKJACK!  10


       At The Casino

            BLACKJACK! allows for multiple players.  Although most likely
            you will be playing alone, it is possible to play more than one
            hand giving you the opportunity to try out different betting
            strategies at the same sitting.  Multiple players also offers a
            more realistic setting for practicing your card counting
            skills.

            Casino Table Set-Up
                 After selecting a casino you will need to provide the fol-
                 lowing information for the table.  An input form will be
                 displayed and you will be prompted for the following data.

                 Number of players:
                      Enter the number of players at the table.
                      Default:  1.
                 Minimum Bet:
                      Enter the minimum bet allowed for each hand.
                      Default: $5
                 Table Limit:
                      Enter the maximum bet allowed for each hand.
                      Default:  100 times minimum bet
                 Player's Stake:
                      Enter the amount of money each player has.
                      Default:  1/2 the table limit
                 Show Burn Card:
                      Press [Y]es to show the burn card, [N]o not to.
                      Default:  NO
                 Status Box:
                      Press [Y]es or [N]o for the Status Box display.
                      Default:  YES

            The Status Box
                 The game Status Box is located in the upper left corner of
                 the screen.  It contains pertinent information to the game
                 in progress.  Included in the Status Box are casino bank
                 balance (in case you have designs on breaking the bank),
                 number of hands played, number of cards played from the
                 current deck or shoe, the size of the shoe in decks, and
                 the current plus - minus card count value.

                 You can toggle the display of the Status Box at any time
                 by pressing the [F2] key.

            Placing Bets
                 The Wager Box:
                 The Wager Box shows the amount of funds in your bankroll
                 and an input field for your wager.  The default value on
                 the opening hand is always the minimum table bet.  On
                 subsequent hands the default is your previous wager or the
                 remaining balance of your funds...which ever is lower.
                 You can enter any amount (provided you have the funds
                 available) between the table limit and the minimum wager.


                                                                BLACKJACK!  11

              Playing The Hand
                   After all players have placed their bets the hands are
                   dealt, one card at a time from the dealer's left to right.
                   After all players have received their cards the hands are
                   played in the same order.  The following are the possible
                   actions available to the player:


                   [H]it          Draw another card.
                   [S]tand        Stand on the cards you have.
                   [D]ouble down  Double your bet and draw one
                                  additional card.
                   Spli[T]        Split a pair into two separate hands.
                                  This requires an additional wager that
                                  is equal to the original.
                   Sur[R]ender    Drop out of the hand by yielding 1/2
                                  your original bet.
                   [I]insurance   If the dealer's up card is an Ace, each
                                  player will be offered the chance to
                                  make an insurance bet.  If the dealer
                                  does have blackjack the insurance is
                                  paid and the original bets are collected
                                  (effectively amounting to a "push").
                                  Otherwise the insurance bets are
                                  collected and play continues.

                   After all players have finished the dealer plays his hand
                   and the bets are settled.

              Borrowing Funds
                   Players automatically have a line of credit established
                   for them at 1/2 their original stake.  For example, if you
                   begin a session with a stake of $500, you will have $250
                   available for borrowing.  Players are not allowed to
                   borrow past this amount.  If a player has exhausted both
                   his original stake and his line of credit they will be
                   asked to leave the table.

                   At the beginning of each hand you are given the op-
                   portunity to borrow money from the house, to obtain a loan
                   press the [F3] prior to placing you bet.  A window will
                   open showing the amount of money you have available for
                   borrowing and you will be prompted to enter the amount you
                   desire.  The default response is the maximum loan.  If at
                   any time your current funds fall below the minimum bet the
                   loan window will open automatically.  Advances are not
                   allowed during play so plan ahead to have enough funds for
                   splits and double downs.

              Help
                   Help is available by pressing the [F1] key.
                   When playing a hand you will be advised on the correct ac-
                   tion to take based on Basic Strategy Table for the casino
                   rules under which you are playing.
                   When making a wager you are advised on the type of bet to
                   make based on the current +- card count.


                                                                BLACKJACK!  12

       The User Definable Casino

            The first casino listed on the Main Menu is the User Definable
            Casino.  The purpose of which is to allow you to set up a
            playing environment similar to any casino you like.  It is
            predefined as the Glencoe's Golden Palace.

            Editing The User Casino
                 After selecting "Edit User Casino" from the Main Menu you
                 will see an editing window.  You will be allowed to define
                 the name, location, and house rules for the casino as you
                 wish.  Answer each prompt with the indicated type of
                 response.  To retain the current value of an item simply
                 press [Enter].  Here are a couple of examples:

                           Number of decks
                           Surrender allowed?

                 For "Number of decks" you press a number between 1-8.
                 For "Surrender allowed?" you press either [Y] or [N].

       Card Counting Practice

            To sharpen your card counting ability select Card Counting
            Drills from the main menu by either pressing [C] or [8].  You
            will be asked how many decks you want to use.  The drill will
            involve all the cards in the shoe being displayed for a short
            period of time.  You should keep a running total of the count.

            To increase the speed of the drill press the [+] key, to slow
            the drill press the [-] key.  A "speed bar" shows the relative
            drill speed.  The speed indicator will turn green (color) or
            black (monochrome) when you have selected a rate of approxi-
            mately 30 seconds per deck or faster.

            Options: The following options act as toggles when their key is
            pressed.

            [H]elp:       As an aid you can have the count value of
                          the current card displayed.

            [S]tatus box: An optional status box showing the current
                          count and number of cards that have been
                          displayed.

            [P]ause:      The drill can be paused at any time.  The
                          Status Box will be displayed during the
                          pause.

            [Q]uit:       Terminates the drill.

            Note that the card count at the end of the shoe will always be
            0 since the 20 high cards cancel out the 20 low cards.



                                                                BLACKJACK!  13

              Counting Basics
              Why Count?
              Accurate card counting allows you to have a picture of what
              cards remain in the deck, and therefor an idea of the likeli-
              hood of the occurrence of certain hands.  Note that I said
              likelihood, it will NOT allow you to predict actual hands, only
              the probability of hands.  What good is this?  If it is known
              the remaining cards in the shoe are rich in tens and Aces we
              know that more blackjacks and good standing hands such as 19 or
              20 will be dealt.  Of course this holds true for the dealer,
              but the dealer is not paid 3:2 for blackjack, he cannot split
              pairs, and he must always hit his "stiff" hands (12-16) with an
              increased probability of breaking.

              We will use the tried and true High/Low counting system first
              developed by Harvey Dubner in 1963 and published in Dr. Edward
              Thorp's book "Beat The Dealer".  This system is easy to learn
              and one of the most effective of all counting methods.

              Each card in the deck is given one of 3 count values; either -
              1, 0, or 1. Count values are assigned as follows:

                             Low Cards 2,3,4,5,6      +1
                             Middle Cards 7,8,9        0
                             High Cards 10,J,Q,K,Ace  -1

              Since the middle cards are valued 0, we only need concern our-
              selves with the low and high ends of the deck.  As each card is
              played you add the count value to the running total for that
              deck.  When the count total is high it means that more low
              cards have been played than high.  Note that for counting to be
              effective you must be near the end of the deck.  In a 6 deck
              shoe a high count total after only 30 of 312 cards have been
              played is not a good indicator since there are still too many
              cards remaining for accurate prediction.  You want to deploy
              your card count betting strategy late in the shoe.

              Simply put, the higher the card count, the bolder your betting
              should be.  This is also a time when bending the basic strategy
              rules is allowed.  For example, the card count is 10 late in
              the shoe and you are dealt a pair of Jacks.  Basic strategy
              dictates always standing on 20, but since we know there are
              many 10s and Aces remaining it becomes our advantage to split
              this pair.

              Finally, don't even consider using card counting until you can
              perfectly complete the Card Counting Drill at a rate of about
              30 seconds per 52 card deck.



                                                                BLACKJACK!  14

       Basic Strategy Practice

            This is the biggie! You should know the following tables inside
            - out before ever considering sitting down to play in a casino.

            Select the Basic Strategy Drill by either pressing [7] or [B]
            from the main menu.  The drill works much the same way as ac-
            tual Blackjack play.  You and the dealer will be dealt hands.
            Press the key corresponding to the action you believe should be
            taken.  If you make a wrong play the correct action will be
            displayed above your hand.

            There is a casino definition box displayed in the upper right
            side of the screen.  You can change the configuration (and
            therefor the basic strategy needed) by pressing the indicated
            function keys.  For example, pressing [F1] will toggle between
            single & multi deck play.

            Pressing [P] will toggle the Performance Box display which
            shows the number of hands dealt, the number of correct plays
            made, and your accuracy as a percentage.  These totals can be
            reset by pressing [F5].



                                                                BLACKJACK!  15

         Strategy Tables




                                        TABLE ONE


                  Multi-Deck, Double After Split, Double On Any Two Cards

                   Player's Hand       Strategy For Dealer Up-Card

                   Simple Hands
                     5 -> 8                    Always Hit
                     9                 Double on 3 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     10                Double on 2 - 9, Otherwise Hit
                     11                Double on 2 -10, Otherwise Hit
                     12                Stand  on 4 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     13, 14, 15, 16    Stand  on 2 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     17 -> 21                  Always Stand

                   Ace Combinations
                     A-2, A-3          Double on 5 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     A-4, A-5          Double on 4 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     A-6               Double on 3 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     A-7               Double on 3 - 6, Hit 9, 10, Ace
                                         Stand 2, 7, 8
                     A-8, A-9, A-10            Always Stand

                   Pairs
                     A-A                       Always Split
                     2-2, 3-3          Split  on 2 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                     4-4               Split  on 5 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     5-5               Double on 2 - 9, Otherwise Hit
                     6-6               Split  on 2 - 6, Otherwise HIt
                     7-7               Split  on 2 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                     8-8                       Always Split
                     9-9               Split on   2-6,8,9
                                         Stand on 7,10,Ace
                     10-10             Always Stand




                                                                BLACKJACK!  16






                                      TABLE TWO


                       Single-Deck,  Double On 10 Or 11 Only

                 Player's Hand       Strategy For Dealer Up-Card

                 Simple Hands
                   5 -> 9                    Always Hit
                   10                Double on 2 - 9, Otherwise Hit
                   11                        Always Double
                   12                Stand  on 4 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                   13, 14, 15, 16    Stand  on 2 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                   17 -> 21                  Always Stand

                 Ace Combinations
                   A-2. . .A-6               Always Hit
                   A-7               Stand  on 2 - 8, Otherwise Hit
                   A-8, A-9, A-10            Always Stand

                 Pairs
                   A-A                       Always Split
                   2-2               Split  on 3 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                   3-3               Split  on 4 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                   4-4                       Always Hit
                   5-5               Double on 2 - 9, Otherwise Hit
                   6-6               Split  on 2 - 6, Otherwise HIt
                   7-7               Split  on 2 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                   8-8                       Always Split
                   9-9               Split  on 2-6,8,9
                                       Stand on 7,10,Ace
                   10-10                     Always Stand




                                                                BLACKJACK!  17






                                       TABLE THREE


                 Single-Deck, Double After Split, Double On Any Two Cards

                   Player's Hand       Strategy For Dealer Up-Card

                   Simple Hands
                     5 -> 8(6-2)               Always Hit
                     8                 Double on 5 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     9                 Double on 2 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     10                Double on 2 - 9, Otherwise Hit
                     11                        Always Double
                     12                Stand  on 4 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     13, 14, 15, 16    Stand  on 2 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     17 -> 21                  Always Stand

                   Ace Combinations
                     A-2. . . A-5      Double on 4 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     A-6               Double on 2 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     A-7               Double on 3 - 6, Hit 9, 10
                                         Stand 2, 7, 8, Ace
                     A-8, A-9, A-10            Always Stand

                   Pairs
                     A-A                       Always Split
                     2-2               Split  on 3 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                     3-3               Split  on 4 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                     4-4               Double on 5 - 6, Otherwise Hit
                     5-5               Double on 2 - 9, Otherwise Hit
                     6-6               Split  on 2 - 6, Otherwise HIt
                     7-7               Split  on 2 - 7, Otherwise Hit
                     8-8                       Always Split
                     9-9               Split  on 2-6,8,9
                                         Stand on 7,10,Ace
                     10-10                     Always Stand



                                                                BLACKJACK!  18
                                      TABLE FOUR
                       General Purpose Basic Strategy Table

                                A   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10

                    5, 6, 7, 8  H   H   H   H   H   H   H   H   H   H
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                    8(5-3)      H   H   H   B   B   H   H   H   H   H
                   ---------------------------------------------------
          S         9           H   H   D   D   D   D   H   H   H   H
          I        ---------------------------------------------------
          M        10           H   D   D   D   D   D   D   D   D   H
          P        ---------------------------------------------------
          L        11           B   D   D   D   D   D   D   D   D   D
          E        ---------------------------------------------------
                   12           H   H   H   S   S   S   H   H   H   H
          H        ---------------------------------------------------
          A        13, 14       H   S   S   S   S   S   H   H   H   H
          N        ---------------------------------------------------
          D        15           H   S   S   S   S   S   H   H   H   R
          S        ---------------------------------------------------
                   16           R   S   S   S   S   S   H   H   H   R
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                   17 & up      S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S

                                A   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10

                   A-2          H   H   H   B   D   D   H   H   H   H
          A        ---------------------------------------------------
          C        A-3          H   H   H   B   D   D   H   H   H   H
          E        ---------------------------------------------------
                   A-4, A-5     H   H   H   D   D   D   H   H   H   H
          C        ---------------------------------------------------
          O        A-6          H   B   D   D   D   D   H   H   H   H
          M        ---------------------------------------------------
          B        A-7          H   S   D   D   D   D   S   S   H   H
          O        ---------------------------------------------------
          S        A-8          S   S   S   S   S   B   S   S   S   S
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                   A-9, A-10    S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S

                                A   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10

                   A-A, 8-8     T   T   T   T   T   T   T   T   T   T
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                   2-2, 3-3     H   P   P   T   T   T   T   H   H   H
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                   4-4          H   H   H   H   L   L   H   H   H   H
          P        ---------------------------------------------------
          A        5-5          H   D   D   D   D   D   D   D   D   H
          I        ---------------------------------------------------
          R        6-6          H   T   T   T   T   T   H   H   H   H
          S        ---------------------------------------------------
                   7-7          H   T   T   T   T   T   T   H   H   R
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                   9-9          S   T   T   T   T   T   S   T   T   S
                   ---------------------------------------------------
                  10-10         S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S   S


                                                                BLACKJACK!  19


         Matrix Codes:
            H  Hit
            S  Stand
            D  Double if allowed, otherwise hit
            B  Double if allowed & single deck, otherwise hit
            R  Surrender if allowed, otherwise hit
            T  Split
            P  Split if DD after split is allowed, otherwise hit
            L  Split if DD after split, double if single deck,
                  otherwise hit

              OK, admittedly this last table is a bit complex, but it will
              cover just about any set of house rules that you may encounter.
              With this data you can construct your own Basic Strategy Table
              for your favorite form of the game.


         Betting & Money Management

              Along with mastering the strategies of Blackjack you also need
              to have a money management plan.  Nothing is worse than losing
              your entire bankroll on the first day of a three day junket.
              Your money management program should contain the following
              important considerations.

                   Only play with money that you can afford to lose.  Losses
                   should be considered a cost of entertainment.

                   Allocate a portion of your total stake for each day of
                   your stay.  Do not borrow from tomorrow's funds and do not
                   add todays winnings or surpluses to tomorrow's stake.

                   Establish a minimum and maximum bet size designed to
                   stretch your bankroll over the length of each playing
                   session.

              There are many different betting strategies and schemes,  the
              method that will be covered here is my own personal favorite.
              This is by no means the only system available.

              It is based on a system know as Anti-Martingale and is designed
              to take advantage of "hot" streaks and minimize losses when
              faced with an unfriendly deck.  It can be considered quite con-
              servative.
              This first decision that needs to be made is how much risk cap-
              ital you want to put into play for a particular session at a
              table.  Once an amount has been decided upon DO NOT make any
              increases.  This amount will be referred to as your "opening
              stake".  Your opening stake will influence your table selection
              at the casino.  The minimum bet allowed will vary from table to
              table, if you have decided on an opening stake of $100 you
              should seek out a table with a low minimum bet such as $2 or
              $5.  The obvious reason being that you will be able to stay in
              the game longer than at a $25 table.



                                                                BLACKJACK!  20

            For the sake of this discussion we will use the term "betting
            unit" to refer to the minimum amount you will wager.
            Each session will begin by wagering one betting unit.
            If that hand wins the bet remains at one unit.
            After a second consecutive win increase to two betting units.
            This is the only time that the bet will be doubled.  All subse-
            quent increases will be in an amount equal to 1/2 the amount
            just won.

            In cases where a fraction of a betting unit would be involved
            you should round down to the nearest whole unit.  As soon as a
            bet is lost return to betting one unit.  Here is an example
            session showing six consecutive winning hands and the amount of
            winnings withheld from the previous hand.

                           Hand      Bet       Withheld
                            1         1           0
                            2         1           1
                            3         2           0
                            4         4           1
                            5         6           2
                            6         9           3
                            7        13           5

            A loss at the seventh hand results in a net gain of 12 betting
            units.  Amounts won as a result of splits or doubles should NOT
            be included in the increased bet.

            If you reach your personal maximum bet, stop there and continue
            play at that level until a loss.

            There are many variations that can be derived from this system.
            For example you can increase each bet by a fixed amount rather
            than a percentage of the winnings.

            Finally, you should only keep an amount equal to your original
            stake on the table.  In the above example, any funds above $100
            should be taken out of play.  Any time that the original stake
            has been lost play should be discontinued... No matter how much
            of the casino's money you have won.  Disciplined play is a
            secret to success.



                                                                BLACKJACK!  21

         The Casinos
              The following table outlines the rules for the casinos used in
              BLACKJACK!.

             CASINO                 User    Bally's    Peppermill   Caesar's

         Number of Decks             6        6             1          2
         Splitting Rules
           Resplitting Allowed      YES       NO            NO        YES
           Double Down on Splits    YES      YES           YES        YES
           Hit Split Aces            NO       NO            NO         NO
         Double Down Rules
           Double Down On...       ANY 2    ANY 2       10/11 ONLY   ANY 2
           Double Down on more
             Than 2 Cards            NO       NO            NO         NO
         Miscelaneous Rules
           Insurance Offered        YES      YES           YES        YES
           Surrender Allowed        YES       NO            NO         NO
           Dealer Hits Soft 17       NO       NO           YES         NO


         Problems
              Every attempt has been made to eliminate programming errors
              (bugs), and to assure that the information presented is
              accurate and correct.  Still, it is impossible to test an
              application on every possible hardware configuration available.
              If you encounter ANY problems or inaccuracies please contact
              Glencoe Computing and provide the following information:

              Computer make and model:
              Video adapter and monitor:
              Ram-resident programs (TSRs) loaded:
              Thorough description of the problem:

              My goal is your satisfaction.

                                  = GOOD LUCK! =

          Commercial
          Also available from Glencoe Computing:
          GET LUCKY! = The Adult Entertainment Package =
          Trivia & Poker presented with a risque' flavor, plus
          The Poker Machine, a Las Vegas style poker machine
          simulation.
          Requires 2 diskette drives or a hard disk, CGA or EGA video.
          $24.99


     Registration Form

     

                            BLACKJACK! Registration Form


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                              GLENCOE COMPUTING
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                                      63038-1404


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