Jacks BlackJack.  © Jack Pritchard 1992.

Shareware Notice...

		Please note that this programme is shareware, so if you
use it, enjoy it and would like to see more of the same or better, then i
would be very grateful for your support.

	If you send £5 (or $7) to the address below i will then send you 
the source code, all graphics images used and any upgrades that i do.

	Whether you think this programme is good, bad or indifferent i 
must emplore you to always support the shareware scheme and spare a 
thought for the poor old programmer working on his/her project for weeks 
and weeks, (even months), with the sole aim of bringing quality software 
to the AMIGA... Think about it..


On With The Show...

		This programme is freely distributable as long as this doc
file tags along with it.

	The aim of this programme is to get as close as possible to a full
casino rules blackjack game. The problem is, that although blackjack is
played in 99.9% of casinos wordwide the rules can vary quite considerably.
So to this end i have come up with what i hope is a simulation which comes
as close as possible to what the avarage casino regular perceives as the
jolly old game of blackjack.	

The Rules...
		
		If you've never played blackjack before, the rules are
quite simple. Basically the object of the game is to get closer to 21
than the dealer without going over. (Or busting.)

	In blackjack all picture cards are counted as 10 (a 10 count card)
and an ace can be either 1 or 11.

	BlackJack itself can be achieved by geting a count of 21 with only
two cards, (a ten count card and an ace), and is paid at odds of 3-2 unless 
the dealer has blackjack himself when it's then known as a stand off.

	In this game it is possible to get what is known as a true 
blackjack. This is the same as a blackjack the difference being that you
must have 'the ace of spades and a black jack' (either a club or a spade),
hence the name of the game. This is very rare and is paid at odds of 3-1.

	The first thing that happens when you play THIS game is that you
are asked to place a bet. You do this by clicking on the numbered buttons
until you have reached the amount you wish to gamble. (Your stake.)

	When you are satisfied with your stake you should then click on
the play button which will be flashing. The dealer (top of screen) will
then deal you a card face up, then one to himself, then one to you and
finally one to himself which will be face down.

	If the dealer has a ten count card showing he will immediately
look to see if he has an ace. If he has he will then declare the fact that
he has blackjack and settle all bets.

	If on the other hand he has an ace showing and you have blackjack
(not a true blackjack), he will ask you if you wish to insure against him
holding blackjack. If you agree an additional side bet will be placed
which will be half the value of your stake. In the event of him holding
blackjack (a stand off), you will get your stake back and be paid at odds
of 2-1 on your side-bet. If he doesn't have blackjack however you will be
paid at odds of 3-2 on your stake but lose your side bet.

	Assuming that the last two paragraphs don't apply you will then be 
given the option of getting another card to try and get closer to 21, 
(A hit), or if you are satisfied with your hand you can stay. (Stick.)

	If you go over 21 then you have bust and lost that game including
your stake. If on the other hand you are satisfied with your hand you can
choose to stick. If you get closer to 21 than the dealer you are paid at 
odds of 1-1, so a stake of 10 would realise a gain of 20. When the dealer
draws a higher hand than you without going over 21 he wins, and you lose
your stake.

	You have quite a free hand in the way that you play your game, the
dealer has no such luck. If his hand is 16 or less he must draw, and
continue to do so until his hand has reached 17-21. If the dealer draws
7-ace (18), he must then stand and not assume a hand of 8 as you could do.

	Other features of the game include the ability to split pairs. eg.
If you have been delt two 7's the split button will flash on and off along
with the hit and stick buttons. Clicking on split will seperate your two
7's into two hands and you will be delt an extra card for each. As you are
now playing two seperate hands your stake will double. (Half for each
hand.) You will first be asked to play hand number one and then hand
number two. When you have finished playing both hands the dealer will then
play his and will settle with your last hand first and then your first.

	If you have a hand of 9,10 or 11 with two cards you will be given
the option of doubling down. This basicaly means that you will be aloud to
double your stake for the price of only being delt one more card, in which
case you will automaticaly stick. (Hopefully with 19,20 or 21).

	The dealer has four packs of cards which are all shuffled together
and then delt from the top. When about three packs have been used they are
then reshuffled. This is to minimise card counting.

Restrictions...

	Doubling down will only be aloud with a hand of 9,10, or 11 with
two cards.

	Doubling down will not be aloud with either hand of a split pair.

	Insurance bets will only be offered if you are holding a blackjack
and the dealers face up card is an ace.

	Insurance bets with either hand of a split pair may result in some
strange behaviour. (Another way of saying 'a very small bug'. But it might
be benificial to your money situation.)

Controls...

	HIT. If you wish to draw another card.

	STICK. If you are happy with your hand.

	DOUBLE. If you wish to double down.

	SPLIT. If you wish to split a pair.

	CARDS. Prior to any new game you can have the cards re-shuffled.

	AGAIN. This feature save you the trouble of selecting the same
stake and then clicking on play every time you play a new game.

	50 , 100
	1,2,5,10. The chips. Click on them for you stake, e.g. 10,5 and 2
for a stake of 17.

	OOPS.  If you select the wrong amount for your stake, this button
will let you start again.

	PLAY. Should be used after you have selected your stake.

	QUIT. Exits the programme.

Please...

	As mentioned before this programme is SHAREWARE, so if you like it
please, please send a donation to me at this address:

			Jack Pritchard
			BlackJack
			80 Privett road
			Alverstoke
			Gosport
			Hampshire   
			PO12 3SX 
			England


	Jacks BlackJack was written using a 1.3 AMIGA 500 with 2.3 megs
and a battered copy of 'The book of card games by Peter Arnold'. It was
written in GFA Basic 3.51 which is a great all round language for fiddling 
around with and compiled with GFABcom 3.51e. It works fine on my system, 
but how it will work on yours i don't know, so you do as they say ' use 
this programme at your own risk...'

	For those who pay there ShareWare fee, the next in the classic
card game series will probably be 'Ving-et-un'.
	
	By the way, does anyone know the dip switch setting for a Citizen
MSP-10E printer. 


		Bye for now..