                 A10 PRO BLACKJACK BASICS
                 ════════════════════════

  Blackjack is perhaps the most popular Casino Game, and
  for Casinos, probably the most profitable.

  The paradox is Blackjack is the only game in which the
  the odds favour a player at times, but unless a player
  knows and understands the strategies I outline in this
  program, his chances of winning are hopelessly low.   
  
  Even a minor deviation from logically correct strategy
  at a crucial moment can cost a player enormous amounts
  of money in the long run.

  In an effort to address this imbalance, I have created
  this program to present information which which anyone
  may improve their odds,  WIN MORE, AND WIN MORE OFTEN.

  A10 PRO allows advanced players to test logic theories
  and develop advanced strategy, card counts, & practise
  with conclusions based on results.

  HISTORY -

  Playing cards date back to early cultures in China and
  Hindustan, circa 800 A.D.

  Cards similar to today's format - appeared in Italy in
  the 1200's, and the four suits as we know them today -
  became common in the 1500's in France.

  Tréfle  - (cloverleaf) - is now clubs.
  Piqué   - (a tip of a soldier's pike) - are now spades
  Coeur   - (the heart)
  Carreau - (square) - is now called diamonds - from the
            shape of the square on the card.

  An early form of Blackjack was played in 15thC France,
  "vingt un" - (twenty-one).

  When cards crossed to England after the middle
  ages, the four suits became associated as:

    Spades - the army.      Clubs - the church.
    Hearts - royalty.       Diamonds - merchant class.

  and vingt un became "Pontoon", still played in many
  variations to this day.

  Blackjack emerged as a one deck  gambling game  in the
  days of the "Wild West", in America.  The successes of
  of card counters  led to 2, 4, 6, and 8 deck games, in
  which the  variations in distribution of cards  yet to
  be dealt are smaller, and especially favourable  shoes
  are much rarer. Card counting is now a patient art, in
  which only one in six decks may favour the player, and
  the  best  counters  may only  experience a long  term
  advantage of as low as 2%.

CONDITIONS OF PLAY -

  Blackjack is played at a Table thus:

      ┌────────────┐     *DEALER     ┌────────────┐
      │ ╔═══ ┌ 11 ┐└─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┘ ═════════╗ │
      │ ║ 10 └────┘  │ │ │ │9│ │ │ │       12   ║ │
      │ ║            └─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┘   ═════════╝ │
      │    ┌───┐  ┌──┐             ┌──┐  ┌───┐    │
       \   │ 1 │  │  \             /  │  │ 7 │   /
        \  └───┘   \  └──── 8 ────┘  /   └───┘  /
         \    ┌───┐ └───────────────┘ ┌───┐    /
          \   │ 2 │ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌───┐ │ 6 │   /
           \  └───┘ │ 3 │ │ 4 │ │ 5 │ └───┘  /
            \       └───┘ └───┘ └───┘       /
             └─────────────────────────────┘

  In this program, #'s 1 to 7 are Player Boxes, as shown
  8:  Is the " Insurance pays 2-1, Blackjack 3-2 " sign.
  9:  Dealer chips tray.           10:  Discards holder.
  11: Money Slot for chips bought. 12:  Dealing Shoe.

  Up to 8 decks are shuffled together, a player cuts the
  deck, and the cards are placed in the Dealer's shoe...
  Players exchange money for chips of a range of values.

  Table Minimum Bets and Table Maximums are displayed. 

  1 to 7 players may play... it is common for Casinos to
  allow a player or a partnership to play no more than 3
  boxes unless by special arrangement.  Players who play
  more than one box must play  them next to each  other.
  Players place bets in Boxes BEFORE receiving cards.

  One card is dealt to each player, one to the dealer, &
  another to each player.

  From Box 7, each player may HIT - ( usually one finger
  tapped down on the table is the accepted sign )... and
  receive cards until he SITS,- ( a flat hand swept left
  to right is usually recognised ), and takes no further
  cards. Ideally each player attempts to have a total as
  close as possible to 21.

  Totals over 21 are called "Bust" or "Too Many", losing
  before the Dealer plays.

  Each player according to different rules variations...
  explained in A10 PRO TUTOR may pay an amount up to his
  original bet - DOUBLING - and receive only 1 card.

  Players may also SPLIT pairs by paying an amount equal
  to their original bets, and play each hand separately.
  Blackjacks count only as 21 on Splits. One card first,
  is dealt to each  hand, and then each hand played out.

  Cards are valued, according to the number on the card,
  Kings, Queens, and Jacks count as 10 points and an Ace
  counts as 11 unless the Player is over 21, and then is
  counted as 1 point.

  21 points, an Ace and any 10 point card in the first 2
  cards dealt, count as Blackjack... the dealer can draw
  or STANDOFF by having another Blackjack, otherwise the
  Player Blackjack wins.

  The Dealer must draw cards until he has totalled 17 or
  more, once all players have finished play.

  If the Dealer exceeds 21 all players who havn't busted
  win. Otherwise, the player's total must be higher than
  the Dealer's for a win and equal to the Dealer's score
  for a Standoff, or Draw.

  Winning Hands are paid at 1-1, ( player's bet returned
  plus an amount equal to that bet ).

  Doubles and Splits are paid 1-1 : according to the bet
  that has been added to the box.

  A Standoff refunds the player's bet, no money taken.

  Blackjack pays 3 - 2, plus the original bet is repaid.

  Variations familiar to players of Pontoon, ie 3 x 7's,
  five unders etc are not found in Blackjack.

  ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
  Note: At Casinos such as Northern Territory, and South
  Australia, You may split up to three times, and double
  on any two cards. Doubling down is allowed for in this
  program, but no provisions have been made for multiple
  splits... this may be added in an update...  The first
  update of the program will be available free, to those
  who register on the coupon displayed, (or a facsimile)
       in A10 PRO INFO, OPTION 1 in the INFO MENU
 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 GLOSSARY of PROGRAM TERMS -

 A         - Ace

 BASE BET  - First bet in a sequence of bets which are
             calculated as multiples of the Base Bet

 BLACKJACK - An Ace and a card worth 10 points obtained
             as the first two cards

 BUST      - Player hand value exceeds 21 and loses

 BOX       - Space for Player's bets. Loosely used in
             reference to each player.

 DECK      - 52 cards arranged in 4 suits of 13 cards

 DISCARDS  - Cards put in the Discard tray after a
             player loses.

 DOUBLE    - Player adds an amount up to his original
             bet and receives one more card

 EVEN MONEY- Player's may take 1-1 on Blackjack before
             the Dealer plays, if the Dealer has an Ace

 FACE card - King, Queen, Jack

 HIT       - Player requests another card

 INSURANCE - An amount equal to half a player's original
             bet, invested at 2 - 1 on Dealer Blackjack

 JJ, 22 etc- A pair which may be split

 SHOE      - The amount of decks used to play, taken as
             a single unit - also the Dealing tray.

 SIT       - Player stops play, holding current hand
             value

 SOFT TOTAL- A hand with an Ace, worth 1 or 11 points

 SPLIT     - Player may add the same amount as his
             original bet and split a pair, playing
             each hand separately.

 STANDOFF  - Draw between player hand value and Dealer
             hand value, the original bet is not lost

 SUIT      - Type of card, Heart, Diamond, Spade, Club

 T         - A ten or any card worth 10 points

 TOO MANY  - Dealer total over 21, all players who
             have not busted... win

          David Caune, 1991. All Rights Reserved.