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 BJTutor where is a path to your java classes, i.e.: ~/jdk/lib/classes.zip (for UNIX) c:\java\lib\classes.zip (for PCs) is the path separator for your system, it is a colon on UNIX systems and a semicolon on other systems. 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