!Help file to accompany SHAREWARE program !Blackjack - Please Read !!!
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Copyright Message
-----------------
This program and all it's associated program code and data files are
Copyright Paul Vigay. Please do not alter or delete any of the files
without my permission.

This program is designated as 'Shareware'. This means you can freely copy
it and pass it amongst your friends. However, if you do enjoy using it, 
any donations (say a fiver!) would be welcome. In addition you can then
receive any updates that I may release from time to time.


Rules and Instructions
----------------------
This version of Blackjack follows the standard rules as found in 
casinos. The object of the game is to draw cards with a value totalling 
21, or as near as possible to 21 without going over the top, 'going 
bust' and losing.

The first ace of a hand counts as eleven and picture cards count as 
ten. The other cards all have their numbered value. However, where a 
hand contains an ace and the addition of another card would bust the 
hand, an ace will be counted as one.

Four packs of playing cards are used (similar to a real casino). And the
delear (ie. the computer) will automatically re-shuffle the cards at the
end of the round in which approx. 75% of the total cards have been dealt.
You make your bet BEFORE play by specifying the amount you wish to bet, 
in the bet window. The house limit per bets is 100 and the minimum bet 
is 1 - this is the same as my local casino !

Your are dealt your first card, followed by the banker (the computer) being
dealt a card. You then receive a second card dealt to you. 
From then on, you have the chance to 'twist' or 'stick'. If you choose 
to stick, the computer will then play the banks hand. The computer must 
continue taking cards up to a total of 16 and cannot take any more 
cards once it's hand has reached 17 or more.

You may continue taking additional cards (twisting) at your option up 
to a total of 21 before the computer takes it's second or subsequent 
cards. If your hand exceeds 21, then you lose your bet, irrespective of 
what the computer is likely to get.

If your total is nearer to 21 than the computer then you win and are 
paid even money. If not, then you lose.

If you score the same as the computer then this counts as a 'stand-off' 
where you neither win nor lose, merely keeping your bet.

If you manage to get a 'Blackjack', which is an Ace together with a 
picture card or 10, you win one and a half times your stake, unless the 
dealer also obtains a Blackjack, in which case, the bet is a 
'stand-off'.

If your first two cards total 9, 10 or 11, without an ace, you may 
double your original stake, and one further card is dealt to your hand.

Unlike a real casino, no 'split bets' are allowed but insurance bets are
catered for. If the dealers first card is an Ace and your first two cards
give you a blackjack, you will be asked if you want to take out an
'insurance bet'. You may bet up to half (default) your original stake which
becomes a second bet. If the dealers draws a blackjack then the insurance
bet wins at 2 to 1 and your original bet is a stand-off. If the dealer
fails to get a blackjack, then you forfeit the insurance bet but your
original bet wins at 3 to 2. Alternatively, you may select to take even
money which will have the same effect whether the dealer gets a blackjack
or not.

A high score table is kept of high winnings, but you only get to
add your name to the high score league when you select the 'Cash in and
Leave' option from the main window.
This is similar to a real casino, where you can lose your winnings if you
continue playing. You only get to keep what you actually come away with.
Everything else should be pretty realistic, but please let me know if you
find any bugs or querks.


Acknowledgements
----------------
Thanks are due to Trefor Allgood for extensive playing and clogging up the
original high score table with vast winnings and also for finding numerous
minor bugs.
To Steve Clark for even more extensive play testing and blowing more money
on the real game than I care to mention.


Contacting me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have any comments and/or suggestions, or find any bugs I haven't
listed, then please contact me via the following sources:

        Paul Vigay
        14 Victory Avenue,
        Horndean,
        Portsmouth,
        Hants. PO8 9PH
        England

or please feel free to email me at nospam@vigay.com
Latest versions can always be found at http://www.vigay.com/software/


History
~~~~~~~
The following is a list of changes between the different release versions of BlackJack.
The latest version is always listed first. Check my web site above for any new versions.

v1.02 (20th Jul 2006)
		a) Fixed bug whereby all open files were closed if the highscore table
		   couldn't be loaded.
		b) Tidied 'info' box in templates file a bit.

v1.01 (3rd Dec 2002)
		a) Re-compiled for 32-bit compatibility.
               
v1.00 (8th Jul 1991)
		First release version - pretty much bug free! :-)


Written by Paul Vigay -  1991-2006
