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E
PRO-PLAYER UPGRADE PACKAGE
(WORKS WITH BLACKJACK V1.00) F
----------------------------
Copyright (c) IBG SOFTWARE 1988
Written by: Wayne Hammond
All rights reserved
This is Registered User Supported Software. You may use
(test) this package until you have determined if it is of
benefit to you. If, after testing, you continue to use any
of the package output you are requested to send a (suggested)
$12.50 registration fee to:
IBG Software
PRO Registration
P.O. Box 27-6354
Boca Raton, FL 33427-6354
You may make as many copies as you need for your own use.
You are authorized to distribute the Pro-Player Upgrade and
its companion BLACKJACK package to others.
YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED to distribute Pro-Player Upgrade
without an accompanying BLACKJACK package, the two packages
use facilities in the other and must work together. I will
only distribute the Upgrade with its associated BLACKJACK
package.
E
TABLE OF CONTENTS F
-----------------
Getting Started ........................................... 2
Card Counts ............................................... 2
How (When) BLACKJACK Counts .......................... 3
Edit BLKJK.KNT (BLACKJACK's count file) .............. 3
BLACKJACK Initialization of Counting ................. 5
The Strategy System ....................................... 6
Adding Strategy Screens ................................... 6
Editing Strategy Screens .................................. 6
Adding Color To Your Files ................................ 7
Fixed Color Definitions ................................... 7
Variable Color Definitions ................................ 8
Page 2
E
Getting Started F
---------------
The purpose of the Pro-Player Upgrade package is to allow you
to add YOUR card-counting-techniques and strategy-screens to
the IBG BLACKJACK program. Adding a tailored card count also
enables the ability to replay the last hand or the current
shoe (deck).
It is YOUR responsibility to decide what card count to use,
what strategy to follow, and how to manage your money. I'm
only providing a practice facility. However, to assist you
in these decisions, I'll list three of the reference books
which I use. There are many others that you may select from.
o BEAT THE DEALER -- Edward O. Thorp
o MILLION DOLLAR BLACKJACK -- Ken Uston
o WINNING BLACKJACK -- Stanley Roberts
You will be editing files in order to implement your counts
and strategies. Therefore, I suggest that you make a working
copy of the upgrade-diskette and store the master-copy for
safekeeping.
Further, I suggest that you do your editing on a separate
diskette (or sub-directory) and only copy your work output to
the BLACKJACK diskette (or sub-directory) when you are ready
to test your results. This will become more understandable
after I explain the interfaces to BLACKJACK.
E
Card Counts F
-----------
There are almost as many card counting techniques in
blackjack as there are card counters. Therefore, it wasn't
feasible to attempt to directly program a card count that
would satisfy all users.
What I have attempted is to put general counting code in
BLACKJACK and allow each user to satisfy their needs by
editing a file (BLKJK.KNT) that BLACKJACK reads when it
initializes.
Although I have tested several counting techniques, I'm sure
that there are many that I haven't considered. If you aren't
able to count-your-way; I'll work with you and modify the
program (if possible) or if we can't work it out, I'll refund
your money.
Page 3
E
How (When) BLACKJACK Counts F
---------------------------
BLACKJACK counts each card as it is played, or as it would be
seen at a casino table. This gives an accurate count in a
game where the cards are dealt open. However, it allows the
program (and you) to see and count cards that a player in a
casino game (where the cards are dealt-face-down) might not
see.
For example, a player ahead of you (in a face-down casino
game) stays. You may or may not know the value of his/her
down cards and therefore may not be able to count them.
However, in the computer face-down game, BLACKJACK knows and
counts the cards. You may also, because you have seen them
when they were opened for play. Therefore, this isn't the
best dealing-option to practice card counting.
Another example (in the program) if the cards have to opened
for inspection because of an insurance bet decision or early
surrender decision, you get to see all cards and may be
tempted to count them then, but the program has only counted
the dealer's up-card at this time and counts the player's
cards as they play them. So even if you are counting
accurately you may be out of synchronism with the program.
If you are a card counter or practicing card counting, you
want to pick a game dealt-open (program default) just as you
would in a casino.
Card counting is always active, but you have an option on
whether or not the count should be displayed. This allows
you a chance to practice counting and verify your results at
selected times.
When the Show-Count option is "on" the count is displayed in
the Command Box while you are betting, or on the strategy
screens during play.
E
Edit BLKJK.KNT (BLACKJACK's count file) F
---------------------------------------
To enable a custom card count you have to create or edit the
file BLKJK.KNT. There are two sample files provided to
assist you in this effort. SAMPLE1.KNT is balanced (sum of
cards in deck adds to zero), SAMPLE2.KNT is unbalanced (sum
of cards in deck doesn't add to zero). Copy the desired type
to BLKJK.KNT and then edit BLKJK.KNT to fit your needs.
Page 4
BLKJK.KNT is usable as soon as copied. The format is fixed
as far as the order of variables is concerned, all variables
are required. Numeric variables are separated by at least 1
blank (space). The variables are separated from the comments
by a string of periods ( .... ). The maximum length of the
string (character) variables is commented in the sample
files.
An explanation follows:
o the first 13 variables are the cards from ace through the
king. Cards are counted by adding their value, the card
count is an algebraic sum.
o begin count with ... count value of a single deck after
shuffle is complete.
o bias count ... value that adjusts (biases) other values
based on the number of units (decks in the sample files) in
play. The adjustment values is the bias value times
(number of decks - 1). Specify zero (0) for no biasing.
The bias is either added or subtracted as indicated in the
comments.
o start of poor condition ... value (single deck) beginning
of poor condition.
o bias start of poor ...
.
.
.
the remainder of the starts and biases follow the same
logic.
o AceAdj ... an adjustment made in calculating whether the
number of aces left in the deck is as-expected. The number
of cards-counted is subtracted from the total number of
cards giving number of uncounted cards to be played. This
number is divided by thirteen, if the remainder is greater
than AceAdj, 1 is added to the number expected (quotient).
o UnitAdj ... similar to AceAdj but operates on "unit" and
unit bias. The sample files are based on a unit of a deck,
that is, 52. If you vary unit size (discussed next), you
must consider all variables except the card values.
o UnitAmt ... unit size divisor , that is, this number is
divided into the cards-still-to-be-played to determine how
many units are left. If the remainder is greater than
UnitAdj, 1 is added to the number of units remaining.
o report cards left: this number is divided into the number
of cards-still-to-be-played and the result is displayed,
rounded to 1 decimal place. A value of 52 generates decks,
26 yields half-decks, 1 gives number of cards (integer),
etc.
Page 5
o report headings ... this is the character field that
identifies cards-left as defined above. You have a length
of 5 which works nicely for "decks", perhaps "1/2 D" or
"Halfs" for half deck reporting.
o the remainder are the labels for the five possible report
conditions. The samples assign:
++rich for the very rich condition
rich for the rich condition
normal for the normal condition
poor for the poor condition and ...
--poor for the very poor condition
the conditions are selected as follows:
if CardCount greater or equal VeryRich then set very rich
else if CardCount greater or equal Rich then set rich
else if CardCount less or equal VeryPoor then very poor
else if CardCount less or equal Poor set poor
else set normal
You can see that normal is the catch-all for non-specified
values. Therefore, if you wanted a four level report such
as, very rich, rich, poor, or very poor, you could achieve it
by assigning poor a value 1 less than rich, and use the same
bias for poor as you use for rich. Also, change the "normal"
heading to "poor".
Further, if you don't like negative counts, you can scale all
values to move them away from zero; or the unbalanced count
of SAMPLE2 (which starts at 17) could be moved to swing
around zero.
Pick your favorite algorithm and do it your way.
E
BLACKJACK Initialization of Counting F
------------------------------------
When BLACKJACK initializes it looks for the file BLKJK.KNT.
If available, the customized counts are loaded and the replay
option is enabled. If the file isn't found BLACKJACK
initializes using its default count and no replay.
If an error occurs during the short read (after finding the
file) it is most likely a format error in BLKJK.KNT. You are
allowed to continue with the default count or end the program
and correct the error. Next let's look at adding your
strategy screens.
Page 6
E
The Strategy System F
-------------------
The number of possible strategies is even higher than the
number of counting techniques, because many-strategies are
based on the count. Therefore, I decided to implement
strategies as a file-based-system and allow user editing of
the screens.
The technique used to read the strategy screens is very fast.
A fixed disk (hard file) has a brief (barely noticeable)
delay, while a virtual or RAM disk is instantaneous. Even
diskette I/O is acceptable, delay is only noticeable while
the drive motor starts. Further, you have color control even
if you change colors during play.
E
Adding Strategy Screens F
-----------------------
The following files are used to add strategy screens:
(extension names are specific -- use same as provided)
o MAKESTR BAT make strategy screens
o CONVERT EXE program to convert ASCII text files to
intermediate work files (N1 .. N99)
o COMBINE EXE program to combine the work files to a
single data file and index it
o BLKSTRAT CTL control information--one entry per file
o STRATTOC TXT strategy table-of-contents text
o BLKJKBAS TXT basic strategy (screens) text
o USER-ADD TXT edit file for your text strategy screens
I suggest that (with these files in a directory separate from
the blackjack program directory) you type MAKESTR <Enter> and
exercise the system. This will illustrate "MAKE" processing
and give you a feel for the number of work files and the
amount of disk space they need. There is one work file for
each screen plus a control file for each (input) text file.
Then, if all has gone well, you may copy BLKSTRAT.DTA and
BLKSTRAT.INX to the blackjack program sub-directory and run
BLACKJACK. Look at the strategy system, it should be like
you have been using except there is now a 21st screen showing
user start.
Now you are ready to build (edit) your own strategy screens.
E
Editing Strategy Screens F
------------------------
Editing is simple and straight-forward. Use a left margin of
2 and a right margin of 39. Data is placed on the screen
using the same rows and columns that you see while editing.
The maximum number of viewable rows is 18.
Page 7
Use the form feed control character ASCII 12, (I can't show
you -- your printer will form feed) to terminate screens.
Not used with the last screen in a file.
The default color attributes are the text foreground and text
background colors currently in use by BLACKJACK program. The
screen is cleared before writing so you may have short panels
without garbage on the screen. If you inadvertently have an
form feed as the last character in the file, an extra blank
screen is generated.
That is all there is to it if you want to use standard
colors; however, you may add colors as described below.
E
Adding Color To Your Files F
--------------------------
You set color attributes on individual fields. A field may
be as small as one character or as large as a full line
(row).
This requires control characters. I selected from the ASCII
control characters to allow all text characters on the
screen. Unfortunately, I can't illustrate correctly (in a
print file). I will use "<" as start-of-field and ">" as
end-of-field, and give the ASCII values of the real
characters that you see in the sample files.
You add color control by INSERTING (change your margins) the
end-of-field character > (ASCII 1 -- open smiley face)
followed by the foreground color and then the background
color. For example: "EXAMPLE>71" the word example would be
written with white letters on a blue background. These color
control characters do not take space on the screen so what
you get is where you saw it before adding color. The fixed
(once set they hold) color definitions follow.
E
Fixed Color Definitions F
-----------------------
A list of the fixed colors ... the left column is both
foreground and background. The right column is foreground
only.
0 -- black 8 -- gray
1 -- blue 9 -- light blue
2 -- green a,A -- light green
3 -- cyan b,B -- light cyan
4 -- red c,C -- light red
5 -- magenta d,D -- light magenta
6 -- brown e,E -- yellow
7 -- white f,F -- bright white
Page 8
E
Variable Color Definitions F
--------------------------
It is possible to define colors which follow the color
options of BLACKJACK. You use the same techniques but with
the following six codes. Definition is (default) RBG
monitor, colors follow monitor changes as well as color
changes.
>11 -- standard text .. white on blue
>22 -- action ......... yellow on blue
>33 -- title .......... bright-white on blue
>44 -- status ......... bright-white on red
>55 -- command text ... white on black
>66 -- command action . bright-white on black
Any field that is not marked defaults to >11.
One more control character needs to be mentioned and that is
the start-of-field character < (ASCII 15). The < does not
take space on the display. You only need to use this if you
want to write leading blanks with a different background
color.
For example (using text left margin as 1):
Example >11< has leading blanks >f4
would write the word "Example" and 1 trailing blank using
standard colors, then 5 blank positions with red background,
then the text "has leading blanks" as bright-white on red,
then the 5 trailing blanks before end-of-field. Program
normally does leading blank elimination and just uses the
background color established when the screen was cleared
before writing.
