BLACKJACK (21 POINTS)

download v1.0 (released in Dec 2000)

Description:

The player competes against the dealer. The object of the game is to have a higher point total than the dealer without going over 21. Each ace counts as either 1 point or 11 points, face cards (kings, queens, jacks) count 10 points each, and all other cards (2 through 9) count their face value.

Features of BLACKJACK:

Development of BLACKJACK:

I used two weeks for information collection and planning, four days in coding, and a couple of days for testing, debuging and improving. User-interface is time-consuming to write but not particularly difficult. The difficult part lies in implementing the many game rules.

Requirement:

DOS 5.0, or DOS mode in Win95 or above (not tested in WinNT, Win2000 or WinMe).

 

Rules of BLACKJACK:

The dealer deals two cards to the player and two cards to himself. Player's cards are dealt faceup, while one of the dealer's cards is dealt faceup and the other is facedown. After the deal, the dealer "asks" the player whether he wants an additional card. The player may "Stand" -- play just the two cards originally dealt or may "Hit"-- take another card. After being dealt an additional card, the player may stop or may take still another card. The player may take as many cards as he or she wants, but as soon as the player's total exceeds 21, the player loses.

After the player has drawn, the dealer's remaining card is exposed. A dealer with a total less than 17 must "hit" (take a card). If dealer "busts" by going over 21, any players still in the game win. Otherwise, players with totals higher than the dealer win, while players with totals less than the dealer lose. In case of a tie, or "push" the player's bet is returned (no money changes hands).

If a player's or the dealer's first two cards total 21 (an ace and a 10 or face card), the holding is known as a blackjack. A player with blackjack is paid extra -- one-and-a-half times the original bet--unless dealer also has blackjack, in which case the player loses. If dealer's faceup card is an ace, the player is given a chance to buy insurance against the possibility of the dealer's having a blackjack; the insurance bet pays 2-to-1 if dealer really does have 21.

Glossary:

Blackjack
the game itself; or a two-card hand with a total of 21, that is, an ace and a ten or face card

bust
going over 21 on a hand

double
an option a player has to double his or her bet and receive just one more card; an especially good strategy when holding an 11

hit
ask the dealer for an additional card

insurance
a side bet, usually limited to half the player's original bet, that the dealer offers players when the dealer's up card is an ace. If the dealer has blackjack, the player wins the insurance bet.

push
a tie between a player and the dealer, resulting in neither a win nor a loss for the player

split
an option a player has to split a pair dealt on the first two cards and, after making the appropriate extra bet, playing each hand separately.

stand
refuse to take a card

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