Copyright: LVC Software


Contents
Contents for BlackJack Professor

Getting Started

Introduction

How do I start playing now?

How to play Blackjack

Strategies and Card Counting

Theory

Basic Strategy

LVC Point-Count

Hi-Opt I Strategy

Playing BlackJack Professor

    Player Menu Options

Configuration

Count Strategy

Tables

Statistics

Play

    Casino Menu Options

Rules

Deck

Table Limits

Views

Registration

Warranty and Disclaimer


Introduction
Introduction to BlackJack Professor

Blackjack is the only casino game today where the player can get a consistent advantage over the casino. Thanks to researchers such as Julian Braun, Edward Thorpe, and others, many blackjack strategies have been developed so that you, the player, can win!

BlackJack Professor is the most powerful and easy to use learning tool available for blackjack. It can tell you when a playing mistake is made, suggest correct plays, and even run simulations. Here are some features:

 An on-line Help system

 Hundreds of rule variations

 Sum counts, true counts, and an Ace side-count

 Error Warning for when playing mistakes are made

 A View Box (keep track of the count, cards left, money, and more..)

 Auto Deal (to run simulations, or practice card counting)

 Basic Strategy included (developed by Julian Braun)

 LVC Point Count Strategy included (designed using the Expert Version)

The following additional features are included with the Expert Version of BlackJack Professor:

 User defined counts and betting

 User configurable strategy tables

 The Hi-Opt I strategy


Start Playing Now
How do I start playing now?

First of all, if you want to change the background color of the game, double click on the background. A color palette will appear. Color changes will be saved when you exit the game.

To start playing, choose Play under the Player menu option. You will be prompted to enter a bankroll amount in the betting square. After a bankroll is entered, the shoe will be shuffled and you will be prompted for bet. Play begins after a bet is made.


How to play
How to play Blackjack

The object of the game is to obtain a value of cards equal to or less than 21 and higher than the dealer's total. If the player's value exceeds 21, he loses (called busting). If the dealer busts and the player has 21 or less, the player wins. If neither player nor dealer bust, the higher hand value wins. If the hand values are equal, the player is given back his bet (called a push).

The cards used are a standard 52 card deck. The value of cards' Ten, Jack, Queen, and King is 10, Aces count as either 1 or 11, and all other cards are face value. Suits have no meaning. The number of decks used can be from 1 to 8. The fewer decks used, the greater the player advantage.

The number of players is from one to seven. They each play against the dealer, not against each other. A player's hand has no direct effect on other hands, but it is advantageous to play at a table with few or no other players. (BlackJack Professor is head-on play against the dealer. This way the cards look more realistic, making it easier to learn.)

Bets are made before any cards are dealt, each table having a betting minimum and maximum. Minimum bets usually range from $2 to $100, with an occasional $1 table. Maximum bets range from $200 to $2,000 or more. All bets pay even money except : blackjacks usually pay 3 to 2, insurance bets usually pay 2 to 1.

The dealer, starting at his left, gives each player a card, then gives himself a card. He does this once more so that all players and the dealer each have two cards. The dealer's cards are dealt one face up and one face down. All player's cards are dealt either face up or face down; face up is preferred when counting cards.

If the player or dealer is dealt a ten-value card and an ace on his first two cards, he has a blackjack, which is an automatic winner. If the dealer and player both have a blackjack, it is considered a push.

The following is a list of player options:

Stand

If the player is satisfied with his total.

Hit

If the player needs another card.

Double down

After seeing his first two cards, the player may opt to double his bet and receive one more card only  (rule variations exist).

Split

If the player's cards are the same value, he may separate the cards and play two hands (rule variations exist).

Insurance

If the dealer has an ace showing, the player may make a side bet up to half of his original wager, that the dealer has a ten value card face down.

Surrender

After seeing his first two cards, if the player feels he is going to lose, he may surrender his hand and half of his original wager.

The dealer options are set by the casino, he has no strategy or decisions to make.


Strategies and Counting
Card Counting Theory

A player strategy is made up of a count strategy and six play tables. All count strategies are based on a simple theory. An excess of high valued cards(i.e. ten-value cards) left to be dealt yields an advantage to the player, while fewer ten-value cards left to be dealt yields a greater advantage to the dealer. Play tables are charts of correct playing decisions based on which cards are showing. There are six play tables to represent six decisions made by the player:

- Surrender

- Split

- Soft Double

- Hard Double

- Soft Hit

- Hard Hit

The tables are listed in the order that playing decisions are made.

It is beyond the scope of this help file to get more in depth about card counting theory. For more information, read one of the many books mentioned in Recommended Reading.


Recommended Reading

Following is a list of recommended reading. Each one of the books listed has at least one viable blackjack strategy.

Thorpe, Edward O. Beat The Dealer. Random House, 1962 (rev. 1966).

The second edition contains the Braun Point-Count strategy.

Humble, Lance and Cooper, Carl. The World's Greatest Blackjack Book. Doubleday, 1980.

Contains the HiOpt I strategy.

Revere, Lawrence. Playing Blackjack As A Business. Carol Publishing,1969 (rev. 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1993).

Has several strategies developed by Lawrence Revere.

Archer, John. The Archer method of Winning at 21. Wilshire, 1973.

Contains the Archer Point-Count.

Uston, Ken. Million Dollar Blackjack. Gambling Times, 1981 (rev. 1992)

Has several of Ken Uston's strategies including the Uston APC.


Basic Strategy

Basic Strategy was devised through computer analysis by Julian Braun. It gives the player about an even chance against the casino. You must learn it flawlessly before learning another strategy.

The version of Basic Strategy included with the program is set for single deck with doubling allowed after splitting. The surrender table is for late surrender. Configure Blackjack Professor with the following files:

Count Strategy	- Basic.str

Surrender Table	- Basic.sur

Split Table	- Basic.spl

Soft Double Table	- Sbasic.dbl

Hard Double Table	- Basic.dbl

Soft Hit Table	- Sbasic.hit

Hard Hit Table	- Basic.hit

To learn more about Basic Strategy, the following book is recommended:

Thorpe, Edward O. Beat The Dealer. Random House, 1962 (rev. 1966).

The second edition contains the Braun Point-Count strategy.


LVC Point Count
LVC Point-Count

The LVC Point-Count was created using the expert version of BlackJack Professor. LVC Software makes no claims as to the usefullness of this strategy, but presents it as an example of the power of this program. Registered users of BlackJack Professor are permitted to use or modify the LVC Point-Count as needed.

 Configure Blackjack Professor with the following files:

Count Strategy	- Lvc.str

Surrender Table	- Lvc.sur

Split Table	- Lvc.spl

Soft Double Table	- SLvc.dbl

Hard Double Table	- Lvc.dbl

Soft Hit Table	- SLvc.hit

Hard Hit Table	- Lvc.hit


Hi Opt
Hi-Opt I Strategy (Expert Version only)

Hi-Opt stands for 'highly optimum'. The strategy is configured as presented in Lance Humble's book, The World's Greatest Blackjack Book. It is a simple and powerful strategy that anyone can learn.

The version of this strategy included with the program is configured for four deck play with doubling allowed after splitting. The betting range is 1 to 5 units, and an Ace side-count is enabled. The play tables are set up for a +/-6 point count. The surrender table is for late surrender. The tables take into account that the dealer stands on soft 17. The following files contain the tables that represent the Hi-Opt I strategy:

Count Strategy	- Hiopt.str

Surrender Table	- Hiopt.sur

Split Table	- Hiopt.spl

Soft Double Table	- Shiopt.dbl

Hard Double Table	- Hiopt.dbl

Soft Hit Table	- Shiopt.hit

Hard Hit Table	- Hiopt.hit

The following book will give you a thorough understanding of Hi-Opt I, as well as lots of great information about blackjack:

Humble, Lance and Cooper, Carl. The World's Greatest Blackjack Book. Doubleday, 1980.


Configuration

Configuration shows the current disk files containing rules and strategy table information in use by the program.


Count Strategy

Count Strategy

Using the Count Strategy Scroll Bar will show each card value and its associated count value.

Bet Strategy

Units bet count values range from -100 to 100. Using the Bet Strategy Scroll Bar will display how many units will be bet on the current true count.

Unit Bet

This shows the size of each unit bet.

Insurance

Shows when to make an insurance side bet.

Ace Side Count Value

This will add an Ace side count to the sum count(which will change the true count) when it is time to bet, but not when playing decisions are to be made.

Adjust True Count

Most strategies adjust the true count by full-deck, but a few(Uston APC) adjust by half-deck.

(Expert Version)

NOTE that if any changes are made, the count strategy must be SAVED, or changes will be lost when EXITING.


Tables

Selecting Tables will display a sub-menu with six types of strategy tables. They are listed in the order that playing decisions are made. Click on the table you wish to view, and the table will be displayed.

(Expert Version)

NOTE that if any changes are made, the table must be SAVED, or changes will be lost when EXITING.


Statistics

Selecting Statistics will bring up the statistics screen. The most important value is % Advantage. This is the bottom line on how good the strategy is. Numbers in parenthesis are negative values.


Play

To start playing, choose Play under the Player menu option. You will be prompted to enter a bankroll amount in the betting square. After a bankroll is entered, the shoe will be shuffled and you will be prompted for bet. Play begins after a bet is made.

When Play is checked, no changes can be made to the rules, the deck, or table limits. All of these options can be viewed, however.


Rules

Double Down

Choose when to allow doubling. Doubling on any two cards and after splitting are most favorable.

Surrender

When choosing early or late surrender, the program will prompt you on your surrender choice on every hand. No surrender allowed is the most common option.

Splitting

The Resplit Aces option is superseded by the Split one time only  option.

NOTE that if any changes are made, the rules must be SAVED, or changes will be lost when EXITING.


Deck

Number of Decks

Use the Number of Decks Scroll Bar to set the number of decks from 1 to 8. When the number of decks are changed, any Cheat modifications will be wiped out as the deck is made honest.

Reshuffle %

Use the Reshuffle % Scroll bar  to set the deck penetration from 30 to 80 percent.

Burn Cards

Use the Burn Cards Scroll Bar to set the number of burn cards from 1 to 6. These cards are not included in the count.

Deal Speed

Changing the Deal Speed will set the time delay between showing cards.

Cheat

Cheat is useful to see the effect on the % Advantage. An example would be a dealer who always shuffles a ten-value card to the bottom of the deck; effectively eliminating it. This could mean disaster for the player in a single deck game.

Count deck after shuffle

Check Count deck after shuffle if you want to adjust the true count for a dishonest deck.

Reset

Use the Reset button to set the deck to: 1 deck, 75% deck penetration, 1 burn card, and no cheating.


Table Limits

Select Table Limits to view or edit the minimum or maximum bet allowed.


Views

Auto Deal

Use Auto Deal to run a simulation. Recommend must also be checked, otherwise the program won't know which play is correct. To speed up the simulation, minimize the screen so that the computer won't need to draw the cards.

Auto Deal is also useful for card counting practice. Just set the Deal Speed under Deck options to the desired pace.

Error Checking

If Error Checking is checked, the computer will beep and display the correct play when a strategy deviation is made. Error Checking is disabled if Recommend is checked.

Total Bets

Total hands completed in the current session.

Bets Won

Percentage of bets that won.

Bets / Shoe

Total hands completed during the current shoe.

Sum Count

Current sum count

True Count

True count is the Sum Count multiplied by Decks Left.

Decks Left

Number of decks left, to the quarter-deck for one or two deck games, to the half deck for more than two decks.

Cards Left

Number of cards left in the shoe.

Money

How much money the player has. Numbers in parenthesis are negative.

Recommend

If Recommend is checked, correct plays will be shown in the view box. Just press ENTER, and the correct play will be made.


Registration

Thank you for evaluating BlackJack Professor! Select Register from the menu bar to bring up a registration form. If the Register option does not exist, just press the 'R' key while at the main screen. Or if you wish, print out the file 'REGISTER.WRI', provided with the program.

LVC Software will pay the sales tax for Hawaii residents.

The S & H, and Disk fee is optional. However, if you choose not to include this fee, you will be sent a registration code ONLY. It will be assumed that you are registering the software copy already in your possession.

There are two separate ways to pay for the program:

Payment Method I

Send a check or Money order to:

LVC Software

Century Center, Suite 3557

1750 Kalakaua Avenue

Honolulu, HI  96826

USA

Payment Method II

LVC Software donates approximately one of every seven registrations to local charities. As an optional form of payment, you may donate the cost of registration to your favorite charity.

To do this, send a photocopy of a tax receipt, or canceled check written to your favorite charity. The tax receipt or check must meet these guidelines:

- It must be dated within the last 60 days.

- It must be for AT LEAST the amount of the price of the software desired.

- The charity must be established. (i.e. United Way, etc...)

Write "PHOTOCOPY ENCLOSED" on the registration form, and send to:

LVC Software

Century Center, Suite 3557

1750 Kalakaua Avenue

Honolulu, HI  96826

USA

The following restrictions apply:

- The offer is good for only one copy of software.

- The offer does not include the S & H, and Disk fee.

- All submissions are subject to approval and can be rejected for any reason.


Warranty
Warranty and Disclaimer

License Agreement

All versions of BlackJack Professor are shareware. Non-registered users are permitted to evaluate the program for up to 30 days. The program must be registered within 30 days, or its use discontinued.

No one may disassemble, decompile, or reverse engineer the program in any way.

Distribution of BlackJack Professor is encouraged, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

1) It is distributed for the trial use of others.

2) All files are intact and in their original unmodified condition.

3) If a distribution fee is charged, it must not exceed US $8.00.

4) The program's Registration Code may NOT be distributed.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

The following guarantee is only for registered users of BlackJack Professor who have paid full price for the product, and received the program on disk directly from LVC Software.

IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH BlackJack Professor, YOU MAY RETURN THE PROGRAM DISK FOR A FULL REFUND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE.

Disclaimer

LVC SOFTWARE MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. LVC SOFTWARE IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT.

Any use of this program constitutes your acceptance of this agreement.

Copyright Information

BlackJack Professor is protected by United States and International copyright laws.

(C) LVC Software, 1994, All Rights Reserved.