EZ Blackjack Instructions


Version 1.02
Copyright© 2002,2003 LDW Software, LLC

 
 
Overview 
Requirements and Installation 
Game Description 
Graffiti Shortcuts
Game Menu Options
Basic Strategy
Card Counting
 
How to Register 
Support 
Legal Disclaimer 
 
  Overview
 
  EZ Blackjack is a blackjack program for Palm OS that is designed to be fast and easy to use, but with the tools and depth that intermediate to advanced blackjack players will appreciate.

EZ Blackjack will work as a simple blackjack game or it can be used to monitor and correct your basic strategy. It will even keep track of the count if you are an aspiring card-counter. You can learn basic strategy two ways: by clicking the ' ? ' button, you can receive a recommendation at any time on a play. Alternatively, you can use Passive Learning, and the program will allow you to play, and will warn you once each time you make a play that deviates from correct basic strategy.
   
     
  Requirements and Installation
 
  Operating System: EZ Blackjack runs on Palm OS 3.1 or later; supports COLOR and BW
Memory: 185k available RAM is necessary to install and run the game.
Installation: To install simply remove the "EZ Blackjack.prc" file from the zip, and double-click it, or drag it to your desktop software.
   
     
  Game Description
 
  The steps to play EZ Blackjack are as follows:
   
  You start with $150 dollars.   
  To get more cash, click your cash or use the Get Cash menu option, at any time.   
  Click on the chips to start betting. When you've bet the minimum amount, click 'deal'.   
  The player is dealt two cards, and the dealer is dealt two cards (one face up, one face down).   
  Hit, stand, split or double your hand(s) according to normal blackjack rules and correct basic strategy.   
 
Click  
at any time for dealer advice    
 
Click  
to see or hide the current running count (for card counters)    
 
Click  
to see the basic strategy reference.    
     
  Graffiti Shortcuts
 
  Graffiti Shortcuts can be used to access many common menu items:  
 
'p'  preferences
     
 
'c'  cashier
     
 
'g'  game options
     
 
's'  statistics
     
     
  Game Menu Options
 
  Get Cash This menu option brings you to the 'cashier' to get more cash at any time or to reset your cash to zero.    
  Shuffle Up This menu option will reset the running count and shuffle the deck(s).    
  Request New Decks This will bring brand-new decks into play and shuffle them up automatically.    
  Statistics This will show the statistics page with useful information on how you've been doing, such as your win/loss count, and the % of all bets placed that you still retain. Here you can also reset all of your statistics which will also erase your current winnings and losses.    
  Options This brings up the Game Options dialog:    
  Dealer Hits on Soft 17 (enable dealer to play slightly stronger).   
  Surrender is Allowed (a rule that increases player advantage. "Late" surrender only).   
  Insurance (allowed at virtually all casinos)   
  Double After Split (often allowed in Vegas, not allowed in many other places).   
  Include Ace, 2 in running count (a setting for more advanced users. More on this below).   
  Number of Decks (how many decks are in the dealer's shoe).   
  Penetration (what % of the shoe the dealer deals before shuffling up).   
  Preferences This brings up the Preferences dialog:    
  Passive Learning (do you want the game to automatically warn on basic strategy errors?).   
  Sounds   
  Show Standings (displays how much you are up or down).   
  Show % of Cards Left in Shoe (what % of cards remain to be dealt before another shuffle).   
  Show Player Card Total (adds up your current hand for you. Displayed in the bottom right).   
       
     
  Basic Strategy
 
  Basic Strategy in blackjack is the 'correct play' for any situation based on the player's hand vs. the card that the dealer is showing (the dealer 'up' card). There are many variations with minor differences, but they tend to be quite similar. The one used in this program is optimized for 4 decks or more and is courtesy of The Wizard of Odds (www.thewizardofodds.com), a statistical genius and amazing resource on the web for gambling information and strategy. If you play without using a basic strategy you are probably not getting as good of a long term expectation on your game as you could.
   
 
   
     
  Card Counting
 
  First, if you do not know what card counting is, check out www.thewizardofodds.com for more information about it. In general, card counting is a way of keeping track of which cards have been dealt by the dealer so that you know which cards remain in the deck or shoe. If the deck is 'rich in tens', that is many low cards like 3, 4, 5, 6 have already been dealt, then the basic strategy will tend to work better and it might be appropriate to increase your bets accordingly.If a proportionately large number of tens have already left the game, then the opposite might be true. EZ Blackjack does not attempt to teach card counting, but does track the running count for more advanced players who want to use this. The counting strategy implemented in EZ Blackjack is as follows:
3, 4, 5, 6 add one to the count. 10, J, Q, K subtract one from the count. There is a game options setting to include 2 with the low cards, and Ace with the high cards, because this is another popular variation. To view the count during the game, click 'Count Peek' in the top-left of the screen. Click the count again to cover it up, so you can keep track in your head without 'cheating'.
   
     
     
  How to Register
 
  Registering EZ Blackjack is fast and easy! Just visit www.LDW.com.
When you register, the game will be fully functional you will be eligible for support and enhancements.
Thanks for trying EZ Blackjack, and Enjoy!
   
     
  Support
 
  Tech/support issues: www.LDW.com/support

   
  Legal Disclaimer
 
  This product is provided without warranty and the user accepts full responsibility for any damages, consequential or otherwise, resulting from its use.