BJ(6)

NAME
bj - the game of black jack

SYNOPSIS
/usr/games/bj

DESCRIPTION

bj is a serious attempt at simulating the dealer in the game of black jack (or twenty-one) as might be found in Reno. The following rules apply:

    The bet is $2 every hand.

    A player ``natural'' (black jack) pays $3. A dealer natural loses $2. Both dealer and player naturals is a ``push'' (no money exchange).

    If the dealer has an ace up, the player is allowed to make an ``insurance'' bet against the chance of a dealer natural. If this bet is not taken, play resumes as normal. If the bet is taken, it is a side bet where the player wins $2 if the dealer has a natural and loses $1 if the dealer does not.

    If the player is dealt two cards of the same value, he is allowed to ``double''. He is allowed to play two hands, each with one of these cards. (The bet is doubled also; $2 on each hand.)

    If a dealt hand has a total of ten or eleven, the player may ``double down''. He may double the bet ($2 to $4) and receive exactly one more card on that hand.

    Under normal play, the player may ``hit'' (draw a card) as long as his total is not over twenty-one. If the player ``busts'' (goes over twenty-one), the dealer wins the bet.

    When the player ``stands'' (decides not to hit), the dealer hits until he attains a total of seventeen or more. If the dealer busts, the player wins the bet.

    If both player and dealer stand, the one with the largest total wins. A tie is a push.

The machine deals and keeps score. The following questions will be asked at appropriate times. Each question is answered by y followed by a new-line for ``yes'', or just new-line for ``no''.

    ? (this means, ``do you want a hit?'')
    Insurance?
    Double down?

Every time the deck is shuffled, the dealer so states and the ``action'' (total bet) and ``standing'' (total won or lost) is printed. To exit, hit the interrupt key (CTRL-C) and the action and standing will be printed.