How do I use the skeleton hand?

The skeleton hand is your pointing device. You move it over an object or area in the window and then click the left mouse button to select an action. The action which will be performed is indicated to the right of the skeleton hand. You can turn this indicator off in the Options screen. Sometimes an action is unavailable and moving the pointing device over it will have no effect.


How do I get the dealer to start to deal?

You must place a bet first. Then move the skeleton hand so that it is not pointing at any object. Click the left mouse button.


How do I place a bet?

Move the skeleton hand over one of the 4 skulls on the left. When it is over a skull it will point it's finger. Click the left mouse button. The number emblazoned into the skulls head represents the amount you will bet by clicking on it. These are $10, $25, $50 and $100. You can continue to increase the bet by pointing to a skull and clicking the left mouse button. The amount of the bet will appear in the status area. You can do this to a maximum amount as specified in the Options screen.

You can also bet from $1 to $9 by pressing the corresponding numeric key on the numeric keypad.


How do I hit?

Move the skeleton hand over your cards. The skeleton hand will point it's finger. Click the left mouse button. If you have split make sure you move the skeleton hand over the correct set of cards. The hand will only point when it's over the active set of cards.


How do I stand?

Move the skeleton hand so it is not pointing at any object. The finger should no longer be pointing. Click the left mouse button.


How do I double?

Point the skeleton hand to the skull displaying x2 (second skull from the right). The skeleton hand will point it's finger. Click  the left mouse button. You can only double on your first move. After doubling you are dealt one more card and your turn is over. When doubling, your bet is automatically doubled. You can observe this in the status area.


How do I split?

Point the skeleton hand to the skull displaying Split. The skeleton hand will point it's finger. Click the left mouse button. You can only split your first 2 cards. They must have the same value in order to split them e.g. 2 tens. Some casinos have restrictions on which cards can be split. You can set these restrictions in the Options screen.


How can I tell which hand is active after splitting?

The skeleton hand will point it’s finger when you move it over the active hand. Move the hand so it is over the bottom left corner of the first card, where it doesn’t overlap any other cards. The finger will point if this is the active hand.


Explain the contents of the status area?

The status area appears at the top right of the window. It consists of 5 lines of information. For example:

        2300  Won

         100   Bet

           3     +/-

          80    %

          42    Dealt

Won:

Indicates your total winnings or losses. If the number is green it indicates you have won $2300. If the number is red your total losses are $2300.

Bet:

Indicates the amount you have bet for this round. When doubling the amount is automatically adjusted.

+/-:

Indicates the current card count. This is the actual count and not the true count. To determine true count divide the count by the number of decks remaining. A green number is positive and a red number is negative.

%:

The percentage of correct moves you have made. Each move is compared to the correct move as displayed in the strategy table. For example, 2 mistakes out of a total of 10 moves would give you 80%.

Dealt:

Shows the number of cards which have been dealt from the deck. You can have from 1 - 8 decks as specified in the Options screen. The total cards dealt when a deck is reshuffled will not match the total number of cards in the deck. The amount actually dealt is referred to as penetration and is expressed as a percentage. You can modify this value in the Options screen.


How do I surrender?

Press the Z key on the keyboard to surrender.  When you surrender you lose half your bet.


How do I take insurance?

If insurance is available a pop-up selection will appear. Move the hand so it

points to your choice, either Yes or No. Then click the left mouse button.


How do I know if I made a mistake?

Whenever you make an incorrect move the red X and green checkmark will appear. Next to the green checkmark is the correct play. You can turn off this feature in the Options screen.


What is the objective in Blackjack?

The objective in Blackjack is to beat the dealer. The total value of your cards is compared to the dealer’s total value. Your total must be greater than the dealer’s total without exceeding 21. If your hand total exceeds 21 you ‘bust’ and automatically lose. If the dealer busts, you win, unless you also busted. The dealer must hit on a 16 or less and stand on a 17 or greater.  In some casinos the dealer must stand on soft 17. See Options screen for setting the casino rules.


How is the value of a hand determined?

Tens and face cards are counted as 10. 2 thru 9 are counted at face value. An ace can be counted as either 1 or 11. If the ace can be counted as 11 without busting this is referred to as a soft hand e.g. A6 is a soft 17. When the ace must be counted as 1 this is referred to as a hard hand e.g. A67 is a hard 14.


What is a Blackjack?

A Blackjack is a 10 or face card with an ace counted as 11 for a total of 21. A Blackjack is usually paid out at odds of 3 to 2. You cannot get a Blackjack on a pair of split aces.  If both the player and dealer get a Blackjack it’s a tie or a ‘push’.


What is penetration?

From 1 to 8 decks may be used in a game. The dealer does not deal all the cards from the deck. Penetration refers to how many cards out of the total number of cards are dealt. The deeper the penetration the better the advantage for the player. Not all casinos have the same penetration. The level of penetration can be set in the Options screen.


How does doubling work?

You can only Double down on your first move. If you double you must double your bet and are dealt only one more card. Your turn is then over. Your bet is doubled automatically in this game.


How does splitting work?

You may only split if your 2 cards have matching face value. Some casinos have restrictions on splitting. You can set these restrictions in the Options screen. When splitting the cards are split into 2 hands which are played independently. An additional card is dealt to each split hand. An equivalent bet is placed on the 2nd hand. This is done automatically in this game. If aces are split you only get one more card per hand (total of 2) and then your turn is over.


How do I use the strategy tables?

The strategy dictates all of a players moves for each possible combination of dealer up-card versus player cards showing. Numerous Blackjack strategies have been developed over the years through computer simulation. This game comes pre-programmed with 2 versions of the Basic Strategy. One for 1-3 decks and the other for 4 or more decks. You can modify these strategy tables or create your own. You can have up to 9 strategy tables. You select the strategy to use in the Options screen. This strategy table will appear when activating the Strategy screen. It will also be used during play. If you make a move which violates the strategy a visual warning will be displayed. A red X will appear along with a green checkmark which indicates the correct play. You can turn off this warning in the Options screen if you like.


How do I read the strategy table if I have an Ace in my hand?

Let's look at examples.

For A-2 use column A2.

For A-2-5 use column A7.

For A-A-8 use column A9.


How can I save different strategy tables?

Using a file browser open the Strategy folder found in the BJIsland folder. Copy any one of the files in the folder and then rename it. Make sure to keep the .bji extension. Each time you start the game the program looks in the Strategy directory for any file with the extension .bji. The next time you activate the Options screen in the game you will notice the new file appears as an additional option when scrolling through the “Choose a strategy” option. You can select this file and then activate the Strategy screen to modify the strategy. You can have up to 9 files and give them any name you like.


Why do I need to count cards?

You count cards in order to determine how much to bet. When the deck is in your favor you will increase your bet and vice-versa. By doing so your winnings improve substantially. The current card count will determine if the next round is to your advantage or not. For example, the next round will be to your advantage if there are lots of 10’s (10, J, Q, or K) in the deck versus other cards. One reason is because the dealer must draw to 17 and will face a greater chance of busting if the deck is rich in large cards.


How do I count cards?

Each card is assigned a value (note that this value is different from that used in determining the value of a hand). As a card is dealt its count gets added to the current count, which starts at 0. There are various counting schemes. In one scheme cards are assigned a value of either 0, 1, or –1. If small cards are counted +1, and large cards are counted –1, the more positive the count is, the greater the player advantage. A positive count means more small cards have been dealt than large cards. Therefore there is a greater percentage of large cards remaining in the deck. This is advantageous to the player. One thing to keep in mind when counting cards is that the count will be affected by the number of decks used. The true count is taken by dividing the current count by the number of decks remaining. You’ll use the true count to determine how much to bet.


How do I register?

For information on how to register, visit our web site at:

 http://home.wimsey.com/~pow

Once you have received your registration key follow this procedure:

1.  Select Options from the main menu.

2.  Use the Down Arrow key to highlight the Registered option. It’s value should read “no”.

3.  Enter the registration number you have received. (Note that there is no visual feedback)

4.  The Registered option should now read “yes”.


How can I get more help?

    E-mail help is available. Send your request to pow@wimsey.com.