                           HOW TO PLAY BEAT THE HOUSE
                                 BBS Black Jack

Black  Jack is a traditional casino card game with simple rules. The object is
to beat the dealer's hand by scoring up to 21 points without going over 21. In
Black  Jack, each player is dealt two cards, face up. The dealer also receives
two  cards, one face up, the other face down. All face cards count ten points,
and numbered cards count their face value.

An  Ace can count as either one or eleven points. A hand is called "soft" when
the  Ace  is used as eleven points. A  hand  is "hard" when any combination of
cards is used except an Ace worth eleven points.

The  game will automatically keep track of  your hand's total as the cards are
dealt.  If you receive an Ace it will count as eleven points, unless that will
cause you to go over 21, in which case it will count as one.

Each  day you will be given a certain amount of "pocket" money to gamble with.
If  you win a hand your wager will be added to your total amount of money won.
If you gamble away all your pocket money you can begin gambling your winnings.
The  game  will do this automatically. If you  run  out of both you'll have to
wait until tomorrow to play again.

Likewise  you will be given a specific amount  of hands to play each day. When
you have played them all you will be finished for the day.

Terminology:

Push   - A push means that the dealer's hand and the player's hand are equal.

Stand  - You are happy with your hand and do not want any more cards.  The
         dealer will then play.

Hit    - You want another card added to your hand.

Double - After your first two cards are dealt you can double your bet.  You
         will receive one more card, and then the dealer will play.  You may
         double on any two cards.

Split  - If your first two cards are equal in value you may elect to play
         two hands simultaneously.  In Beat The House you may only split
         your original hand once.  That is, if you receive another pair
         after the original split you cannot split again.

Bust   - The cards in your hand total more than 21 points.  You instantly
         lose, and the dealer does not play.

Natural- The first two cards dealt have a combined value of 21.  This applies
         to the player and the dealer.

The  playing  rules vary widely from casino  to casino. In this game two decks
are  used, and they are shuffled after  each hand. The dealer does not "peek",
except  when  you have a natural, and his upcard  is a ten, a face card, or an
ace.

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                        RULES OF PLAY FOR BEAT THE HOUSE
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* If your first two cards total 21 you "Black Jack", and instantly win 1.5
  times your original bet if the dealer does not also have 21.  If you "Black
  Jack" the dealer will look to see if he has a natural also, and if he does
  the hand is a push.

* You win if you take seven cards without busting.  In other words, you have
  seven cards in your hand.

* The dealer must stand on any 17, hard or soft.

* Tied hands are a "push".  In other words there is no win or loss on either
  side, and the bet is returned to the player.

* You  may double after your first  two cards, regardless of combination. You
  may not double after you have you have taken a hit.

* Splits are allowed if the value of your first two cards are the same.  You
  may only split once.
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TEACH MODE:
By  hitting  [T]each you will get advice  on whether to stand, hit, double, or
split. Be advised that these are based on probabilities, and you don't have to
take  the advice! Also, since the rules are different from table to table, the
advice  you receive may not always work  in other games. However, it will help
you  get a feel about how to play  this particular game to best advantage, and
Black  Jack in general. Probabilities are calculated in real time, taking into
account which cards have already been played.

The Teach function will remain on until you turn it off by hitting 'T' again.


THE MENU:
From the menu you may see player rankings by either money won or percentage of
hands  won.  You  may  also  view the  overall  game  statistics  for all game
activities.

Along  with  game statistics you can  generate  several charts that reveal the
statistical  nature  of  Black Jack. For  more  information  on the underlying
mechanics of calculating Black Jack probabilities see "How Probability Works",
available from the menu.

If  you  want  to reset your personal statistics  you  can do this as well. By
resetting  your  information you will not  affect the overall door statistics.
However, you will lose all your winnings, and you will not be given additional
games or pocket money for the current day.

AUTOPLAY:
If  your  sysop has configured it you can  let the computer play for you using
the [A]uto button. The computer will play repeatedly, taking its own advice on
whether  to  stand, hit, double, or split.  It will continue to play until you
either  run  out  of hands, money, or time.  To  stop Autoplay hit the "A" key
again.

Good luck!
