bj Command

Purpose

Starts the blackjack game.

Syntax

bj

Description

The bj command invokes the blackjack game. Blackjack is a card game. The object of blackjack is to be dealt cards with a value of up to but not over 21 and to beat the dealer's hand. The computer plays the role of the dealer in blackjack.

You place bets with the dealer on the likelihood that your hand will come equal or closer to 21 than will the dealer's. The following rules apply to betting.

The bet is two dollars every hand. If you draw a natural blackjack, you win three dollars. If the dealer draws a natural blackjack, you lose two dollars. If you and the dealer both have natural blackjacks, you exchange no money (a push).

If the dealer has an ace showing, you can make an insurance bet on the chance that the dealer has a natural blackjack, winning two dollars if the dealer has a natural blackjack and losing one dollar if not.

If you are dealt two cards of the same value, you can double, that is, play two hands, each of which begins with one of these cards, betting two dollars on each hand. If the value of your original hand is 10 or 11, you can double down, that is, double the bet to four dollars and receive exactly one more card in that hand.

Under normal play, you can draw a card (take a hit) as long as your cards total 21 or less. If the cards total more than 21, you bust and the dealer wins the bet. When you stand (decide not to draw another card), the dealer takes hits until a total of 17 or more is reached. If the dealer busts, you win. If both you and the dealer stand, the one with the higher total below or equal to 21 wins. A tie is a push.

The computer deals, keeps score, and asks the following questions at appropriate times: Do you want a hit? Insurance? Double? Double down? To answer yes, press Y; to answer no, press the Enter key.

The dealer tells you whenever the deck is being shuffled and displays the action (total bet) and standing (total won or lost). To quit the game, press the Interrupt (Ctrl-C) or End Of File (Ctrl-D) key sequence; the computer displays the final action and score and exits.

Files