19-04-2002  A V Peterson

Assignment 4 Game Rules

(See URL http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjrules.htm)

Assignment 4 is an implementation of an interactive program for
playing (a simplified version of) the card game Blackjack, also
fairly frequently known as Twenty-one (Vingt-et-un).  It is a
common casino game played around a table with one dealer and
a number of players.  Since each player plays only against the
dealer, not other players, we can implement this interactive
program for just two players, the dealer and the 'gambler'.
Furthermore, since the dealer's play is bound strictly by rules
in which the dealer has no choices, the dealer's part can be
played by the computer.

The aim of the game is to have the hand with the highest value,
but still <= 21.  A hand with value > 21 is worthless.  The 
value of an individual card with rank 2 through 10 is just the 
rank of the card.  Jacks, queens and kings all have the value 10.
Aces can have the value 11 or 1 depending on which value gives
you the most favorable hand.  The suit of a card does not matter.

Cards are dealt from a shuffled deck.  Cards are not re-used until
the deck is exhausted and the whole deck reshuffled.

1. In the first phase, the dealer deals a card to the player, a
   card to himself, and a second card to the player.  All these
   cards are visible to everyone.

2. Next the player's hand is completed.
   The dealer asks whether the player wants another card.  The player
   indicates whether he is happy with the cards he has, or whether he
   wants an additional card.  If the player wants another card, then
   it is dealt to his hand.  The hand is complete when the player 
   indicates he does not want any more cards.

3. The dealer's hand is completed
   The dealer gets his second card.  As long as the value of the
   dealer's hand is < 17 he gets additional cards.

4. The hand with the highest value (but still <= 21) wins.
   If the two hand have the same value or they are both over 21, then
   no one wins (a draw).
   
5. Scoring
   For the standard program scores start at zero and may be negative 
   or positive.  Each hand is worth 1; the winner will add 1 to his
   score; the loser will subtract 1 from his score.

Optional Extras

A 'blackjack' is a hand with a value of 21 on the first two cards. 

1. Modify the program so that a blackjack wins over an ordinary 21.

2. Allow the player (not the dealer) to set the value of the bet
   (1<=bet<=100) instead of the default of 1 indicated in step 5
   above.  In the case of a player blackjack the player will add
   1.5 times the bet to his score (and the losing dealer subtract
   1.5 times the bet).  If both player and dealer have a blackjack
   then it is a draw. In all cases of the dealer winning, the dealer
   adds the bet to his score and the player subtracts the bet from his score.