Draw Poker

Draw Poker is a computer program that allows you to play Five card Draw Poker with the BBC Model B Microcomputer. Several levels of play are provided, giving the player the opportunity to play with more than one computerised 'opponent'.

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*LOAD "DRAW-POKER" (RETURN)
OLD (RETURN)
RUN (RETURN)

After the title sequence, the player is invited to enter his skill Tevel on the keyboard. He then plays DRAW POKER against his chosen number of opponants. They each have 1000 pounds to bet with, in units of 1 pound, and take no further part in the game when they run out of money.

Each player is dealt five concealed cards. The human players cards in the top left hand corner are turned up for him, but none of the computerised opponents can see them or take them into account in their play. The first round of betting now takes place. The human player is first to speak and may Fold, Check, Call or raise by entering 1, 2, 3 or 4 in the black box indicated when prompted to do so. Each player's remaining cash and last bet are displayed near their cards. There is no 'ante' in this game, the minimum bet is 1 pound and the maximum is 100 pounds.

1. Fold - If a player 'folds' he puts no more money into the pot, but he forfeits any money he has already put in, and takes no further part in the hand.
2. Check - This means that he does not wish to put money in at his stage, but may do at his next turn. If all the players check, the round of betting is over.
3. Call - This is putting in the same amount as the previous players bet in order to stay in the game.
4. Raise - This is putting in more than the previous bettor, made up of the previous bet plus a minimum of 1 pound, the maximum total bet is 100 pounds. All players must then call so that they all contribute the same amount of money during the round.

If the human player chooses to raise he will be asked the amount of his bet, if it is within the limits it will be accepted, otherwise he will be asked to re-enter it. If he has pressed '4' in error, a bet of Zero will return him to the menu.

The Draw

If the human player is still in the game, he will be asked 'How many' cards he wishes to discard. He can replace up to five cards, or enter zero for a 'pat' hand.

He is then asked which cards he wants replaced, numbering from one on the left to five on the right. The chosen cards are replaced, and the hand displayed again. The opponents make ther own choice of discards. and their number of cards drawn is indicated.

A second round of betting takes place, when all the players who remain have called, the computer will sort and display their cards. The money in the pot will be awarded to the winner who will be indicated, the human player is asked to press return when he is ready to continue.

The computer shuffles the cards, and starts to deal the next hand. The game will be over when the human loses all his money, or bankrupts his opponent.

The Rules Of The Game

At the start of a hand, each player is dealt five cards face down, which he may look at. No one else sees any of these cards. The first player to open the betting may bet or check at will. Each player has the option when it is his turn to bet, of either dropping out ('folding') or putting in at least as the last bet ('calling' or 'raising') When all the active players have put the same amount of money into the pot the first round of betting is over. The remaining players may then discard some of the cards from the unseen deck. This process, known as the draw, is conducted in a clockwise order starting fom the first player.

Once the draw has taken place, there is a second round of betting which is over when all the remaining players have put the same amount of money into the pot. The players all turn their cards over, and the one with the best cards takes the pot

In order to determine whose cards are the best, the following ranking applies to the hands:

Ranking Of The Cards

1. Straight flush - IS five cards of the same suit in an unbroken sequence eg. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 of hearts A, K, Q, J, 10 beats K, 0, J, 10, 9 etc.
2. Four of a kind - Is four cards of the same denomination. four Aces beats four Kings etc.
3. Full House - Is three cards of one denomination and two of another. A,A,A,2,2 beats K,K,K,9, etc.
4. Flush - Is five cards of the same suit, not in an unbroken sequence. An Ace high flush beats a king high flush, etc.
5. Straight - Is an unbroken sequence of cards of different suits. A,K,0,,10 beats K,2,3,10,9 etc.
6. Three of a kind - Three cards of one denomination and two diferent cards, A,A,A, 3, 2 beats K,K,K,Q, J etc.
7. Two pairs - For example two Aces and two sev The fifth card is of no significance, unless two players have the same two pairs, then the fifth card breaks the tie.
8. One pair - Two of a kind, two aces is the highest pair.
9. High card - Ordinary hands are named after the highest card. Ace high beats king high, A,K,0,3,4 beats A,2,3,3,4 etc.

The computer does not recognise 'wild cards' or 'round the corner straights'.

Stud Poker

Stud Poker is a computer program that allows you to play Five Card Stud Poker with the BBC Model B Microcomputer. Several levels of play are provided, giving the player the opportunity to play with more than one computerised opponent.

The Rules Of The Game

Each player is dealt one card face down, and one card face up. He may 1ook at his own down card. A round of betting takes place, and all those who put in the necessary amount of money on this round will stay in the game, and receive a second face up card. After receiving the second face up card, once again those who put in the money stay in the game for a further round, while the others drop out. The third up card is followed by another round of betting, then the fourth and final up card, and the final round of betting. When the last round of betting 15 over, those remaining in the hand turn over their down card, and the player with the best five cards win the money.

Ranking Of The Cards

In order to determine whose cards are the best, the following rank applies to the hand:

1. Straight Flush is five cards of the same suit in an unbroken sequence e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 of Hearts.
2. Four Of A Kind is four cards of the same denomination four Aces beats four kings.
3. Full House is three cards of one denomination and two of another. AAA22 beats KKK 22.
4. Flush is five cards of the same suit, not in an unbroken sequence. An Ace high flush beats a King high flush etc.
5. Straight is an unbroken sequence of cards of different suits. An Ace high straight beats a king high straight etc.
6. Three Of A Kind are three cards of one denomination and two different cards.
7. Two Pairs. For example Two Aces aand Two Sevens, the fifth card is of no significance unless two players have the same two pairs, then the fifth card breaks the tie.
8. One Pair. Two of a kind, two Aces is the highest pair.
9. High Card. Ordinary hands are named after the highest card. Ace high beats king high, AK Q34 beats AQJ34 etc.

The computer does not recognise 'wild cards' or 'round the corner' straights like JQKA2 and A2 345.

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*LOAD"STUD-POKER" (RETURN)
Type OLD (RETURN) RUN (RETURN)

After the title sequence the player is invited to enter his skill level on the keyboard. He then plays STUD-POKER against his chosen number of opponents. They each have One Hundred Pounds to bet with. in units of One Pound, and take no further part in the game when they run out of money.

Each player is dealt one down card. The Human player's card in the top left hand corner is turned up for him, but none of the computerised players can see it, or take it into account in their play. Each player is obliged to contribute an 'ante' of TWO Pounds at this stage, which goes into the 'Pot' in the center of the table. The first up card is dealt. The Human player is first to speak and may fold, check, call or raise by entering 1, 2, 3, or 4 into the black box indicated when prompted to do so. Each player's remaining cash and last bet are displayed near their cards.

1. Fold. If he 'folds' or passes he puts no more money into th pot, but he forfeits any money already put in, and takes no further part in the hand.
2. Check. This means that he does not wish to put money in at this stage but may do so at his next turn.
3. Call. This is putting in the same amount as the previous players bet in order to stay in the game.
4. Raise. This is putting in more than the previous bettor. made up of the previous bet plus a minimum of One Pound and a maximum of the amount in the pot. All players must then Call So that all players contribute the same amount of money during the round. If the human player chooses to raise he will then be asked the amount of his bet. He then enters up to three figures through the keyboard, followed by a return. If the bet is not within the requested limits, he will be asked to re-enter it.

When all the rounds of betting have been completed in this way, the computer will sort and display their cards. The money in the pot will be awarded to the winner who will be indicated. The human player is asked to press return when he is ready to continue. The computer then shuffles the cards, and starts to deal the next hand, the game will be over when the human loses all his money, or bankrupts his opponents.