Classic Draw Poker Version 5.72 July 1994
A two handed draw poker game that offers a
real challenge, even for experienced poker
players. Now with a tournament feature.
Runs on just about any PC. No special
requirement for graphics, memory, or sound.
No glitz, just fun.

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* DRAW POKER *
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Release 5.72 July 1993

Gellman Software
431 Fifth Street, S.E.
Washington, DC 20003

(C) Copyright Robert Gellman 1987-1994
All Rights Reserved

POKER plays five card draw poker head-to-head. The program provides a
real contest for the serious poker player and helps weaker players sharpen
their skills. But be careful. Many report this program is habit forming.

The program attempts to play winning poker consistently. It has a
sophisticated style of playing and betting designed to win more money than
it loses. The program doesn't get tired or lazy, and it doesn't call bets
just because it is curious. Can you play winning poker against a tough,
disciplined opponent? That is the challenge offered by this game.

The program allows you to play dozens of hands in a few minutes. You
can acquire a lifetime of experience in two hours. Despite the limitations
of head-to-head poker, you can still acquire a good sense of draw poker
odds. Remember the basic challenge: Can you beat the computer?

The program assumes that you know how to play poker and requires
no manual. If you need help, there are several introductory screens with
explanations of the program's operations. Two help screens are available
during non-tournament play at the touch of a button. Now you can play even
if you can't remember whether a flush beats a straight (it does!).



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* PLAYING THE GAME *
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To start the program, just enter POKER at the DOS prompt. The first
few screens explain the mechanics. Try some hands and you will catch on
quickly.

The program will run under DOS 2.0 or better. The program requires
less than 512K and is compatible with both color and monochrome monitors.
A graphics card is not needed. If you have a color monitor but do not want
color, start the program like this: POKER/BW.

If you want to start playing, go ahead. Nothing in this short DOC
file is vital. Read it over, but the documentation is not worth printing.
The file was created with margins at 5 and 75. There are form feeds
approximately every 60 lines.

Words of wisdom: Bet your own cards.

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* TOURNAMENT *
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Version 5.7 added a new feature and a new challenge. You can now play
a 100 hand tournament against the computer, with the highest scores
preserved in a high score table. The tournament puts heavy pressure on
each player to conserve resources and to make the most effective use of the
cards dealt. During the tournament, the computer adjusts its play
constantly to confuse and confound. All advantages (help, hints, and
highlights) are turned off in tournaments. You have to pay attention and
remember the order of hands and the number of cards that the computer drew.

The tournament has a wider variety of minor features, cute comments,
and occasional, interesting options. You will have to play to discover
them. To find them all, you may have to play thousands of hands. That is,
if you can afford to. On the bright side, you have unlimited funds in the
tournament. After all, how much can you lose in 100 hands? More than you
might think. In tournament mode, antes are $4 and the largest bet/raise is
$40. These are the maximum stakes permitted anywhere in the program.

The high score table is written to a file called POKER.HGH. The file
is created in the current directory. To empty the file, just erase it.
The program will create a new high score file when necessary.

The computer plays tighter poker when in tournament mode. This means
that there is both more folding and more bluffing. The computer is trying
to win and not to entertain you. If you find this too boring or too
difficult, then go back to the regular mode. The betting is looser, and
you may find it easier to cope.

Before you try a tournament, play some hands in the regular mode.
This will help you to become familiar with the program's keys and
procedures. Once you are comfortable (about ten minutes or so), you may
find that the tournament offers more of a contest.

The statistics shown at the end of a tournament are a bit more
extensive. One of the most interesting numbers is the number of big
showdowns. A big showdown is a pot which exceeds $50. Comparing the
amount of money each player won in big showdowns sometimes explains the
final result. But sometimes, careful play in small hands can overcome the
loss of some larger pots. One word of caution: remember that half of the
money you won in big pots is money that you put in the pot.

If you play a lot of tournaments, I would love to see the results.
After you have filled up the high score table with scores of your own,
print out of a copy and send it to me. Just hit SHIFT-PRINTSCREEN when the
high score table is on your screen. I want to know how well the computer
is doing, and random results from a few players will help me to refine the
betting algorithm. My address is at the top of this document and is also
on the second screen (just hit ENTER at the opening screen). Thanks.



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* COMMENTS & ADVICE *
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First, the program is totally honest. The computer does not know what
is in your hand unless there is a showdown. Nor does the computer know
what cards are in the deck waiting to be drawn. The computer does keep
track of all "public" information about your activities, however.

Second, there is one minor, otherwise undocumented, feature whereby
the program actually "cheats" in your favor. After cards are drawn, the
program will "remind" you of how many cards the computer drew by displaying
one period (.) for each card the computer drew.

Given the fast pace of the game (once you get the hang of it), it's
easy to miss the message showing the number of cards drawn by the computer.
After the draw, the periods appear at the top of the display following
"AFTER THE DRAW". On the showdown screen, the periods appear at the top of
the display after the word "pot". This is DISABLED during tournaments.

Third, be aware that the computer has different patterns of betting.
Some of its betting is random, and it won't always bet the same way with
the same hand. The computer also observes your play and modifies its
behavior in response to your betting habits and methods. Tournament
betting is highly variable, and changes constantly as the deals progress.

The computer is also able to bluff in several ways. The computer will
sometimes make large bets with bad hands and no bets with good hands. Like
any good poker player, every move the computer makes has at least two
possible interpretations.

Fourth, a run of very good or very bad hands is just a coincidence.
The randomness of the program has been tested in simulations involving over
half a million hands. The results mirror those expected in normal poker
playing. If you are losing, just keep playing, and your luck may improve.
If all else fails, try playing better poker!

Fifth, as you play, you will occasionally be offered the chance to
increase the stakes and the ante. The maximum bet (or raise) starts at
$10, and it can be doubled twice until it reaches $40. This is high enough
for a game where each player starts with $200. Contrary to normal poker
practice, the minimum bet remains at $1 even when the stakes are raised.
In most games, the ante is equal to the minimum bet. In tournaments, the
stakes are fixed at the maximum allowable.

Sixth, in head-to-head poker, a high percentage of hands will be
folded by one player or the other. This is normal. Conservative players
fold when they don't think they can win. Of course, there will be
occasional spectacular showdowns when both players have good hands. But
the odds are that you are likely to win only half of these hands.

Finally, remember that just because you have a great hand doesn't mean
that you are going to win a big pot. If you make a large bet, a player
with a mediocre hand (or worse) will fold. Learn how best to manage both
good and bad hands to maximize your return. The key to winning poker is
discipline. Play your cards and learn how to exploit small advantages.
Over time, the luck will even out.

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* TECHNICAL NOTES *
***************************************************************************

POKER has been more than twenty years in the making. The first
version was written in FORTRAN in 1969-70 on an IBM 360 Mod 65. Later
versions were written in IBM BASIC and ATARI BASIC. The current version
was written and compiled in Microsoft's QuickBASIC 4.5. Version 5.60 was a
major improvement over previous releases. Later versions were more
evolutionary until version 5.70. The source code, which has not been
released, is over 1800 lines. A serious programmer/poker player may be
able to convince me to provide a copy of the source code.


***************************************************************************
* FEEDBACK *
***************************************************************************

If you find any errors, please let me know exactly when and how they
arose. The program has been extensively tested, but I cannot guarantee
that it is bug-free. My address appears on the top of this document and
on the second screen (hit ENTER at the first screen).

User feedback is hard to get. I welcome comments about the program,
its mechanics, or poker strategy in general. Any suggestions for changes
or improvements will be considered. If you find a bug or make a suggestion
that I adopt, I will send you a copy of the new version.

Finally, my thanks to the Study Group for poker lessons and to B.C.,
D.B., and S.A.C. for helping me refine the betting algorithm and the
general look of the program. Thanks for Joe S. and Bill L. for testing the
tournament version. Good luck to the rest of you. You may need it.


***************************************************************************
* LEGAL STUFF *
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This program and its documentation are provided "as is" without
warranty of any kind. The entire risk of using the program is assumed by
the user. Gellman Software disclaims all warranties, either express or
implied. In no event shall Gellman Software be liable for any damages
whatsoever arising out of the use of or inability to use this program.

This program is freeware. You are licensed to use the program and
to give copies to others. You may upload the program together with this
documentation on computer bulletin boards anywhere. Both the program and
this documentation are copyrighted by Robert Gellman. No one is authorized
to make changes to either. Also, no one is authorized to sell the program
except as specifically provided in this documentation.

The program may be distributed by vendors, software clubs, computer
bulletin boards, and shareware/freeware libraries at a standard charge for
media and distribution. No other forms of distribution for money are
authorized without the permission of Gellman Software.



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* OTHER GELLMAN SOFTWARE PROGRAMS *
***************************************************************************

As of the date of this file, Gellman Software has released these
freeware games:

POKER572 - Head to Head Draw Poker (freeware)
1POKER14 - Poker Solitaire (freeware)
CALC15 - Calculation Solitaire (freeware)
LABELLE4 - La Belle Lucie Solitaire (public domain)
SIXLTR42 - Six Letter Word Game (freeware)

The last two programs were coauthored by other programmers.

In addition, Gellman Software has published two shareware programs:

SPRM40 - STOCK PORTFOLIO RECORD MANAGER (shareware)

This program stores, manipulates, and prints records needed to
manage a portfolio of stocks. STOCK PORTFOLIO RECORD MANAGER totally
replaces or supplements paper records. It provides powerful reports
about your portfolio, transactions, and dividends. Both laser and dot
matrix printers are supported. Anyone who has investments in the
stock or bond markets should consider using this program.

HBRM15 - HOME BASIS RECORD MANAGER (shareware)

If you own a house, condominium, cooperative, house trailer, or
any type of residence, you need HOME BASIS RECORD MANAGER. This
program will help you keep track of the basis (or cost) of your home.
This information is vital when you sell your home. By using the HOME
BASIS RECORD MANAGER, you can be certain that you will have all the
information necessary to minimize the taxes due on the profits from
the sale of your home.

These programs are available from the Public Software Library, P.O.
Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235. The latest versions are normally sent to PSL
as soon as they are released. I recommend PSL to anyone interested in
shareware or freeware. Gellman Software programs are also available on
finer computer bulletin boards in the Washington, DC area and elsewhere.

Copies of all programs are available from Gellman Software. Send a
self-addressed, stamped mailer and disk to the address on the first page.
State which programs you want. IMPORTANT: Please indicate if you know how
to handle ZIP archives. If you want all programs, send one 1.2 Meg disk,
two 360K disks if you can unZIP, or three 360K disks if you do not
understand ZIP archives. There is no charge if you supply the disk, the
mailer, and the postage.



***************************************************************************
* HISTORY OF RECENT VERSIONS *
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Version 5.72 - Fixed a mistake that allowed the computer to make a raise
(7/4/94) that exceeded the maximum. Minor betting adjustment.
A few small changes to screens. Thanks to B. J. Ball for
reporting the error.

Version 5.71 - Added a command line switch (/BW) to suppress color.
(3/1/93) Changed introductory screens to describe new switch.

Version 5.70 - Major new feature: tournament play added, along with high
(10/6/92) score table for tournaments. Fixed a minor error which
prevented the display of the number of cards drawn by the
computer when the player took only one card. Major
changes to all betting algorithms. Changed insult content
and frequency. Lots of minor adjustments.


Version 5.67 - Fixed an obscure screen formatting error involving a
(9/10/91) message that appeared when the player drew three cards
to complete a hand with four of a kind. Changed the
procedure for drawing cards. The F1 - F5 keys now work as
toggles. The F9 key which used to restart the draw is no
longer functional. Added a new final screen.

Version 5.66 - Added F8 switch so that you can keep all cards in a pat
(3/1/91) hand with one keystroke. Added verbal descriptions (e.g.,
KINGS OVER SEVENS) of hands at showdown. Both changes
requested by users. Music for computer winning hand
shortened. Other minor conforming changes made.

Version 5.65 - Minor revisions of screen. Minor internal changes.
(9/16/89) Added average pot information to final screen. Modified
the "charity call" algorithm. Slight changes to both help
screens. Revised documentation.

Version 5.64 - Fixed an ancient mistake. The program failed to
(1/22/89) properly evaluate competing straights when one was a baby
straight (A-2-3-4-5). The program was "dazzled" by the ace
and determined mistakenly that the baby straight was higher
than another straight that didn't have an ace. It took 20
years for this error to surface. My thanks to R. Brosseau
and B. Binford for reporting this problem. In the
coincidence of the year, both wrote me on the same day!

Version 5.63 - Revised the rules screen and added a new screen
(1/10/89) showing the order of poker hands. Made both screens
available at a keystroke. Revised the main screen
display. Changed the sound screen and the opening
sounds. Made the computer a bit more aggressive. Cutesy
card cutting display added. Recompiled in QB 4.5.

Version 5.62 - Modified the frequency of chances to raise the stakes.
(7/31/88) Fiddled with frequency and content of insults.
Eliminated extra keystroke in sandbagging situations.
Recompiled in QB 4.0b - size reduced by 10 percent.