=========================================================================== Boris for Blackjack Release 4.44 for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000(2K)/XP/XP2
ReadMe Notes: All Editions -- Updated: April 28, 2005
===========================================================================
For more Information, upgrade Editions and pricing, go to:
joeblows1..com or borissoftware.borisbj21.com.
Table of Contents
This document contains the following Sections:
Boris for Blackjack - A Software Overview by Boris "himself".
Installing Boris from CD.
Installing Boris from the Website Download Page.
=========================================================================== Document Overview and Software Registration Number for Free Upgrades
This Read Me file contains important product information on Boris for Blackjack Release 4.4 for Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, Windows 2000 and XP (SP1 & SP2).
Casino Gaming Software and our marketing-affiliates appreciate your interest in Boris' Software products. We believe that there is no other Blackjack software available that can compare with Boris' Comprehensive Features and Accuracy.
As you shall see in the following Overview, you TRULY get what you pay for.
For free access to Boris' on-going upgrades, send e-mail to: upgrades@borisbj21.com to receive a registration code (if you don't already have one) and the URL of Boris' Download Page.
Boris for Blackjack - A Software Overview by Boris Himself (Updated: 4-28-2005)
This File brings you information regarding the latest release of the Boris for Blackjack, Casino Blackjack Simulation Software.
While the software Editions differ greatly in features, ALL Editions contain Boris' famous "Blackjack Engine". This "Engine" represents the MOST ACCURATE and most HIGHLY DETAILED Blackjack software simulation available to the gaming industry today. As you will soon discover, Release 4.44 takes the Boris Standard and moves it up a notch, keeping Boris light-years ahead of the competition.
Since 1991, with Boris' Blackjack-Engine, you are guaranteed accurately simulated shuffle and "wash" (card-preparation) procedures. Most Blackjack computer software simply generates "random" cards for the shuffle. Last I recall, that is NOT what is being done in ANY casino. Random cards would be the equivalent of playing "52-Pickup" 3 times for each shoe. Not only is this ludicrous, more important, it is NOT ACCURATE.
Most Blackjack players are not programmers; most programmers are NOT Blackjack players. With Boris, you get both: expert Software Development and the collaboration with many Blackjack experts and professional-level players during the last 15 years. Thanks to this professional influence, you will find Boris screen layouts (Blackjack Table, Statistics and Casino Management) reflecting the REAL WORLD of Blackjack. Everything you see on the screen is there for a reason; the underlying reason being casino simulation accuracy.
While Boris may not be as "pretty" as the competition, what good is "glitter" if the "engine" running the software is a Model T, or the software in general is archaic, inaccurate or obsolete? Contrary to popular belief, there is more to beating Blackjack than JUST Card-counting and Basic Strategy. Boris for Blackjack provides you with a number of features enabling the study of other winning Blackjack methods, such as Clump-Tracking, Clump-counting, Shuffle-Tracking, Target, B.I.A.S; as well as the ability to evaluate a bundle of different betting methods.
With Boris for Blackjack, possibly for the first time in Blackjack history, we have a practice tool that can bring us closer to meeting our practice goals in a shorter amount of time. While practicing with Boris, don't be surprised to find that you LOSE much of the time (in comparison to play against other Blackjack programs). This is because Boris software simulations mimic Real-World-Conditions so closely. What you see with Boris is most likely the "way" it will look in that casino at that point in time (since the table opened).
I am reminded of when I dealt Blackjack for an amusement company outside of Cleveland. While I trained all their dealers how to properly "wash" and shuffle the cards, they pretty much universally didn't give a damn, and did as they pleased (one dealer even had the PLAYERS shuffling the cards). My table was the only one consistently dealing a Vegas-style game; and, as a result, was the most difficult to beat. Needless to say, there were always a line of people waiting to give my table a shot, while the other tables were often near empty. People want the REAL THING! (It sure sells a lot of cola...).
In keeping with Boris' desire to be light-years ahead of all other Blackjack Software, look for the KING Shuffler and 2-Deck Random-Ejection Shuffler to debut on Boris' Free Download Page in late later this year. It is my belief that the KING IS BEATABLE; the 2-Deck REJ may be even EASIER. With Boris, we will soon find out. With Release 4.44 available, I will immediately begin on Release 4.44a, to introduce the new "aBunchOfCards (aBOC) facility. Once aBOC is in place, Release 4.44b will bring us the KING Shuffler, followed by the 2-Dec REJ in 4.44c.
Beating the game of Blackjack is about ACCURACY. With Boris for Blackjack, you have the most ACCURATE Blackjack Simulation Software in existence. Give it a whirl... Play it... Use it for PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and MORE PRACTICE! Then, when you are ready, you can tackle the live casino environment with a confidence you will not believe!
Write me and tell me how you do at: play-reports@borisbj21.com.
You can submit Casino-Reports for inclusion in Boris at: casino-reports@borisbj21.com.
Boris
Ron Fitch for Boris - ron@borisbj21.com
System Requirements
===========================================================================
Installing Boris-for-Blackjack
CD Installation
Boris Installation CD's now come with the AutoRun facility enabled by default. Putting in the CD and closing the tray will automatically start the new BorisInstall.Exe program which will do some pre-Installation preparations and then fire-up Setup.Exe.
You can of course run the BorisInstall.Exe program directly from the CD itself.
Installation from Website Download
After downloading Boris from a website (such as Boris' D/L Page), unzip the .ZIP file into a temporary (installation) folder. If your Unzip program auto-invokes Setup.Exe, you MUST exit the Setup program and invoke the unzipped BorisInstall.Exe.
Please note: As of Release 4,44, we no longer offer LITE Editions of Boris for Blackjack on the Website; they are not needed.
Even the Full version of BorisPRO and PRO+ Editions are under 9mb, making a 5.0+ mb LITE Download somewhat superfluous.
The upside of this is that the new Release 4.4 Download page should be easier to navigate.
Installation Considerations
Remember to shutdown all running applications BEFORE installing Boris for Blackjack Software. Because Boris for Blackjack uses a variety of ActiveX (.Ocx) controls, attempting installation while other applications are active may result in a number of Installation Warning messages, requiring your attention. When in doubt, simply restart Windows before Installing Boris for Blackjack.
If you already have a copy of Boris installed, it is no longer necessary to uninstall it first. The new BorisInstall.Exe program will delete any Boris files that may be a conflict to the current release. BorisInstall.Exe runs unattended and then fires-up Setup.Exe to install the software.
If there is a failure at any point during the installation of Boris' Blackjack Software, the Setup.Exe facility will perform a complete uninstall of the software installation up to that point.
Under some Windows installations, there has been a version conflict with the file: EXPSRV.DLL. Because the most current version of this file is best left to the Operating System itself, as of Version 4.39f this file has been eliminated from Boris Installations.
Some software users have reported that the bottom of the Boris screen is cut off by the taskbar icons. In Version 5.X, look for Boris to sport a completely re-sizeable screen. In the meantime, we have determined that the best solution to this annoyance is to change the taskbar settings such that it is automatically hidden until you drag the mouse to the bottom of the screen; which pops it up. This affects a useful compromise, and, you might find that you actually PREFER it this way.
What's New with Boris' Release 4.4
Boris for Blackjack Release 4.44 represents a considerable amount of re-design "under the hood" to improve the look and feel as well as enhance the Blind-Simulation facility built-in to Boris. These enhancements have pervasive effects throughout the software, setting the stage for the next level of development in Boris, beginning with Release 4.44a [,b,c,d] and culminating in the monumental Release 4.50 with full-chips betting (while maintaining downward compatibility with Boris' current betting methods.
In Boris' 14 years of existence, I/We have learned of numerous different ways to evaluate Blackjack Data. Boris has figured prominently in this process. Now, many players are ask Boris to analyze Boris's Result-data in a myriad of new/different ways. Boris' 4.44 Release (and its updates) will move us incrementally in that direction; beginning with the implementation of [aBOC] and the KING Shuffler in Release 4.44a.
For sometime now, we have been utilizing BorisInstaller.Exe to effect a "pre-Install" before invoking Setup.Exe. Release 4.40 continues this trend to the point that BorisInstaller.Exe is now custom-linked to each Release.
If you should ever run BorisInstaller.Exe and it reports a different Release than what is reported on the Download Page or the CD, then something is seriously out of synch.
BorisInstaller.Exe for Release 4.40 comes to us with two new features:
The Opening Banner Screen has been enhanced with the addition of TWO Option Buttons which appear during startup after Software Installation. Once you select a Screen Resolution and Click on [Begin Boris], the Option Buttons will disappear.
Boris' Container Screen (the Screen with Boris' face) has undergone some subtle, yet significant changes designed to get things ready for play in a much more succinct manner.
1) invoke the Player Setup Screen (Ctrl-P)
2) invoke the Casino Management Screen (Ctrl-R)
3) invoke the Casino Information Screen (Shift+F5)
4) Display the F1, F2 & F3 Statistics
5) invoke the Cardviewer/Shoeviewer (PBJ, PRO & PRO+ Editions)
Looking at the Blackjack Table Felt, you'll notice some significant changes in the look and feel aspect of the screen. These changes have been made to provide an even greater amount of realism in the Display Simulation. Noticeable changes include:
The Detailed Statistic Screens have all been re-evaluated and in many cases color-enhanced, in line with giving the stat delivery a more psychological-impact (Ex: Red means something bad/undesirable; Green represents something good/desirable).
Internally, Boris has undergone some significant design changes, making the software more robust than ever. As a result, "software bloat" is quickly reducing, while Blind-Simulation speed is continuously improving.
Boris continues to leverage Microsoft's ActiveX Technology, rather than making the jump to the .NET platform. While .NET is useful for some applications, Boris's Software is better leveraged using the ActiveX Technology and Visual Basic 6.
==========================================================================
Boris for Blackjack Updates 4.44a -> 4.44d:
Upcoming Fixes and Enhancements
==========================================================================
Release 4.44a Update
Release 4.44a brings us the introduction of the "aBunchOfCards" Object (abv.
aBOC) in to Boris' Blackjack play Simulation. Until 4.44a, Boris has been using an
array method to handle the cards; saving the shoes as .Cards files, which is
nothing more than an aBOC written to disk. This of course allows us to snapshot
a shoe and display it with the CardViewer and ShoeViewer Utilities.
We can of course also create .Cards Files with the DesignAShoe Facility, which
until now were only usable via the CardViewer/ShoeViewer.
With Update "A" the door is opened for new Shuffle Machine Variants;
specifically: KING Shuffler, 2-Deck REJ Shuffler and the "PRO" Shuffler;
not to mention the "STAR" Shuffler, when I can get the SPECS on it.
Release 4.44b Update
Release 4.44b will bring us some new Stat Screens for Boris' PRO+ Edition.
The PRO+ Users have waited a long time for these screens, whether they know it
or not.
A number of new operation enhancements will be made to the software which
will benefit all Boris Editions. That way, everyone benefits.
Release 4.44 c&d
Release 4,44c is a bit hazy right now.
However Update-C will quickly come into view based on your submissions
to Boris' "Wish List" (wishlists@borisbj21.com) along with influence from
my ongoing Blackjack Research.
As has been the practice for 8 years now, there may or may not be the need
for a "d" Update; altho we actually had one release go all the way up to
a "g" update, as a flurry of little feature changes were made.
==========================================================================
Boris for Blackjack Releases 4.45 -> 4.50:
Upcoming Fixes and Enhancements
==========================================================================
Boris Sound Tutor to be implemented
With Release 5, look for Boris' Sound Tutor Facility to appear. With the Sound-Tutor, Boris will be able to VERBALLY instruct you in the proper play and insurance decisions, as well as in the overall play of the game. To accommodate the people's different requirements, the Sound-Tutor will allow you to select from several degrees of sound tutoring.
Additional Strategies Slated to be implemented - along with the new Strategy Design Facility.
Look for additional strategies to appear under Version 4.50. Slated for inclusion is Knockout (K-O) Blackjack, Wong Hi-Lo, and Wong-Halves; amongst others.
========================================================================
=== Product Enhancements and BUG Fixes
=========================================================
Because this is a new Release, this section is temporarily empty.
There are a few reported glitches which will be listed in the next ReadME File,
if each problem still exists. However to my knowledge, most of them
have been corrected.
Carried over from Boris 4.43 are: