The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

POKER

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade; Superb Graphical Poker Simulation

Author             : Tom Pinone

Standalone Release(s)   : 1986: POKER, Duckworth, £9.95

Compilation Release(s)   : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron/BBC Dual Version

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : DUCKWORTH, The Old Piano Factory, 43 Gloucester Crescent,

                    LONDON NW1 7DY

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

"You are in a noisy, smoky saloon bar with six seasoned poker players. One of them, maybe evil-looking, cigar-smoking Black Jake, deals out seven hands of five cards each. From then on you are on your own with $1000 dollars to lose. First the betting goes around the table until everyone has stopped raising the stake or dropped out of the game. Then you can change up to three of your cards to make a better hand, and the betting continues. When the betting is over, the cards are shown and the best hand wins. If everyone else has thrown in their hand the last player wins but won't show you his hand. The next round then starts with another dealer. Moll, the attractive barmaid, serves the drinks and also gives advice if asked!

"Full instructions and rules of play are provided in the game and the computer will even decide which of your cards to change should you wish to change them. A word of warning: don't assume that your fellow players are beginners - they probably bluff and double-bluff far better than you ever will! Warning - this game can seriously damage your wealth!

"ISBN 0 7156 2138 6. In UK Only £5.95."

Instructions' Source   : POKER (Duckworth) Back and Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Poker Comes Up Trumps!"

The smoke hangs heavy in the still air of the Wild West saloon. With an evil glint in his eye Black Jake raises the stakes once more. Is he bluffing? Can you afford to find out? Just two of the nail-biting questions you will ask yourself as you play POKER from Duckworth. Here is an opportunity to pit your skills against six of the meanest players in a game of five card draw poker.

Instructions on how to play the game are provided within the program, so even if you have never played poker before you will be able to hold your own with the best of them within ten minutes of loading the game. Play is simplicity itself. Whenever you are due to make a move a menu of the available choices is displayed. The micro even sorts your cards into the right order.

The dealer deals six hands face down and one for you face up, this being followed by the first round of betting. Stakes are raised in multiples of eight dollars, with no upper limit.

You begin the game with 1,000 dollars. You can stick, throw in your hand or discard up to three cards. Any new cards are dealt and the second round begins. Betting continues until all remaining players have agreed to see each other's hands. At this point the computer announces each hand in turn and pays out the winner.

If you are new to the game you may be unsure of the best move to make so you can have a quiet move with Moll the barmaid who will make suitable suggestions.

On occasions it can be quite rewarding to bluff your way through a hand. Your opponents are all experienced players and will often do the same thing. There is nothing worse than chickening out only to find that Billy the Kid only had a pair of twos!

I found POKER to be totally absorbing. Even though the money wasn't real I still got a thrill from collecting a big win.

Sound ........................... 5

Graphics ........................ 7

Playability ..................... 9

Value for money ................. 9

Overall ......................... 8

Steve Brook, ELECTRON USER 4. 2