AM I READING THE RIGHT FILE?
          This is the README.TXT file for Bicycle Gin.
          This file will give you a brief background on
          the game of gin and teach you how to play the
          DOS version of Bicycle Gin.

WHAT IS GIN?
          Gin, or gin rummy, is probably the most
          popular variation of the rummy card family.
          Gin rummy is especially popular in Hollywood,
          where it first gained fame and popularity.
          Gin differs from other rummy games mainly in
          the way players score their hands, but there
          are a few other minor differences in play
          that make it a fast-paced card game.
          
RULES OF THE GAME
     
     The Object of the Game
          The object of gin is to form matched sets of
          cards.
          
     Card Values
          Face cards are worth ten points, aces are
          worth 1 point, and all other cards are worth
          their face values.
          
     The Deal
          Gin is played by two players and requires one
          52-card deck.  A dealer is selected by
          drawing cards (high card deals), and
          thereafter the deal alternates.  The dealer
          deals the cards, one at a time, face down,
          alternately, to his opponent and to himself,
          until each player has a ten-card hand.  The
          dealer then turns one card face-up (upcard)
          and places this card next to the remaining
          face-down cards in the deck (stock).
          
     The Play
          Play begins with the non-dealer, and
          alternates thereafter.  The non-dealer, on
          her first play, has the option to take the
          upcard.  If she refuses the upcard, the
          dealer may choose to take it.  If the dealer
          also refuses the upcard, the non-dealer draws
          from the stock.  Each player alternately
          draws a card from either the stock or discard
          pile, and then discards a card to the discard
          pile.
          
          NOTE:  a player may not immediately discard a
          card drawn from the discard pile.
          
          NOTE:  The final two cards in the deck may
          not be drawn.  If play reaches the 50th card
          and neither player has knocked, the hand is
          considered a tie and the same dealer deals
          again.
          
     Knocking
          A hand ends when either player knocks.  A
          player may knock during her turn, after she
          draws and before she discards, if her
          unmatched cards are valued at 10 or fewer
          points.  To knock, the player discards one
          card, face-down, and then spreads her matched
          sets, face-up.  She places her unmatched
          cards to the side.  Her opponent then spreads
          his cards, separating matched sets from
          unmatched cards.  He may then lay off any
          unmatched cards that match his opponent's
          matched sets, thereby reducing the total
          value of his unmatched cards.
          
     Determining a Winner
          After a player knocks, the total value for
          each of the player's unmatched cards are
          compared:  the lower total wins the hand.  If
          the knocker has the lower total, her total is
          subtracted from her opponent's total, and the
          difference is awarded to the knocker.  If the
          knocker's total is higher than her opponent's
          total, her opponent is said to have undercut
          her.  Her opponent then wins the difference
          between the two hands, plus a 25-point bonus
          for undercutting.
          
     Gin
          If a player has all of her cards in matched
          sets, she is said to go gin.  She discards
          one card face-down, and then spreads her
          matched sets.  Her opponent may not lay off
          any of his unmatched cards, and the knocker
          wins the hand and gets the total of her
          opponent's unmatched cards, plus a 25-point
          bonus for going gin.
          
SCORING
          
          Games are played to 100 points, with 25-point
          bonuses given for gin and undercutting.  The
          first player to reach 100 points wins the
          game and receives an additional 100-point
          game bonus.  If the opponent has not won a
          single hand during the game, the winner then
          doubles his score, including the 100-point
          game bonus.  Each player then receives 25
          points for each hand won.  Once totals for
          each player are determined, the player who
          has the higher total is awarded the
          difference between the two scores.  In this
          way, players can keep a running total for
          multiple games played against the same
          opponent.
          
     The Score Pad
          Scores for each hand and the game are kept on
          the score pad.  The score for each hand is
          separated by a line, and indications for gin
          <25> and undercutting (25) are shown under
          the score for each hand.  All scores are
          automatically totaled at the bottom of the
          score pad.
          
HOW TO PLAY BICYCLE GIN
     
     Drawing or Discarding a Card
          
          Bicycle Gin automatically prompts you to draw
          or discard when necessary.
          
          To draw a card:
             Click on the card you want to draw.
             Bicycle Gin will automatically place the
             card in your hand.
          
          To discard a card:
          1. Click and hold down the mouse button on
             the card you want to discard.
          2. Drag the card to the discard pile.
          3. Release the mouse button (the card will
             drop into place).
             You cannot draw an upcard from the discard
             pile and then immediately discard it.
  
     Arranging Your Cards
          
          To arrange your cards using the display
          buttons:
          1. Click on one of the display buttons shown
             at the bottom of the screen.  Use the
             234QQQ button to order your cards in runs
             first and sets second.  Use the QQQ234
             button to order your cards in sets first
             and runs second.  Bicycle Gin will
             automatically rearrange your cards.
          2. Try clicking on each button every time you
             want to order your cards.  Bicycle Gin may
             see a combination that you don't see.
             Once you use these buttons a few times,
             you'll understand how each one arranges
             your cards differently.
          
     Arranging Your Cards By Hand
          
          Occasionally, Bicycle Gin may not order the
          cards the way you want them ordered.  If this
          is the case, you can arrange your cards into
          matched sets by hand.
          
          To arrange your cards by hand:
          1. Click and hold down the mouse button on
             the card you want to move.
          2. Drag the card to where you want it to be.
          3. Release the mouse button (this will drop
             the card into place).  The card will
             become a part of the set you move it to.
             You can also create new sets by using this
             click-drag-drop method.
          
     Knocking
          
          To knock:
          1. Click the knock button after you have
             drawn but before you discard.
          2. After you click the knock button, click
             and drag the card you want to discard onto
             the discard pile to complete the knock.
          
          If the computer knocks first:
          1. Bicycle Gin will first prompt you to
             arrange your cards before it scores the
             hand and determines a winner.  Use the
             display buttons to order your cards (or
             you can order them by hand).
          2. Once you have arranged your cards the way
             you want them (be sure to check that your
             point total is as low as possible) click
             the done button.  Bicycle Gin will
             automatically lay-off your cards after you
             click the done button.
          
     Point Total
          Bicycle Gin determines when you can knock by
          calculating the point total for your
          unmatched cards.  If your unmatched cards
          total 10 or more, you will not be able to
          knock.  The point total is shown at the
          bottom of the screen.
          
     Turning the Sound On and Off
          You can turn the sound on or off by using the
          options menu.
          
          To turn the sound off or on:
             From the Options menu, choose Sound
             Effects.  If the sound effects were on
             (checked), they will be turned off.
          
     Exiting Bicycle Gin
          
          To exit Bicycle Gin:
             From the Game menu, choose Exit.
          
     Starting a New Game
          Starting a new game deletes the current
          score.
          
          To start a new game while already playing:
             From the Game menu, choose New.  Bicycle
             Gin will shuffle the cards and redeal.
          
GLOSSARY
          
     dealer
          Of the two participants in the game, the one
          who deals the cards.
          
     discard
          To get rid of an unwanted card.  Discarded
          cards are placed in the discard pile.
          
     discard pile
          The pile onto which players discard their
          cards.  All discarded cards are placed face-
          up on the discard pile.
          
     draw
          To take a card from the stock or discard
          pile.
          
     gin
          The name of the game; a variation of rummy;
          gin rummy.  Also, to have all cards in
          matched sets when knocking.
          
     knock
          To place matched sets on the table in an
          attempt to win the hand.
          
     lay off
          To place unmatched cards from your own hand
          onto your opponent's matched sets after your
          opponent knocks.
          
     matched sets
          A matched set consists of three or four of a
          kind (a set), or sequences of three or more
          cards of consecutive rank in the same suit (a
          run).
          
     non-dealer
          Of the two players who participate in a gin
          rummy game, the one who does not deal.
          
     run
          A sequence of three or more cards of
          consecutive rank in the same suit, i.e., 2 of
          hearts, 3 of hearts, 4 of hearts and 5 of
          hearts would be a run of 4 cards.
          
     set
          Three or four cards of the same value, i.e.,
          2, 2, 2 or 5, 5, 5, 5.
          
     stock
          The pile of face-down cards that players draw
          from during a game of gin rummy.
          
     undercut
          To have a lower unmatched-card total than
          your opponent.  Undercutting is worth 25
          bonus points.
          
     unmatched cards
          Cards in a player's hand that do not match,
          or are not a part of a matched set.
          
     upcard
          A face-up card that is placed in the center
          of the table at the beginning of play.
