Volume 2 Issue 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plus V Enhanced Version 1.1.01 is now available from the ftp site. The patch file is named P5V11001.ZIP. When you unzip this file, in addition to the patch, a text file called P5PATCH.TXT is produced. This text file will list the files that need to be patched. This information may be useful for those few of you experiencing problems installing our patches. A full 1.1.01 installable version of the program is in PLUS5.ZIP. If you experience problems installing the patch, download this file. Neither ZIP requires a password. This fix corrects several minor problems with the Optimal Dutch. In addition, you can now create a setup called "AUTOLOAD", which will be loaded automatically every time PLUS5.EXE starts. You can use this feature to implement your own custom default setup. A bug in the little-used ML-BDEL utility has also been corrected in this release. NOTE: For new subscribers, past issues of this FREE newsletter are available on our Web site. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NICE LINKS If you have visited our Web site recently, you may have noticed a new page devoted to our good friend, Michael J. Pascual. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with Mike's impact on the world of handicapping, please note that Mike is the 'Father of the Optimal Dutch', as well as many other Optimal wagering algorithms. (Now you know why one of the programs on your Plus V disk is named "ml5-MJP.ovl"!-- the "MJP" stands for the "Father's" initials.) Most self-proclaimed "money-management gurus" actually owe Mike a huge debt for his contribution in this field. Few, however, are as forthcoming and honest as the venerable Huey Mahl, who frequently, in his Las Vegas newspaper columns, refers to Mike's discoveries, and actually gives credit due!!! Other "gurus" merely steal Mike's work... I first met Mike, a retired math professor, in 1988, after reading a column by Huey Mahl that declared that Mike "... has forgotten more math than I'll ever know." As I write this, today, in 1996, I'm looking at a fairly recent Las Vegas newsletter column by Mr. Mahl that describes yet another of Mike's discoveries in the "probability zone"... After once again acknowledging that "[Mike's] level of expertise in mathematics far exceeds any pretension I may ever have", Mr. Mahl's article concludes: There have been many money management pretenders, but presently, subject to extensive computer simulations, they have washed out. Another new approach has hope and may be considered inevitable but it may be another 255 years away if ever. AT LEAST FOR now, Mike has shown us, "What else is new?" -- GAMING TODAY - February , 1995 If you are interested in money management, you may be interested in Mike's classic book, "Bankroll Control". In addition to the text, which covers various aspects of Optimal wagering, the book also includes source code for all routines, suitable for typing into a pocket computer, or any other that supports the BASIC programming language. You can order the book directly from Mike by checking out his home page. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWLY RELEASED (or soon to be...) ********** Opti-Bet ********** This highly-regarded, easy-to-use DOS program, originally released in 1992 is once again available through The Missing Link. Based upon Mike's algorithms, this program will walk you through various optimal wagering strategies, including: "Dutching Exactas or Win Bets", "Optimal Place or Show", "Optimal Two Positions" (Win/Place, Place/Show, etc.), "Partial Show Parlay", "Bayes Exacta Model", "Trifecta", "Pick-3/Triple", "Pick-6", and more. Each strategy mentioned is a separate chapter in the coat-pocket sized User Manual; Mike has uncovered a limited supply of these Manuals. So as a favor to Mike, and to the original publisher's widow and to the handicapping public at large, we are quite proud to make this program available once again at our cost. Opti-Bet is not tied in to Plus V in any way. It may be used as an adjunct to ANY handicapping program or strategy. Opti-Bet is available NOW from The Missing Link in two forms, while supplies last, at discounted prices: >>> Opti-Bet Standard (Good Bet) Price: $25.00 Includes Opti-Bet Disk and Manual. >>> Opti-Bet Pro (The Overlay!) Price: $50.00 Includes Opti-Bet Disk, Manual, as well as the FULL BASIC source code on disk. For the experienced or even novice programmer, or for those who may just want to tinker, the Pro version includes the unencrypted source code. You can run the code under QBASIC which is included with MS-DOS 5.0 and later, and customize to your heart's content. Prices quoted in US funds. Add $3.00 S/H (plus 7.75% CA tax, if applicable, to all orders) ********** Optimal Dutch II ********** Since the late 80's when Plus V's granddaddy was released, this has been, over the years, one of our steadiest, most-requested features: "I would like to manually modify the oddsline for use with the Optimal Combo Dutch..." Now, thanks to the "Father of the Optimal Dutch", Michael J. Pascual, we are now able to offer this highly-requested feature. Optimal Dutch II (OD2) is a plug-in replacement for the standard Optimal Dutch that is included with Plus V Enhanced. In addition to all of the standard features, OD2 allows you to manually enter your own oddsline, making it usable by those who need to "tweak" the Plus V oddsline, or, if you wish, enter a totally separate oddsline for Optimal Dutch analysis. It's your call. But, of course, we couldn't stop there... Many additional features are highly optimized for the laptop user. Here are a few excerpts from the on-disk documentation: "Upon entry, you are presented with the Dutching menu, rather than being forced to enter bankroll, percent optimal, etc." "OD2 "remembers" your last entered bankroll and percent optimal from your last session-- even if you go back to Plus V or even exit to DOS. You can enter these numbers once, if you wish, and they will be reused until you change them." "OD2 "remembers" the Track Odds of same-named horses from the previous session. This allows you to quickly return to Plus V, re-handicap, and re-enter the Dutch, using the most recent track odds." "OD2 permits manual editing of "Your" (i.e. 'program') odds line, as well as the Track Odds line. Like Plus V's odds line, you should enter a 100% odds line-- not a 120% line, like "Sweep"'s line in the DRF." "OD2 defaults to tote-style odds. I.e., you can enter 7/2, 6/5, instead of their decimal equivalents. (See Operational Differences section.)" "When entering Odds (as well as Bankroll and Percentage), the prior values, if any, are displayed." "The Dutch Report can be spooled to MLOD2.SPL." "OD2 can calculate your bankroll after a wager. Select "New Bankroll" to display your existing bank. Then, hit ALT-B to display the Wager Results popup. You can enter the total amount bet on the race, the amount bet on the winner, and the winning $2.00 mutuel. OD2 will calculate your new bankroll and return you to the "Enter Bankroll" popup, where you can make adjustments as necessary, or just hit Enter to use the calculated bank." Optimal Dutch II will be available after May 15, 1996, for the introductory price of $50.00 (+ $2 S/H.) (We expect the general release price to be $75.00, which will kick in sometime later this summer.) Prices quoted in US funds. Add $3.00 S/H (plus 7.75% CA tax, if applicable, to all orders) Please include your BRIS UserName with your order. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVANCED TOOLS Compatibility releases of Advanced Tools are now available. As usual, these upgrades will be priced at $15 + $1 S/H, per program. For more details, check out the back issues of this newsletter, or contact The Missing Link by email. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- FREEBIE available Those of you who may be "closet" Sartin/Brohamer-ites might be interested in downloading p5pace.zip from the ftp site. P5Pace allows you to select races from your current download, pick a paceline from all TEN pacelines available, and generate all of the feet-per-second figures that are highlighted in, for example, Tom Brohamer's "Modern Pace Handicapping." For more details, check out the back issues of this newsletter, or contact The Missing Link by email. Enjoy! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The CAPSHEET Connection In case you fall asleep when the BRIS logon screen scrolls by, you may have missed the announcement that CapSheet 3.0 has finally broken its maiden! You can download CapSheet 3.0 from the Handicapper's Library. To do so, merely download selections 49 & 50 from the Library. For those of you who prefer a mailed disk, BRIS will also mail you a copy--check the logon screen for details. NOTE: While Capsheet is NOT a Missing Link product, we recognize that many Plus5 users also use Jim Cody's fine programs. For specific information on CapSheet, please contact Jim directly. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Issue's FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Q. Plus V is much slower than Plus III was when it comes to translating races. Why? A. Well, the major reason is that you get one heck of a lot more data in the Plus V file, than you did in Plus III, and it just takes longer to read. In addition, as alluded to in the User Manual, Plus V simply works better on more modern computers, because it was designed that way, while Plus III was designed for the lowest common denominator. Plus III will run on a lowly 286, while Plus V either won't run at all on a 286 or lower, or will crawl rather than run... What is a "modern" computer, you ask? Well you either have a 486, or at least a fast 386 with a math co-processor. You also have more than 1 MB of RAM, and it is configured properly. You are running MS-DOS 5.0 or later (preferably 6.0 or later.) (Chances are that if you are running any versions of Windows 3.1 or later, then you have a "modern" computer.) [NOTE: the phrase "configured properly" is very important. Plus V can be made to run MUCH faster on a properly configured system with 4MB of RAM than it can with a IM-properly system containing 32MB or more.] The single greatest thing you can do to improve speed is to configure your system to use a disk caching program. Versions of MS-DOS 5.0 and later include Microsoft's SMARTDRV. (This is also included with Windows 3.X.) Some people swear by other caching programs, but we use this one, mainly because most of you have it available. Several Plus V users have reported 5-10 fold speed improvements after installing SMARTDRV or other disk cache programs. The second greatest thing you can do to improve performance is to optimize your EMM settings. Unfortunately, we have no specific guidelines because MS-DOS based computers vary so widely. However, Plus V should run faster if Expanded memory is available to it. (If you have Windows, then it should optimize this for you, if you run Plus V in a Windows 3.x DOS box; running in a DOS box under Windows is fine, as long as you only run one session.) If all the above fails, then you may need to purchase a faster computer or just develop a bit more patience. So, what should you expect? We can only relate our own experience and your mileage may vary, but, we timed translating the 1995 Breeder's Cup feed from Bay Meadows. The ZIPPED card file was 338K, and included 19 races in all-- a fairly big card. On our properly configured 486/66, Plus V took 9 minutes and 35 seconds to translate the card. Given the amount of data in the file, we would have been happy with 15 minutes. A typical card translates in 5 to 6 minutes. Your mileage may vary... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best regards, The Missing Link