Month: April 2020

This variant of blackjack combines blackjack and three-card poker and was first played in 2013, at the Palazzo in Las Vegas.

The player makes three equal bets, two apply to two separate blackjack hands and the third will apply to a 3-card poker hand.

The player is allowed to choose which card will be the “common” card for the blackjack hands.

RULES & PLAY OF THE GAME

• 6 or 8 52-card decks are used
• Cards are valued the same as in classic blackjack
• Play begins with player making 3 bets, 2 for blackjack and 1 for 3-card poker (blackjack bets must be equal, poker bet must at least match, but can be more)
• Player is dealt 3 face up cards and the dealer gets one card face up, one card face down
• The 3 card poker hand is paid off first, based on the chart below
• The player then forms his blackjack hands, declaring which card will be the common card, the common card is placed in the middle
• Cards cannot be moved once the first player has acted
• Players are offered insurance if dealer shows an ace, may insurance only 1 hand
• The dealer then checks for blackjack if showing an ace
• At this point, regular blackjack rules are followed, giving the player the options of stand, hit, double down, or split
• Surrender is not allowed
• Blackjack pays 3-2
• Depending on casino, dealer must stand on 17’s
• Double any two cards
• Double after split allowed
• Split up to four hands
• Aces split only once
• Cannot draw on split aces

3 Card Poker Bonus Payout:

• 75-1  A-K-Q suited (mini royal flush)
• 60-1  Suited 3 of a Kind
• 20-1  Straight Flush
• 10-1  3 of a Kind
•   2-1  Straight
•   3-2  Flush
•   1-1  Pair
• Loss  Anything else

STRATEGY

While basic strategy is used once the blackjack hands are set, The Wizard of Odds has developed a chart, (check here) suggesting the proper way to split the cards you receive.

The only other strategic move suggested is to make your poker hand bet the same as the blackjack bets, despite having the option to make it more.  This bet is where the casino ups it’s edge, with the seemingly player-friendly rules.  That bet actually increases the house edge by about 25%.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While it appears to be a player-friendly variant, that forced 3^rd poker hand bet, takes back all player advantages. You also want to keep in mind that you’re actually playing 3 bets each hand, that can be expensive.  With a minimum bet of $5, you actually have to play $15 each hand.  It would be a fun variant to try if you have a bigger bankroll.

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Stadium blackjack is not necessarily a variant of classic blackjack, but a new way to play the game. It is sort of a combination of live casino blackjack and online blackjack. It is being added to more and more land-based casinos at a steady rate.

The name comes from the fact that up to 44 players (may vary by casino) compete with 2 live dealers, in a stadium setting.  Each player has their own terminal and is able to choose which dealer they want to play against.

It is great for large groups, couples and people who don’t like the possible haggling at real tables.  While the terminals are close together, there is much less interaction between players.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Once you sit at a terminal, you make a deposit and it is up to you to decide when you want to start to play.

The table minimum is usually $5 at these games, which is considered a bargain at most casinos.

All players place their bets first, you’re given 30 seconds to make the initial bet, all other plays (hit, stand, etc.) must be within 10 seconds. If you don’t make a play within 10 seconds, the game will automatically “stand” for you.

Three cards are then dealt, 2 community cards for the players and 1 card for the dealer. The community cards are called that because all players will use those same cards as their own first 2 cards.

Once the players receive their 2 cards, they have 10 seconds to decide whether to hit, stand, double, split or surrender(if available).

Now comes the interesting part.  Since each player can choose their own action, additional community cards will continue to be drawn until all players either stand or bust.  Once all player hands have been “locked,”  additional community cards are drawn for the dealer to complete his hand.

Quick Example:

Players get a Queen and a six, while the dealer gets a King.   Some players will hit, (the proper play) and others will stand. Those that choose to hit will get the next community card on their terminal, those that stood will have their hand “locked” and unable to use any more community cards.  Each player is able to make their own decision of play. Let’s say the next card is a two, giving those still in the hand a total of 18. Hopefully all of them stand at that point, so is a group with 16 total and a group with 18 total.

The dealer will now deal the next community card for himself and it’s a 7, so half the players win, half the player lose.

Once the hand is done, the cards go back to the shuffler and the next hand is dealt.

While there is a giant dealer’s display, players can watch the play of the game at their own terminal.

RULE VARIATIONS

Of course each casino can have their own rules variations, such as allowing surrender or not.  Most casinos will only pay 6:5 on blackjack in this game, instead of 3:2, upping the house edge.

There are additional side bets available like Royal Match 21 and Bet the Set 21. As in regular blackjack, these are considered sucker bets!

FINAL THOUGHTS

The appeal of this game lies in the low table minimum, the ability to play without hassle from other players, the ability to sit out a hand or two without getting up and that the machine will automatically total your cards for you!

It is regular blackjack that can be played without all the bad social interaction, yet in a very social environment. It’s like playing at home, but at the casino. Play is faster, which could be good or bad depending how you look at it.  It’s a fun twist that gives classic blackjack a different feel.

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This blackjack variant is only played at the Plaza in downtown Las Vegas, and they only offer it at one table.  It was also offered at the closed down Las Vegas Club as well.

RULES

• Blackjack pays even money, unless suited, which pays 2-1
• Players can double down on 2, 3 or 4 cards
• Players can split an infinite number of times
• Aces can be split an infinite number of times, hit or doubled
• Player automatically wins with a 6 card hand, 21 or less
• Insurance is allowed, pays 2-1
• Surrender is allowed
• Dealer hits soft 17
• Ties push

HOW TO PLAY

The game is played just like standard blackjack. Players are dealt 2 cards faceup and the dealer receives 2 cards, 1 faceup, 1 facedown.

The dealer will check for blackjack if his faceup card is an Ace or a 10-value card. Insurance is offered before the dealer checks for 21.

The play then continues as in regular blackjack, where each player can stand, hit, double down, split or surrender.

PAYOUTS

All winning bets pay even money, except for a suited blackjack. Any other blackjack pays even money.

STRATEGY

While strategy for this game is similar to regular blackjack, there are a few adjustments that should be made because of the ability to double after several cards.

For instance, if you have 9 and double, (receiving 1 additional card) then receive a 2, it would have been better to hit first and then double down on the 11.

You can find a strategy chart developed for this game online at Gamblingsites.com.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Despite the name, this game is far from the most liberal, due to the fact that blackjack only pays even money. While it seems more favorable to the player because the player can double down on 2, 3 or 4 cards, and therefore more interesting to try, the house edge is actual 1.33%. That is more than double the house edge in regular blackjack. It’s another variant interesting to try but not good if profit is your motive.

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Zappit blackjack is a variation generally found online at Bovada Casino, Ignition Casino and the Bodog casino, and there are a few land based casinos to offer it.  Per the name, players are allowed to “zap” or eliminate two cards and replace them with the next two cards.

The game was invented by Geoff Hall, a well-known table game inventor, who also invented Blackjack Switch. He loves to develop blackjack variations that have unique playing rules that appear to make it interesting for the player, while leaving room for the casino to maintain a slight house edge.

RULES OF THE GAME

Zappit follows the rules of standard blackjack except for the following variations:

• The Zap button, allows you to “zap” (eliminate) any 2-card hand that totals 15-17 and replace with the next 2 cards
• If you hit 21 after zapping, it is only counted as 21 points, not blackjack, so payout is even money
• Zap button only used once
• If dealer busts with 22, it’s a push with all remaining players
• Dealer must hit soft 17
• Insurance is allowed
• Surrender is allowed
• Can split aces, but only once
• If a split ace receives a 10-value card, it is only 21, not a blackjack
• Can double after split
• Split hands may not be zapped

PLAY OF THE GAME

Play starts with the players placing their wagers in the betting circles. Once all wagers have been made, everybody is dealt two cards.  The dealer receives one card face up. 

If that card is an ace, insurance is offered before the dealer peeks to see if he has 21.  If he has blackjack, play ends. Those players with 21 will push and all others lose. For those who took insurance, they are paid 2:1.

If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, players with 21 are immediately paid 3:2.  After any blackjacks are resolved, remaining players decide on how they want to play.

If a player has a 15,16, or 17, he should zap those 2 cards and receive two additional cards.  After a zap, player options are stand, hit, double, split or surrender.

If a player is not able to zap, player options are also stand, hit, double, split or surrender.

After all players have acted, the dealer reveals his face down card at has the following options:

• If 16 or less, must hit
• If hard 17, must stand
• If soft 17, must hit
• If 18 or higher, must stand

If the dealer draws and busts with 22, all remaining players push.

ZAPPIT STRATEGY

While basic blackjack strategy can be used, it’s not optimal.  There are differences that need to be thought about.

• Always zap a 15, 16, or 17, except if it’s a pair of 8’s, which should be split against a dealer’s 6 or 7 up.
• Surrender 15 against a dealer’s 10 or Ace
• Surrender 16 against a dealer’s 9, 10 or Ace
• Surrender 17 against a dealer’s Ace

Zappit strategy charts can be found online.

WHERE TO PLAY

There are 3 online casinos, Bovado, Bodog and Ignition where Zappit can be played.  Land-based casinos that offer it are Luxor, Eastside Cannery and Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, as well as  Green Valley Ranch just outside Las Vegas, in Henderson, Nevada.

It is recommended to play online though because blackjack pays 3:2 online, but only 6:5 at the live casinos.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Once again, Geoff Hall has created a version of blackjack that is both interesting and fun to play.

The big drawback is that the house edge on this game is a whopping 1.15%, compared to .5% on standard blackjack, and .14% on Hall’s Blackjack Switch variant (more difficult to play though). 

Because the house edge is so much higher than standard blackjack, any serious player might not want to play, at least not for an extended session.  Any player could enjoy it for a change of pace though.

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