receive a natural and/or that the player himself will receive a natural. A winning wager with a single natural pays 17:1. If both the player and dealer receive naturals, then the payout is 25:1 (for either or both bets).

Ø  Double Attack Blackjack – The dealer up card is the first card dealt. You can double your bet after seeing the card. All tens are removed from the deck. Insurance pays 5:2 to partially make up for the lack of tens.

Ø  21^st Century Blackjack – Played in California card rooms and related to No Bust Blackjack or California Blackjack, with the following rules:

·         Six 53-card decks including a Joker are used.

·         A per-hand fee is taken.

·         The best hand is 22 instead of 21.

·         A hand with two jokers, an ace and a joker, or two aces is called a natural and is paid instantly.

·         A joker with anything makes a hand total of 22.

·         The game is player banked.

·         The Banker must hit soft-18 or less and hit on hard-18 or more.

·         If the dealer upcard is a joker, the downcard is turned over and no one can hit. The dealer hand counts as 21.

·         If the dealer downcard is a joker, double down and split bets do not lose.

·         If both the dealer and player bust, and the player has a lower total, the hand pushes.

Ø  21+3 – This is a bet that the first two cards and the dealer up card make a Poker hand. Payoffs depend on the hand.

Ø  Bonanza BJ – To win this side bet, you must receive a 20 in the first two cards and a dealer must have a ten up.

Ø  Dare any Pair – Bet that the first two player cards are a Pair.

Ø  Lucky Ladies – A popular new rule betting that the first two cards are a pair of Queens or 20. This side bet can be beaten and will be discussed later.

 © 2009 Norman Wattenberger