Settings – Unusual Games
Click on one of the ten tabs at the top of the screen for different folders containing sets of option settings. If you have difficulty finding an option, press the Locator button. There are more odd rules on the Bonuses tab and you can also create your own. This screen is entered from menu OPTIONS - SETTINGS and contains unusual games and variations as follows:
Win/Play Variations
Ø Six cards 20 or less wins - You always win with six cards totaling 20 or less.
Ø Dealer wins tied 17 - This awful option causes tied 17 hands to be lost instead of pushed.
Ø Dealer wins ties - With this option, you lose your bet on a tied hand. This awful option sometimes is added to counteract another unusual option that heavily favors the player.
Ø Five cards unbusted wins - With this option, the player always wins when five cards have been drawn without busting.
Ø Six cards unbusted wins - With this option, the player always wins when six cards have been drawn without busting.
Ø Seven cards unbusted wins - With this option, the player always wins when seven cards have been drawn without busting.
Ø Player 22 counts as 21 - When set, the player does not bust with a total of 22.
Ø Dealer ten up exposes hole card - If this option is set and the dealer up card is a ten, the dealer flips over the hole card. This is a very valuable option and is not likely to be found in a casino without some other option that hurts the player.
Ø Player 21 always wins - Here, you don’t push when you and the dealer both have 21. If Except Dlr Blackjack is checked, Blackjacks are excluded from this rule.
Ø Dealer wins tied 17, 18 and 19 - This awful option causes tied 17, 18 and 19 hands to be lost instead of pushed. This lousy rule exists in Swedish casinos.
Unusual Games/Side Bets
The number of variations to Blackjack has expanded greatly over the last several years as casinos compete for customers. Most of the options in this group make modifications to the table format. The options are mutually exclusive - you may only select one. Side bets cannot normally exceed the size of the original bet unless the Side bets not limited to main bet option is selected. When you click on a game, variations will appear at the bottom right.
Ø Over/Under 13 - This option, very slowly gaining popularity in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, adds a side bet to the game. When on, small circles will appear at the sides of each of your player boxes. You can bet that your first two cards will total 14 or greater by placing a bet in the circle labeled "O" or you may bet that the first two cards are under 13 by placing a bet in the circle labeled "U". The house wins all totals of 13. Aces count as one for this side bet only. The bets are resolved immediately after the dealer up card is shown. If you win, the bet will be doubled and then moved to your chip box. You cannot bet against yourself.
Ø Red/Black - This side bet is very like Over/Under 13 except that you bet on whether the dealer up card is red or black by placing a bet in the "R" or "B" circle. The dealer wins on all twos. Play is the same as with Over/Under 13 described above.
Ø Royal Match - Available in a few casinos, this option allows a different side bet on the first two cards. By placing a bet in the circle labeled "RM", you can bet that your first two cards are in the same suit. If they are, the bet pays 3:1. If they are the Queen and King of the same suit, this is a Royal Match which pays 10:1. The bet is resolved as soon as the dealer up card is shown and any winnings are immediately moved to your chip box.
Ø Super 7's - This option exists in a few casinos with a few variations. The version included here appears to be the most common. You can make a side bet of only $1 that you will be dealt consecutive sevens. The side bet is placed in the circle labeled "S7". If you are dealt two sevens, you will be dealt a third card, even if the dealer has a Blackjack. If you split sevens, you will be paid for only the first two sevens. Payoff occurs after the second or third card is dealt according to the following table:
First card any 7 $3
First two cards any 7's $50
First two cards 7's same suit $100
First three cards any 7's $500
First three cards 7's same suit $5000
Ø Double Exposure - In this unusual game, both dealer cards are dealt face up. Obviously, this gives the player an enormous advantage. To counteract this advantage, the "No Blackjack bonus" and "Dealer wins ties" options are automatically turned on. You can turn them back off if you wish. Also, there is no Insurance bet in Double Exposure. This is a very different game with entirely different playing strategies. I would not suggest this option in a casino if you have not fully studied the game. A sample Double Exposure strategy is included thanks to Mike Shackleford, the Wizard of Odds.
Ø Multiple Action - This game is slowly appearing in various forms in additional casinos. The table format is quite different and the game is not compatible with several other options. In this game, the player has only one seat, the center seat in the table. However, the player can place two or three bets. Three betting boxes exist for this purpose for each seat. You must place bets in at least the first two boxes. Relative bet size rules exist; but are not enforced here since they vary by casino. Your play is normal, except that the dealer has no hole card. After you have made all of your playing decisions, the dealer gets three hands. First, the dealer hand is finished and the first bets for all players are resolved. All dealer cards except for the first are then discarded and the dealer hand is again completed using the original first dealer card as a start. All player hands remain as they were. Then the second bets are resolved. This process is repeated again for the third dealer hand. If you double down or split your hand, double down and split bets are added in all three bet boxes. If you take insurance, then the insurance bet is placed in the normal spot and resolved dealer hand by dealer hand. If you Surrender, then Surrender bets are resolved hand by hand. The best way to learn this game is to try it.
Ø Bust out - This Blackjack side bet is rather like insurance. After the dealer turns over the hole card, and before the dealer hand is finished, this bet is available if the dealer has a stiff hand. A dealer stiff hand is a hand that must be hit and will bust if the dealer draws a ten. (Hard 12 through hard 16.) If this situation occurs, and the Bust Out rule has been selected, then a box will appear in the middle of the screen asking for Bust Out bets. You can bet on either or both of your hands that the dealer will draw a ten. If the dealer then draws a ten, you will be paid two to one. You place the bet exactly like an insurance bet. Drag chips from the chip box to the insurance line above one or both of your hands (or click on the "Bust Out?" box). The bet will always be the same as your original bet for that hand. If you win, the payoff will be added to the Bust Out bet, and then the chips will be moved to your chip box.
Ø Seven and 1/2 - Seven and 1/2 is not really a variation of Blackjack, but an entirely different card game developed in Sicily. However, as it is starting to appear in Nevada, and it is similar to Blackjack, it has been included. Seven and 1/2 is played like Blackjack with the following modifications:
The card deck has 40 cards with no eights, nines or tens.
Aces always count as "1" and face cards count as "1/2".
The goal is to get as close as possible to 7 1/2 without busting instead of 21.
The dealer and the players are each dealt one card face up instead of two cards.
Each player, in turn, can hit, stand, surrender, or double-down just as in Blackjack.
If the player draws a pair of three's, two's or Aces, they may be split.
The dealer must draw to 4 1/2 and stand on 5.
The dealer wins all pushes (ties).
Ø Super Fun 21 - This is a new variation of single deck BJ. You may hit and double split Aces, double or surrender on any number of cards, and Surrender after doubling. Several bonuses exist: player 21 with five or more cards pays 2:1, player hand of 20 or less with six cards automatically wins, player BJ always wins and a diamond BJ pays 2:1. However, all other BJs pay even money. This last rule is very expensive. The game requires a quite different strategy to play correctly. The game requires a quite different strategy to play correctly. A strategy devised by Michael Shackleford (www.thewizardofodds.com) has been included. You can modify the bonuses if you wish with OPTIONS - CUSTOM BONUSES.
Ø Spanish 21 - This BJ variation has been around for a few years and is lately becoming more popular. Six or eight decks are used. A player 21 always wins, player BJ always wins, player can hit and double split Aces, may surrender after doubling and double any number of cards. Bonuses include: 678 pays 3:2, 2:1 if same suit and 3:1 in Spades; suited 777 against a dealer 7 pays $1,000. However, all tens are removed from the deck. This last rule is very expensive. The game requires a quite different strategy to play correctly. A strategy devised by Michael Shackleford (www.thewizardofodds.com) has been included.
Ø 21 Madness- Yet another new bonus. This is a $1 side bet. If you get a BJ, and the dealer doesn’t, the side bet pays somewhere between $5 and $1,000 by chance. The average payoff is $13.90.
Ø Lucky Ladies – This variation includes a side bet that you will receive in the first two cards: any 20, suited 20, matched 20, pair of Heart Queens or pair of Heart Queens with a dealer BJ. Payoffs can be changed by the player.
Ø Blackjack Switch – In this game, included by permission of the designer, you must play two hands with equal bets. You are allowed to switch the second cards between the two hands. So, if one hand has two Aces and the other two Tens, you can switch the cards and end up with two 21s. However, Blackjacks pay even money and a dealer total of 22 will push against any player total of 21 or less. A player blackjack will still beat a dealer 22. To indicate a desire to switch cards, type W.
Unusual Game Variations
Ø Side bets not limited to main bets - Normally, a side bet (e.g. Royal Match) cannot be larger than your main bet. Rarely, a casino will allow a larger side bet.
Ø Multi-Action variations - Set one of these options when playing Multi-Action to specify the number of bets that must be made per seat.
Ø Pair of Aces pays 7 to 1 Under bet - With this option set, a pair of Aces will pay 7 to 1 on an Under 13 bet. This rule exists in Britain and greatly improves the value of the Over/Under 13 side bet.
Ø Royal Match – You may set payoffs for Royal Match, Super 7s and Lucky Ladies
