Blackjack

Blackjack

(21st Century Edition)

Blackjack with a twist. No Bust 21st Century Blackjack is the same great Blackjack you're used to with a few twists that are to the advantage of the players like no busts!

The object of 21st Century Blackjack is to form a hand whose value is greater than that of the player/dealer's hand, without exceeding a "Natural". A "Natural" hand beats all other hands. A "Natural" consists of these two-card hands: (Joker & Joker) or (Joker & Ace). A "Natural" hand pays 2 to 1. The next best hand below a "Natural" is 21..

How to Play

• Each player will receive two cards, face up, on the initial deal.
• The player/dealer's hand (the hand everybody is playing against) will receive one card face up and one card face down.
• Players have the option of drawing additional cards.
• After the player/dealer has drawn, the player/dealer will act on their hand. Player dealer MUST STAND on "Hard 17 or More" and MUST HIT on "Soft 17 or Less".
• The player/dealer's second card (Face Down) also determines the "Action" spot; this is where the payouts will begin. If the player/dealer's second card is an Ace: the "action" button will fall to the first seat directly to the left of the player/dealer. From that point on the action will go clockwise around the table. If the player/dealer's second card is a 2: the "action" button will fall to the second seat directly to the left of the player.
• After the player/dealer has completed their hand, all the player's hands will be compared to the player/dealer's hand.
• The player/dealer position is at one seat for 2 hands, then is offered in a clockwise position to the next seats.

Game Rules

• PLAYER WINS IF: the player's total is a "Natural" or less and the player/dealer's total is more than a "Natural".
• PLAYER/DEALER WINS IF: the player's total is more than a "Natural" and the player/dealer's total is a "Natural" or less.
• If the player and the player/dealer's total is above a "Natural":
  • PLAYER/DEALER WINS IF: the player/dealer's total is closer to a "Natural".
  • The hand will result in a PUSH IF: the player's total is closer to a "Natural".
  • PLAYER/DEALER WINS: all ties over a "Natural".
• If the player's total and the player/dealer's total are both below a "Natural", the hand closest to a "Natural" wins.
• If the player and the player/dealer have the same total equaling a "Natural" or less, the hand will result in a push.
• If the player/dealer's up card is a Joker, there is no draw.

* Additional house rules may apply.

There must be intervening player/dealer so that a single player cannot have repeated deals within the meaning of Oliver v. County of Los Angeles (1998) 66 Cal. App. 4th 1379, 1408-09. The game will be disbanded if at least one other intervening player at the table does not accept the deal when offered.

Value of Cards

• All cards have their face value.
• Joker is a "Wild" card. Any card or cards plus a Joker is automatically 21. There is one Joker per deck.
• Ace are 1 and 11.
• Face cards have a value of 10.
• 8 deck shoe/52 card standard deck, plus a joker.

Double - Down, Split & Surrender

• Players cannot split, double down, or surrender any hand with a Joker.
• Players may double down on any two-card hand and receive one draw card.
• Players splitting:
  • Aces will receive one draw card for each ace only. Ace - Joker receives even money after splitting but still ranks as a natural.
  • Any other pair or any two cards of 10-point value (Example: Jack and King) may receive multiple draw cards.
  • May split up to 3 times.
  • May double down after splitting
• Players can surrender on their first 2 cards, and forfeit half their wager.
• No surrender when a Joker is a player/dealer's first card up.