One of the online casinos I play in has introduced "Double Attack Blackjack". You can find a link to it (Dead link: http://www.virgingames.com/Tracker/Redirector.aspx?campaignId=1181&MediaId=154&TargetUrl=https%3a%2f%2fcasino.virgingames.com%2findex.do) _here_.
I'm wondering if some of the many knowledgable players here can help me calculate the house edge? Seems to me its a cross between normal blackjack and Spanish 21, but with a further twist. I'm expecting the house edge (due to 8 decks etc, short of 10's etc) to be circa 1.2% or thereabouts - making it a "bad bet" - but I'd appreciate the feedback. There are some HIGHLY talented mathematical players in these forums...
The general game rules are as follows:
Player RULES:
In every hand, you have the chance to double your initial bet after seeing the Dealer’s face-up card. This is called a "Double Attack" and lets you get more money into play against a weak Dealer card. (Double your bet after seeing a weak Dealer’s card)
Blackjack pays 1 to 1.
Double down is possible on any two or more cards after Dealer has checked for Dealer Blackjack. The exception is you cannot double down after splitting Aces.
When Aces are split, each Ace receives only one card.
Player may double down on two or more cards of a split hand.
Player may surrender a given hand on two or more cards, after Dealer has checked for Dealer Blackjack.
Player may surrender after a double down.
Player may surrender after receiving one card additional card on a split Ace.
Blackjack is only possible on first two cards on each hand (and not on split cards).
Player may draw a maximum of eight cards for any hand. An eight-card Player hand whose value does not exceed 21 beats all Dealer outcomes except for Dealer Blackjack.
An Insurance Bet opportunity is offered when the Dealer's face-up card is an Ace. The Insurance Bet amount will be exactly half of the Player’s initial bet. (A Double Attack bet will not affect the potential size of the Insurance Bet.) Subsequent Dealer Blackjack will pay 3 to 1 on any Insurance Bet.
DEALER RULES:
Dealer must draw to 16.
Dealer must stand on all 17's. This includes soft values where an Ace can be counted as an 11 value.
Dealer Blackjack beats all Player outcomes causing loss of initial Player bet and the return of any Double Attack bet. The exception is when Player and Dealer both have Blackjack, in which case the initial bet plus any Double Attack bet are returned to the Player.
GENERAL RULES:
8 decks of standard playing cards, shuffled for each hand of play. All ‘10’ cards have been removed from the deck.
There are certainly some player friendly rules, but the lack of 10 cards and the even money blackjack rule concern me. Look forward to your advice.
I'm wondering if some of the many knowledgable players here can help me calculate the house edge? Seems to me its a cross between normal blackjack and Spanish 21, but with a further twist. I'm expecting the house edge (due to 8 decks etc, short of 10's etc) to be circa 1.2% or thereabouts - making it a "bad bet" - but I'd appreciate the feedback. There are some HIGHLY talented mathematical players in these forums...
The general game rules are as follows:
Player RULES:
In every hand, you have the chance to double your initial bet after seeing the Dealer’s face-up card. This is called a "Double Attack" and lets you get more money into play against a weak Dealer card. (Double your bet after seeing a weak Dealer’s card)
Blackjack pays 1 to 1.
Double down is possible on any two or more cards after Dealer has checked for Dealer Blackjack. The exception is you cannot double down after splitting Aces.
When Aces are split, each Ace receives only one card.
Player may double down on two or more cards of a split hand.
Player may surrender a given hand on two or more cards, after Dealer has checked for Dealer Blackjack.
Player may surrender after a double down.
Player may surrender after receiving one card additional card on a split Ace.
Blackjack is only possible on first two cards on each hand (and not on split cards).
Player may draw a maximum of eight cards for any hand. An eight-card Player hand whose value does not exceed 21 beats all Dealer outcomes except for Dealer Blackjack.
An Insurance Bet opportunity is offered when the Dealer's face-up card is an Ace. The Insurance Bet amount will be exactly half of the Player’s initial bet. (A Double Attack bet will not affect the potential size of the Insurance Bet.) Subsequent Dealer Blackjack will pay 3 to 1 on any Insurance Bet.
DEALER RULES:
Dealer must draw to 16.
Dealer must stand on all 17's. This includes soft values where an Ace can be counted as an 11 value.
Dealer Blackjack beats all Player outcomes causing loss of initial Player bet and the return of any Double Attack bet. The exception is when Player and Dealer both have Blackjack, in which case the initial bet plus any Double Attack bet are returned to the Player.
GENERAL RULES:
8 decks of standard playing cards, shuffled for each hand of play. All ‘10’ cards have been removed from the deck.
There are certainly some player friendly rules, but the lack of 10 cards and the even money blackjack rule concern me. Look forward to your advice.
